# Build evaluation criteria and a scoring plan for a public solicitation

Weighted, defensible proposal evaluation criteria, scoring guides, and evaluator instructions that hold up if a bidder protests.

- Topic: Projects & Operations
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Plan, Code, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/build-evaluation-criteria-and-a-scoring-plan-for-a-public-solicitation

## Prompt

```text
Help me design the evaluation criteria and scoring plan for a public solicitation.

**Solicitation type:** [RFP / RFQ / best value / qualifications-based selection]
**What we are buying:** [SCOPE SUMMARY]
**Estimated value and contract length:** [DETAILS]
**What matters most to us:** [e.g. "technical approach", "past performance", "price", "local or small business participation if allowed"]
**Rules or policies that apply:** [e.g. "state procurement code", "federal grant rules", "price must be at least 30% weight"]
**Evaluation committee:** [number and roles of evaluators]

Create:
1. **Pass/fail responsiveness checks** (required forms, licenses, insurance, deadlines) kept separate from scored criteria.
2. **Scored criteria** with weights totaling 100, a one-line rationale for each weight, and how price will be scored (formula shown).
3. **A scoring guide** for each criterion: what earns high, middle, and low scores, written as observable evidence in the proposal.
4. **Evaluator instructions**: conflict-of-interest and confidentiality attestations, score independently before consensus, document strengths and weaknesses for every score, no contact with bidders.
5. **A scoring sheet layout**: Criterion | Weight | Score | Weighted score | Strengths | Weaknesses.
6. **Protest-proofing checks**: criteria in the solicitation match criteria used, no unstated criteria, consistent treatment of all bidders.

Rules: criteria must be tied to the scope and disclosed in the solicitation; do not invent legal requirements or preference programs; mark anything unconfirmed [CONFIRM WITH PROCUREMENT].
```

## What to fill in

- RFP / RFQ / best value / qualifications-based selection
- SCOPE SUMMARY
- DETAILS
- number and roles of evaluators
- CONFIRM WITH PROCUREMENT

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.