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Evaluating quality or lowest price: consequences for small and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement

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  • Johan Stake

    (Södertörn University)

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of evaluating the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) in public procurement rather than lowest price. According to the European Union (EU), evaluations based on MEAT, rather than lowest price, give an advantage to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in winning public procurement contracts because such firms are viewed as sources of innovation. Thus, MEAT as an evaluation criterion is recommended throughout the EU. Using procurement data from Sweden, I find no significant effect on SME participation in procurement calls for tender as a result of the use of MEAT in firm evaluations. However, large firms significantly increase their participation when MEAT is evaluated. Even more importantly, micro, small and medium-sized firms’ probability of winning procurement contracts significantly decreases when MEAT rather than lowest price is used as an evaluative criterion. Thus, evaluation in terms of MEAT increases large firms’ bids and success rates; hence, this policy is counterproductive. The reasons SMEs are disadvantaged as a result of evaluations based on MEAT are, however, not examined in this paper and require further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Johan Stake, 2017. "Evaluating quality or lowest price: consequences for small and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(5), pages 1143-1169, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:42:y:2017:i:5:d:10.1007_s10961-016-9477-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-016-9477-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Bastian Krieger & Malte Prüfer & Linus Strecke, 2024. "Public procurement can hinder innovation," Working Papers of ECOOM - Centre for Research and Development Monitoring 739379, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), ECOOM - Centre for Research and Development Monitoring.
    2. Peter Džupka & Matúš Kubák & Peter Nemec, 2020. "Sustainable Public Procurement in Central European Countries. Can It Also Bring Savings?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Obwegeser, Nikolaus & Müller, Sune Dueholm, 2018. "Innovation and public procurement: Terminology, concepts, and applications," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 74, pages 1-17.
    4. Paolo Castelnovo & Gelsomina Catalano & Francesco Giffoni & Matteo Landoni, 2024. "The outcomes of public procurements: an empirical analysis of the Italian space industry," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 367-399, February.
    5. Bernard Hoekman & Bedri Kamil Onur Taş, 2022. "Procurement policy and SME participation in public purchasing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 383-402, January.
    6. Matus Kubak & Peter Nemec & Robert Stefko & Marcel Volosin, 2023. "On competition and transparency in public procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic in the European Union," E&M Economics and Management, Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Economics, vol. 26(2), pages 4-23, June.
    7. Knut Blind & Jakob Pohlisch & Anne Rainville, 2020. "Innovation and standardization as drivers of companies’ success in public procurement: an empirical analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 664-693, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public procurement; SMEs; Innovation; Quality evaluation; Most economically advantageous tender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H57 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Procurement
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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