MEAT stands for Most Economically Advantageous Tender. In many Dutch tenders, the contracting authority does not mean the lowest price, but the tender with the best balance between price and quality. The current Dutch term for this is usually BPKV: Best Price-Quality Ratio.
That distinction matters. In a lowest-price tender, the party with the sharpest calculation mainly wins. In a MEAT/BPKV tender, the party that best shows why its solution is worth more wins. Not through generic promises, but through provable quality that counts in the evaluation.
What does MEAT mean in a tender?
MEAT is the method a contracting authority uses to determine which tender is economically most attractive. The assessment usually consists of two parts: your bid price and your quality score. That quality score is based on award criteria such as planning, sustainability, risk management, nuisance reduction, team quality or stakeholder management.
The key point is that quality is not only appreciated, but converted into an advantage in the evaluation. That means a more expensive tender can still win if the extra quality is convincing enough.
MEAT, EMVI or BPKV: what is the difference?
In Dutch procurement practice, MEAT, EMVI and BPKV are often used interchangeably. Still, it helps to know the distinction. MEAT/EMVI is the broader and older terminology: the most economically advantageous tender. BPKV is the term usually used when price and quality are assessed together.
For your tender submission, the tender guide is decisive. It states which method the contracting authority uses, how quality is assessed and how price and quality are converted into a final score.
Practical rule: do not treat MEAT as a writing assignment, but as a value calculation. Every quality claim should contribute to a lower evaluated price or a higher score.
How does fictitious discount work?
Many MEAT tenders work with a fictitious discount. The quality score is converted into a monetary amount. That amount is not actually deducted from your invoice; it is used only to compare tenders.
A simple example:
- You submit a bid of €1,000,000.
- Your plan earns a fictitious discount of €120,000.
- Your evaluated price becomes €880,000.
The contracting authority compares that evaluated price with those of other bidders. The actual contract sum remains €1,000,000, but your quality has improved your position in the ranking.
Why MEAT is strategic
A strong MEAT submission does not start with writing, but with calculation. You need to know how much quality is worth, where the most points can be earned and which measures will truly convince the evaluator.
Three questions define your strategy:
- Where is the most value? Focus your energy on criteria with high weighting or substantial fictitious discount.
- Which promise can you prove? A measurable action scores better than a generic ambition.
- What may quality cost? If extra measures cost less than the MEAT value they create, they can protect or increase margin.
That is why MEAT is not a trick to make a weak offer look better. It is a way to make your differentiation visible, verifiable and financially relevant.
What belongs in a strong MEAT plan?
A good MEAT plan translates your approach into value for the contracting authority. The evaluator must quickly understand which risk you remove, which result you guarantee and why your approach is more reliable than the competitor's.
- Concrete measures: do not write "we reduce nuisance", but describe when, how and with which measurable effect you reduce nuisance.
- Proof: support claims with project data, schedules, references, calculations, simulations or clear responsibilities.
- Direct link to criteria: show for each section which award criterion you address and why it deserves points.
- Clear structure: evaluators read under time pressure. Headings, tables, phasing and visuals make your added value visible faster.
Common mistakes in MEAT submissions
Most points are lost because bidders stay too generic. They write what the contracting authority already expects, but fail to explain why their approach is better, safer, faster or more reliable.
- Too much process, too little outcome: do not only describe what you will do, but what effect it delivers.
- Claims without proof: "experienced team" or "minimal nuisance" only scores when you make it concrete.
- Separating price and quality: the best strategy is created where calculation and plan development come together.
- Ignoring the tender guide: if a criterion carries 30% of the weighting, that should be visible in the attention you give it.
MEAT in one sentence
MEAT means you do not only win by being cheaper, but by proving more convincingly that your tender delivers the most value for the price you ask.
Frequently Asked Questions about MEAT (Best Value)
Is MEAT the same as BPKV?
In practice, usually yes. MEAT/EMVI is the older and broader terminology, while BPKV is the current Dutch term for tenders where price and quality are assessed together. Always check the tender guide, because the formula and criteria in that document are decisive.
How do you win a MEAT tender without the lowest price?
By making quality value provable. If your plan earns enough fictitious discount, your evaluated price can be lower than that of a cheaper competitor.
How does a fictitious discount work?
Quality scores are converted into a monetary value. That value is deducted from your bid price only for evaluation purposes, creating an evaluated price. Your actual contract price does not change.
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