Combined Score (Technical + Financial)

The Combined Score is the final numerical result that ranks competing proposals in quality-weighted procurement methods. It is calculated by applying the buyer's published weighting to each firm's technical score and financial score, then adding them together. The firm with the highest combined score wins.

What is Combined Score (Technical + Financial)?

Combined Score arises wherever a procurement method weights both quality and price, most prominently in qcbs for consulting services. After technical-evaluation is complete and financial proposals are opened for qualifying firms, the buyer calculates each firm's financial score using the formula: (lowest offered price / firm's offered price) multiplied by the financial weight. The technical score, already on a 0-to-100 scale, is multiplied by the technical weight. The two weighted sub-scores are added to give the combined score out of 100.

For example, under an 80:20 weighting, a firm with a technical score of 85 and a financial score normalised to 90 would earn (85 x 0.80) + (90 x 0.20) = 68 + 18 = 86 combined. A competitor with a technical score of 80 but the lowest price, earning a financial score of 100, would earn (80 x 0.80) + (100 x 0.20) = 64 + 20 = 84 combined. The first firm wins despite the higher fee, illustrating why weighting matters so much to the strategy.

Why Combined Score matters for bidders

Modelling your expected combined score before you submit is the single most useful analytical step a consulting firm can take. You can estimate a realistic technical score range from your track record against the stated criteria, then model how different fee levels move your financial score. This tells you the minimum fee you can charge while still winning on combined score, and it shows whether a higher-quality but pricier proposal can beat a cheaper but weaker competitor. Firms that skip this step either undercut unnecessarily or price too high without knowing it.

FAQ

What weighting ratio is most common?

The 80:20 split (80 percent technical, 20 percent financial) is the most common in World Bank and ADB-financed assignments. Some procurements use 70:30 where price is more significant or 90:10 where quality dominates. The ratio is always published in the request for proposals.

Does the combined score formula change between agencies?

The arithmetic is the same across most MDB-aligned methods: weighted technical plus weighted financial equals combined. The financial score formula (lowest price divided by your price, times the weight) is standard. What varies is the weighting ratio and the technical sub-criteria.

Can a firm with the highest technical score lose on combined score?

Yes. If the technical leader's fee is significantly higher than competitors, the financial score penalty can overcome the technical lead. This is why the combined-score model is a necessary pre-submission exercise, not an optional one.