Subjective evaluation criteria

Competing bids should as far as reasonable be assessed based on objective evaluation criteria.

The more subjective the criteria, the easier it is for a corrupt procurement manager to manipulate the evaluation process, and ensure that the contract award goes to the pre-selected winner.

The absence of objective criteria also makes any challenge of the award decision by losing contractors much more difficult.

Unequal treatment of bidders

It is important that all bidders are treated equally throughout the bid process. Providing favourable treatment to one bidder can enable an improper outcome.

For example:

• allowing only one bidder to provide clarification of its bid
• allowing a bidder to alter its bid under the guise of providing clarification
• allowing a bidder to bid on a different basis to the other bidders
• providing confidential information on the evaluation process, estimate of contract price, or other bids, only to one bidder
• accepting a bid after bid-closing deadline.