Evaluation criteria
Evaluation criteria are the published factors and weights by which proposals are scored — technical approach, past performance, key personnel, price — defined in the solicitation. They are the actual exam: responses are written to the criteria, not merely to the scope.
Criteria sections repay closer reading than any other part of a solicitation. They reveal the buyer's real priorities (a 40% technical weight buys different behavior than 40% price), the scoring mechanics (adjectival ratings, points, pass/fail gates), and the structure evaluators must follow — which is the structure your response should mirror so scoring requires no hunting. Sophisticated responders build their outline from the criteria, map win themes to the heaviest-weighted factors, and treat any 'may be evaluated' language as 'will be.' Best-value tradeoff versus lowest-price-technically-acceptable changes strategy entirely: LPTA rewards minimum-compliant economy; tradeoff rewards justified superiority.
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