Guidance

Appendix G – quality criteria and maximum weightings

Published 30 November 2021

Applies to England

The following weightings have been set at construction framework level to provide consistency when procuring School schemes. Please note that framework users procuring any scheme involving construction or refurbishment of School or other educational facilities must (unless agreed by DfE) apply the range of weightings for evaluation as set out by the DfE in the final four columns of the table below, as updated from time to time by the DfE.

For other schemes, framework users shall set criteria within the maximums specified below and may apply sub-criteria within the criteria. A framework manager may exceptionally, where satisfied that it is justified in the circumstances of the specific Scheme, and compliant with the Regulations, agree the use of different criteria or weightings.

Price / quality split

Price will normally attract a maximum weighting of 40%, provided that this figure may be increased for a construct only scheme up to 100%

Quality criteria

Maximum weightings are set out in column 3 below (for the avoidance of doubt criteria may be weighted as zero (not used) as relevant to the scheme and procurement route). The final 4 columns set out the required weightings to be set for school schemes (which may be amended with agreement of the framework manager).

Number	Quality criteria	Maximum weighting	HVB PITT LC (90%)	HVB A1 ITT LC (70%)	HVB A2 ITT	(90%)	MVB / LVB ITT LC (60%)
1	Overall approach	30%	27%	10%	27%	16.5%
2	Procurement and supply chain management	25%	15%	N/A	13%	10%
3	Social value**	20%	N/A	Within overall approach	2%	2%
4	Cost and risk management	35%	15%	N/A	15%	10%
5	Design management/design proposals***	45%	33%	45%	28%	14%
6	Construction management	30%	N/A	7.5%	5%	5%
7	Scheme handover	10%	N/A	7.5%	N/A	N/A
8	ICT	10%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
9	Whole life and operational costs	15%	N/A	N/A	N/A	2.5%

** Social value enables local or scheme specific matters to be evaluated separately. Social value matters may also be incorporated into the other criteria and may be increased where price exceeds 40%. Framework users may include social value criteria which test framework Members against the themes, policy outcomes and/or criteria set out in PPN 06/20 (taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts), as replaced or updated from time to time, and / or test framework members against proposals to promote or improve specific and/or local social, economic and/or environmental objectives. framework Users may adjust the percentages against the other criteria in the final three columns above to incorporate social value as an evaluation criteria (in consultation with the framework manager).

*** Design may be set at up to 100% in a design competition.

Weighting to total 100% for example, 100% weighting to be applied to the total quality marks available (for example 60 or 70).

Qualitative questions

For school schemes, DfE has developed Local Competition Technical Questions (LCTQs) which provide sub-criteria, sub-weightings, and template questions within the Quality Criteria in the table above (final 4 columns). The LCTQs issued from time to time by the DfE are expected to be used for school schemes procured by other framework users but framework users are permitted to adapt sub-criteria, sub-weightings, and template questions for Scheme-specific reasons or in support of framework user policy.

For non-school schemes involving educational facilities and/or other non-education facilities, framework users may set their own scheme-specific questions within the maximum weightings set out in the table above.

For the avoidance of doubt, in respect of all schemes, the quality criteria and weightings set out in the final 4 columns above may only be amended with DfE consent.