The shift from MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) to MAT (Most Advantageous Tender) has profound implications for public sector procurement; it is about redefining how we approach value across capital programmes and development projects, from construction and refits to decarbonisation and community regeneration. MEAT was the previous standard requiring price to be a mandatory factor in tender evaluation. MAT is the new standard introduced by the Procurement Act 2023 that allows contracting authorities to consider a broader range of factors beyond price. MAT empowers the public sector to consider what’s truly important to those in their communities. Instead of following the lowest cost bid, MAT encourages tenders to be evaluated based on what aligns best with the organisation’s specific goals. Value isn’t just about the bottom line; it encompasses social value, environmental impact and economic growth.
