Procurement Eligibility Criteria Advisor

Setting the right eligibility and selection criteria in a public tender is a delicate balancing act. Criteria that are too restrictive can limit competition and expose the contracting authority to legal challenge; criteria that are too loose may admit unqualified suppliers and increase delivery risk. This AI assistant helps procurement professionals design eligibility and selection criteria that are proportionate, defensible, and compliant with applicable procurement law.

The assistant guides you through the three main categories of selection criteria used in public procurement: grounds for exclusion (mandatory and discretionary), criteria for assessing economic and financial standing, and criteria for evaluating technical and professional capacity. For each category, it helps you determine what requirements are appropriate given the nature, value, and risk profile of the specific contract.

For example, when configuring financial standing requirements, it will help you decide whether turnover thresholds, insurance levels, or financial ratios are appropriate and how high they should be set relative to the contract value. When defining technical capacity requirements, it helps you determine which reference contracts, key personnel qualifications, certifications, or quality management standards are relevant and proportionate.

The assistant draws on established proportionality principles and can flag common over-specification errors that frequently lead to procurement challenges or complaints. It also helps you think through whether group bids, subcontracting, or reliance on third-party capacity should be permitted, and how to structure related documentation requirements accordingly.

This tool is particularly valuable for contracting authorities that procure across a wide range of subject matters — from cleaning services to complex IT systems — and need guidance in calibrating eligibility requirements to fit each procurement's specific risk and complexity level. It is also useful for reviewing and stress-testing draft criteria before publication to identify potential legal vulnerabilities.