Most economically advantageous tender (MEAT)

Where MEAT applies

MEAT is the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 expression for the tender offering the best overall economic value against the authority's published award criteria. It does not necessarily mean the cheapest tender. A PCR authority can assess price or cost alongside quality, technical merit, delivery, environmental factors or other relevant criteria, subject to the procurement documents and PCR rules.

The Procurement Act 2023 changed the label to most advantageous tender (MAT). The change is intended to clarify that a tender can be selected on a wider value assessment and that price need not always take precedence. The regime is determined by when the procurement commenced, so an old framework call-off or competition may legitimately continue to use MEAT.

Supplier response

Use the words in the live notice as a signal of the governing regime, not as a reason to substitute a different template. Check the weighting, scoring scale, price model and minimum quality thresholds. If the documents say MEAT, answer each criterion with evidence and cost assumptions that can be checked. Avoid treating quality promises as free: show how the proposed resources and delivery controls fit the price.

For example, under a PCR competition for facilities management, a tender with a higher fee may be MEAT if it scores materially better on service continuity and quality. Under a new Act competition, the same concept may be described as MAT. The practical task remains the same: meet the published requirements and maximise the assessed value on the stated method.