Weighting (80:20, 70:30, etc.)

Weighting in international procurement refers to the published ratio that governs how much of the final combined evaluation score is drawn from the technical proposal and how much from the financial proposal, with 80:20 (80 percent technical, 20 percent price) being the most widely used split in development bank and UN consulting procurement.

What is Weighting (80:20, 70:30, etc.)?

Every solicitation that uses a combined technical-financial evaluation must state the weighting in the request for proposals before bids are submitted. The weighting is fixed before any proposal is opened and cannot be changed afterward. The World Bank, ADB, AfDB, EBRD, and most UN agencies permit a technical weight between 70 and 90 percent, depending on the complexity and technical sensitivity of the assignment. Assignments where quality is paramount, such as policy reform design or complex feasibility studies, attract higher technical weights; less differentiated consulting work may use 70:30. Some institutions set the default at 80:20 unless the procurement unit justifies a deviation.

The weighting directly interacts with the combined-score-technical-financial formula. A 90:10 weighting makes price almost irrelevant: a firm priced 50 percent above the cheapest competitor loses only five points on the combined score if its financial score is 67 while the cheapest scores 100 (difference of 33 points times 10 percent weight equals 3.3 points). In contrast, a 70:30 weighting makes price a more meaningful competitive variable. Development banks now routinely use pass-fail-evaluation to screen minimum quality before applying the weighting, so only proposals that pass the technical threshold enter the combined-score calculation.

Why Weighting (80:20, 70:30, etc.) matters for bidders

Reading the weighting at the beginning of bid preparation, not as an afterthought, changes how you allocate your proposal effort and price your services. Under an 80:20 weighting, investing in a stronger methodology section and better-qualified key staff consistently produces more combined-score improvement than cutting the fee. Under a 70:30 weighting, pricing discipline matters more. Before estimating your bid preparation budget or deciding how many senior staff to name in the proposal, calculate the combined-score impact of your realistic technical score range under the stated weighting at a range of price points: the output tells you where to focus time and where you have no realistic path to winning regardless of effort.

FAQ

Who sets the weighting for each procurement?

The procuring entity or implementing agency sets the weighting, subject to the rules of the financing institution. Many development bank procurement frameworks require prior review approval to use a technical weight below 70 percent or above 90 percent.

Can the weighting be changed after bids are received?

No. The weighting stated in the request for proposals is binding. Changing it after proposals are submitted would invalidate the evaluation and require the procurement to start again.

Does weighting apply to goods and works contracts?

Not in the same way. Goods and works contracts that use a pass-fail-evaluation followed by price comparison do not combine technical and financial scores; the lowest responsive price wins after technical compliance is confirmed. Weighting applies specifically to scored evaluations used for consulting and complex services.