Award Criteria
As Gaeilge: Critéir Dámhachtana
Also known as: Award Criterion
Last reviewed April 2026
The standards used to evaluate tenders and pick the winner, in Ireland either lowest price or MEAT.
The standards used to evaluate tenders and select the winning bid. In Ireland, contracting authorities must use either lowest price or Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) criteria. MEAT criteria typically include quality, price, technical merit, delivery time, and after-sales service.
In the Tenderwatch data
- Appears in 6 notices captured in the last 12 months on Tenderwatch (as at August 2026).
Sources and legal basis
Primary legislation and official guidance. Always confirm the current text on the source before relying on it.
Related terms
MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)
The evaluation method that weighs quality alongside price: required for most above-threshold Irish contracts.
Selection Criteria
Minimum requirements a supplier must meet to be considered: financial standing, technical capability, tax clearance.
Green Public Procurement (GPP)
A policy requiring public bodies to include environmental criteria in contracts: mandatory over €50k in Ireland from 2025.
Life-Cycle Costing
An evaluation method that scores bids on total cost of ownership over the asset's life, not just purchase price.
Lowest Price Criterion
An award method where the contract goes to the cheapest compliant bid, allowed in Ireland only for fully specified, low-complexity requirements.