Point Rated Criteria

Point rated criteria are evaluation criteria used to assess the relative technical merit of bids and to distinguish one proposal from another. They measure value-added factors that go beyond the mandatory requirements of a solicitation, and points are assigned according to a stated scoring scale.

The Treasury Board Secretariat describes point-rated evaluation criteria as a way to determine relative technical merit and best overall value to the Crown. A solicitation may also set minimum scores that a bid must achieve. The term is used across Canadian public-sector procurement, and it is distinct from mandatory criteria, which a bid must satisfy to remain responsive. See the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance on evaluation criteria.

How point rated criteria differ from mandatory criteria

Mandatory criteria work on a pass or fail basis. A bid that does not meet them is not responsive and is not evaluated further. Point rated criteria work differently, because they score how well a bid performs on factors above the baseline.

CanadaBuys explains that federal evaluation teams may use mandatory criteria only, point-rated criteria only, or a combination of both. Where a solicitation sets out a sequence, only bids that meet the mandatory criteria go on to point rating. The Office of the Procurement Ombud has documented this sequence in its procurement practice review.

What a tender notice must state about points and scoring

The tender notice must identify the minimum and maximum points for each criterion. This lets a supplier see how much weight each rated item carries before deciding how to allocate effort in the response. The CanadaBuys page on how bids are evaluated and selected sets out these requirements.

Public Services and Procurement Canada gives further direction for its centralized professional-services procurement. Point-rated technical criteria must be consistent with the statement of work and the search criteria, and they must clearly describe the requirement. The scoring guidelines must also indicate how each score will be determined. This guidance is published in the bid solicitation preparation guidance.

Minimum scores and pass marks

A solicitation may require a minimum total score, a minimum score on individual criteria, or both. The Treasury Board Secretariat notes that a solicitation may establish a pass mark, such as a minimum percentage below which a bid is non-responsive. A bid can therefore be compliant on every mandatory item and still be rejected for scoring too low on the rated items.

Point rated criteria can also support different selection methods. These include best overall value, highest-rated bid and price-per-point approaches. The method is set out in the solicitation.

Where point rated criteria appear in federal procurement

• Departments and agencies: Reviews by the Office of the Procurement Ombud document the use of point-rated criteria by organizations including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Department of National Defence, Health Canada, the RCMP, Natural Resources Canada and Correctional Service Canada.
• Professional services: PSPC assessor guidance applies detailed rules to point-rated technical criteria in its centralized professional-services system.
• Accessibility-related buying: Accessibility Standards Canada identifies point-rated criteria as a way to award additional points for features that exceed minimum accessibility requirements, or for demonstrated experience delivering accessible goods and services. See its procurement scenario for accessible goods.

What point rated criteria mean for your bid

Respond directly to every rated criterion, with the evidence and level of detail the solicitation requests. Meet all mandatory requirements first, since they decide whether your bid is scored at all. Check the tender notice for minimum and maximum points on each criterion, and for any minimum total or criterion-level score. Then build your response around the scoring guidelines so an evaluator can award the full points available.