Critical criteria influencing the selection of bid evaluation mechanism under the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT).

Abstract

Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) is widely adopted in the European Union, where multiple criteria are considered in contract awarding. Although studies have highlighted the potential benefits of adopting MEAT in Sri Lanka, limited attention has been given to the selection of an appropriate bid evaluation mechanism under MEAT, namely price to quality or quality to price, despite its influence on bid evaluation outcomes and contractor behaviour. This study aims to identify the critical criteria influencing the selection of bid evaluation mechanisms under MEAT in the Sri Lankan construction industry. A quantitative method was adopted. Initially, a comprehensive literature review and a preliminary survey were conducted to identify and validate the relevant criteria to Sri Lanka. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was administered among architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors involved in public construction procurement. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine differences among professional groups, while mean ranking was applied to identify critical criteria. The findings indicate that professional groups hold statistically similar views regarding the influence of the identified criteria. Six out of seven criteria were identified as critical, with the degree of measuring project-specific criteria and the reliability of data used to develop scoring formulas emerging as the most critical. The study contributes to the MEAT implementation in Sri Lanka by providing a structured basis for selecting bid evaluation mechanisms. The findings may assist practitioners in developing evaluation frameworks that better align with project requirements and support the effective adoption of MEAT in the construction industry.