How does the Government Procurement Rules’ debrief work?

Under the Government Procurement Rules, agencies must offer unsuccessful suppliers a debrief when asked. The debrief usually explains how your bid was evaluated against the published criteria, your strengths and weaknesses relative to those criteria and, in general terms, why the winning bid was selected, without disclosing confidential information about the other suppliers. Request it in writing promptly, since there are time limits, and prepare specific questions about scoring, price, risk and compliance. Be constructive rather than confrontational, as information you obtain can help you win future bids and also help you determine if there were errors in the process. If the answers indicate a serious departure from the tender rules, you can consider a formal complaint. Take notes and ask for written feedback.