(1) The criteria, or set of criteria for evaluation of bids shall be prudently chosen by procuring entities in accordance with section 14 of the Act, with a view to meet the determined public need appropriately and satisfactorily as well as to ensure value for money, transparency, fair and wide competition in procurement. Any criterion that cannot be verified or assessed shall not be included in the evaluation criteria by the procuring entities.
(2) The criteria so chosen shall be clearly specified in the bidding documents and all bids shall be evaluated solely on the basis of the criteria for evaluation specified therein.
(3) Except in cases of procurement of Consultancy Services, price shall be the main criteria of evaluation and bid prices shall be evaluated by the Bid Evaluation Committee only among the bids that meet the eligibility, qualification and technocommercial criteria specified in the bidding documents.
(4) Trials or sample testing, if chosen, when considered actually necessary, shall be done, in an open and transparent manner in the presence of and in association with the different bidders who shall be given the opportunity to point out any of the technical issues involved therein. Failed bidders shall be provided reports indicating values of the various parameters obtained in trials or testing.
(5) In case samples had been called for and a particular sample selected during evaluation with reference to characteristics like shade, tone, make-up, feel, finish, design, workmanship, etc., the supply must be in conformity with the selected sample in such respects only. The other remaining characteristics shall be in conformity with drawings, specifications, etc., as laid down in the bidding documents.
(6) In addition to the criteria for evaluation of bids set out in section 14, the evaluation 17 criteria may include discounted cash flow techniques, etc., where relevant, provided that such criteria has been mentioned in the bidding document.