Conceptualising standard set of bids evaluation criteria for selecting adequate contractor

Selection of an adequate contractor is undoubtedly crucial to a project's success. This decision often happens at the bids evaluation stage when the client is afforded an opportunity to award the bid to the competent contractor based on the criteria that eventually fulfils his/her objectives. There is, however, no consensus regarding standardised bid evaluation criteria. The purpose of the current study is to conceptualise a standard set of criteria for evaluating construction bids. A two-stage research approach was used, thus the review of literature to identify the criteria used for contractor selection and secondly the use of survey questionnaire. The nine identified bid evaluation criteria were quality, technical ability, experience, price, financial soundness, management capabilities, health and safety, human resources as well as plant and equipment. Meeting the objectives of the client greatly depend on the usage of standard evaluating criteria for the selection of adequate contractor.