Find how an RFP will score responses before you plan your bid
The evaluation criteria tell you how evaluators will judge each response: which factors they score, how much each one counts, whether price is weighed against quality or decides on its own, and whether interviews or demonstrations come later. Ask Search+ "How will proposals be evaluated, and what is each factor worth?" and the answer cites the evaluation section, plus any scoring details that appear in the instructions or an addendum.
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Last updated October 2026
How to find evaluation criteria with Search+
- Upload the RFP with its scoring attachments
Some buyers publish a scoring rubric or evaluation form as a separate attachment, and addenda sometimes adjust weights. Keep all of it in one workspace so the answer reflects the current method.
- Ask about each stage of evaluation on its own
Ask about the responsiveness or compliance check first, then technical scoring, then how price is scored, then any shortlist, presentation or best and final offer stage. Each stage tends to have its own rules.
- Read the cited criteria next to the instructions
Open the citation for each factor, then ask which submission instructions relate to it. Seeing what is scored beside what you must submit shows where evaluators will look for evidence.
Questions to ask about evaluation criteria
What evaluation factors does this RFP list, and what weight or points does each one carry?
How is the cost proposal scored? Is the lowest price given the most points, or is price considered with other factors?
Which items are evaluated as pass or fail before any scoring begins?
Does the buyer reserve the right to hold interviews, demonstrations or request best and final offers?
If no weights are given, does the RFP say which factors are more important than others?
Are there preference points or other adjustments for particular kinds of bidders?
What to look for in RFP evaluation criteria
Some solicitations assign points or percentages to each factor; others only list factors in descending order of importance or say that technical factors together matter more than price. Read which form this RFP uses.
A best value method weighs quality against cost. A lowest price method usually picks the cheapest response that meets all requirements. The method often appears in a single sentence, so ask for it by name.
Many evaluations start with a check that the response is complete and meets the mandatory conditions. A response that fails there may never reach the scored stage.
Broad factors such as "approach" or "experience" are sometimes broken into sub-criteria with their own descriptions. Ask what each factor includes so you know what evidence it rewards.
Search+ answers in plain language with inline citations to the evaluation passage, and narrows to one RFP when you ask it to. Check scoring details in the cited text, because AI answers can be incomplete.
Scoring language in an RFP and what it tells you
| Wording you may see | What it usually signals | A follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| "best value" | Quality and price are weighed together | How are technical and price scores combined? |
| "lowest responsive, responsible" | Award to the cheapest compliant bidder | What makes a bid responsive under this RFP? |
| "in descending order of importance" | Ranked factors without numeric weights | Which factor is listed first? |
| "pass/fail" or "meets/does not meet" | A gate, not a scored factor | Which items are judged pass or fail? |
| "competitive range" or "shortlist" | A later stage for the top responses | What happens to responses in the shortlist? |
| "best and final offer" | A chance to revise after evaluation | Under what conditions may the buyer request final offers? |
What are evaluation criteria in an RFP?
Evaluation criteria are the factors, weights and procedures a buyer says it will use to judge proposals and choose a vendor. They usually sit in a dedicated section near the end of the RFP and are linked to the submission instructions.
Evaluation criteria questions
Can Search+ find the scoring weights in an RFP?
What if the scoring rubric is in a separate attachment?
Will it tell me how price is evaluated?
Can it explain how to win on these criteria?
Can I compare scoring across several RFPs?
Does Search+ give procurement advice?
Know how you will be judged before you start writing
Start a workspace, upload the RFP, and ask how responses will be evaluated.
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