How to Use These Forms 
 

1. The evaluation forms and guide contained in this document provide step-by-step procedures for the evaluation of bids solicited through ICB. In all instances, the bidding and evaluation procedures described in the Instructions to Bidders (ITB) of the actual bidding document used should be followed.

2. ICB is conducted using the Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs)¹ issued by the Bank and required for use by Borrowers.² The following SBDs are currently available:

Others are issued as Trial Editions or are yet in preparation. Bid evaluation procedures for the Trial Editions follow the procedures for the SBDG except for the SBD for Supply and Installation of Plant and Equipment, which is more similar to the SBDLW. The SBD for Commodities is based on modified ICB (see Section II.D of the Guidelines), in which bidding and evaluation procedures are based on one designated currency. The forms herein provided that deal with currency conversion may therefore be omitted.

3. Although each of the documents is different, their ITBs are very similar, particularly for the SBDG, SBDLW, and SBDSW, the most widely used documents. The following standard forms and guide are based on those ITBs, as well as on the Bid Data Sheets (BDSs), which follow the ITB and provide contract-specific information.

4. Readers should note that evaluation and the resulting report need not necessarily be lengthy. Procurement of off-the-shelf goods without domestic preference can usually be quickly and easily evaluated. In general, the complexity of evaluation lies with larger works and with the supply and installation of industrial plant and equipment. The forms should invariably accompany the evaluation report, but they may be adapted to suit specific requirements of the bidding documents. The report should include a number of attachments to explain details of bid evaluation or to show specific controversial wording or numbers in a bid. Cross-referencing should be used extensively, as well as references to pertinent clauses in the bidding documents.

5. Special mention should be made of contracts that group together ("package") smaller contracts ("lots"-also called "slices" or "items"), which may be awarded as a package to one bidder, or as sub-packages of one or more lots to several bidders. In such instances the bid evaluation is to be done separately, including any allowances for domestic preference, for each lot, subject to any cross-discounting (see Annex I, para. 7(b)). Only Tables 1, 2, and 3 will be common to all.

6. Borrowers should study these evaluation forms and guide during project preparation, in order to properly assess the managerial and administrative conditions needed for bid evaluation. Bank staff are available to explain the procedures, including any modifications necessary for evaluation using bidding documents other than those SBDs presently available. The Bank encourages the employment of experienced consultants to help in evaluations for complex contracts (see Guidelines, Appendix 1, para. 2(c)). Consultant fees can be paid from loan funds, if allowed for in the loan agreement.