Rated Criteria
Since 2016, the World Bank has encouraged the use of Rated Criteria to evaluate non-price factors. As of 2025, it is mandatory to use Rated Criteria for (most) large international World Bank-financed contracts. This change enhances the focus on quality in World Bank-financed procurement.
What are Rated Criteria?
Rated Criteria are measures used to evaluate non-price attributes of Bids and Proposals. They are designed to address the specific risks, opportunities, issues, and quality factors in a procurement.
Rated Criteria commonly cover the following areas:
- Quality of methodology and work plan
- Risk management
- Performance and capacity
- Key personnel
- Innovation approaches
- Sustainability, environmental and social factors
The Criteria are prioritized and weighted according to their relative importance to the Borrower. The total combined technical and financial score is used to differentiate between competing proposals.
How are Rated Criteria evaluated?
In a World Bank Standard Procurement Document (SPD), Rated Criteria and the assigned weightings are stated in the Evaluation of Technical Part of Bids.
Evaluation of bids with Rated Criteria is conducted using a two-envelope procedure:
- Technical evaluation: technical bid envelopes are opened first, evaluated and scored based on the weighted Rated Criteria.
- Financial evaluation: costing bid envelopes (of only those Bidders whose technical Bids are evaluated as responsive) are opened, evaluated and scored.
Contracts are awarded based on the optimal balance of quality and cost that represent the best value for money (VfM).
Guidance for Borrowers: developing good Rated Criteria
When identifying Rated Criteria, it is good practice to limit the number of criteria to focus on the factors that meaningfully differentiate Bids. The criteria should be tailored to the specific project and reflect the key issues and risks identified in the Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD).
The bidding documents shall clearly outline the information/evidence required by each Bidder, the evaluation methodology that will be used, the criteria that will be assessed, and the associated weightings.
Areas to consider carefully when developing Rated Criteria:
- Avoid Criteria that are vague or too broad.
- Ensure weightings reflect the project priorities.
- Avoid duplication of Criteria with mandatory pass/fail requirements.
A Rated Criteria Library is available to help Borrowers develop Criteria. It outlines illustrative examples for World Bank-funded projects, which should be adapted to reflect the specific context and requirements of the project.
Further information for developing Rated Criteria:
Guidance for Suppliers: responding effectively to Rated Criteria
The use of Rated Criteria enables Suppliers to put forward tailored and innovative solutions. It provides an opportunity to differentiate from other Suppliers by demonstrating an ability to deliver high quality and address key project risks.
Suppliers will need to:
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of specific project risks and articulate proposed credible mitigations.
- Ensure that promises put forward in Bids are achievable within the submitted costings, as they will be included in the contract.
Areas to consider carefully when responding to Rated Criteria:
- Avoid generic responses.
- Provide supporting evidence for statements and claims.
- Focus on addressing scoring descriptors.