How bidding, evaluation and awards work for a two-lot tender
A tender split into two lots gives suppliers the option to bid for one lot or both. Each lot is assessed independently, so the client can select the highest-scoring supplier for each lot using the published evaluation criteria. This article explains how bids are evaluated, how the lots can be awarded and what happens once an award is made.
Bidding for one or both lots Suppliers can bid for one lot or both. If you bid for both lots, make sure your submission clearly addresses the requirements and published evaluation criteria for each. Do not assume that information provided for one lot will also meet the requirements of the other. How each lot is evaluated Each lot is evaluated and scored separately against its published criteria. Your score for one lot does not affect your score for the other. Bidding for both lots does not guarantee an award. You may win one lot, both lots or neither, depending on the outcome of each evaluation. How the lots are awarded The client can award the lots to different suppliers or award both to the same supplier. Each decision is based on the scores for that individual lot. For example, if Supplier A scores highest for Lot 1 and Supplier B scores highest for Lot 2, the client can award one lot to each supplier. If Supplier A scores highest for both lots, the client can award both to Supplier A. Winning one lot does not automatically mean winning the other. What happens after an award When an award is made, the standstill notice and supplier notifications are sent automatically. Review your notification and the standstill notice carefully for the outcome and any next steps. The tender documents and notice explain the applicable standstill arrangements. An award notification is not an instruction to begin delivery. Frequently asked questions Do I have to bid for both lots? No. You can choose to bid for just one lot or for both. Can I bid for both lots but win only one? Yes. Each lot is assessed independently, so you may achieve the highest score for one lot but not the other. Will the client always appoint two suppliers? No. The client can award both lots to one supplier if that supplier achieves the highest score for each lot. Do award notifications need to be sent manually? No. The standstill notice and supplier notifications are sent automatically when an award is made.