IMPOSING UPSET LEVELS

An upset level is a minimum score that is required to remain in the competition. It is also known as a threshold score. The RFP announces that an upset level will be used and identifies those factors that will be affected. Many RFPs identify the specific value required. “Proposals receiving less than five out of ten on Project Plan will be eliminated from further consideration.”

Upset levels may be applied to one evaluation criteria, a group of factors, or the total score.

One Evaluation Factor

Upset levels are used to eliminate the possibility of a proposal obtaining the most points overall when it has serious deficiencies in one or more categories. It is quite possible that a proposal could receive very high marks in several categories and few in a critical area and still win the competition.

Suppose that 40 evaluation points are available for the technical response. An upset level of 20 would indicate that regardless of the scores in other categories, no proposal will be accepted with a score of only 20 in this area.

Sometimes, a critical component, such as Project Plan, is only assigned a few points, say 10 out of 100.  Applying an upset level of 7 out of 10 to this factor will ensure that proponents understand its importance.

A Group of Factors

Upset levels ensure that a proposal with an unacceptably low score in one category, such as Management, consisting of Experience, Staff, Training, etc., cannot win the competition. The best practice is to announce in the RFP that "Proposals must obtain 50 out or 75 points for Management to be considered acceptable. Proposals with fewer points will be eliminated from further consideration."

Care must be taken in setting upset levels. If you assign an upset level to each evaluation criterion or group, review these levels carefully before issuing the RFP. Otherwise, you may find that you have published the upset levels (and therefore cannot change them) and every proposal has failed to meet at least one minimum score.

The Entire Score

Upset levels can be applied to the entire score. Proposals obtaining less than 75% of the total available points will be eliminated from further consideration. This strategy ensures that only proposals judged as being “very good” will be considered.