7 It is vital that client departments eradicate major uncertainties from suppliers' bids before awarding one preferred bidder status.
The Agency appointed NEP as preferred supplier having identified uncertainties relating to NEP's bid, principally concerning the proposed design for the new buildings they planned to construct. The Evaluation Panel considered that these were negotiable at a cost which would still mean NEP provided best value for money. The Agency was successful in limiting the cost of resolving these uncertainties during negotiations with NEP to a level below that assessed by the Panel. This also reflected their wish to limit bidders' costs.