Source: https://tendernation.io/glossary/most-advantageous-tender Glossary # Most advantageous tender (MAT) The bid that meets the buyer's requirements and scores best against the published award criteria, which a buyer may award the contract to. Updated 14 Oct 2026 The most advantageous tender (MAT) is the bid that a buyer considers both meets its requirements and best satisfies the published [award criteria](/glossary/award-criteria). Under the Procurement Act 2023 it is the basis for awarding a contract after a competitive tendering procedure. ## What it means [Section 19(1) of the Procurement Act 2023](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/19) says a buyer may award a public contract "to the supplier that submits the most advantageous tender in a competitive tendering procedure". Section 19(2) defines it as the tender that the buyer considers: - satisfies its requirements, and - best satisfies the award criteria, assessed using the published assessment methodology and the relative importance of the criteria Section 19(3) also sets out when tenders must or may be disregarded, for example tenders from suppliers that do not meet the conditions of participation, abnormally low tenders and tenders that breach a procedural requirement. The government's [guidance on assessing competitive tenders](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-procure-phase/assessing-competitive-tenders-html) explains how buyers apply the test. MAT replaced [MEAT](/glossary/meat), the "most economically advantageous tender" test under the old rules. ## Why it matters for SMEs MAT is not the cheapest bid. Price matters, but so do quality, delivery, social value and anything else in the award criteria, weighted as the buyer decides. That gives a small supplier room to win on quality, local knowledge or responsiveness against bigger, cheaper competitors. Equally, MAT is decided only on what is written in your tender. Your reputation, a good meeting with the buyer or work you have done for them before counts for nothing unless it is evidenced in your answers. ## Practical tip Treat the published methodology as the rules of the game. Note every requirement you must meet (a fail usually means you are out) and every scored criterion, with its weighting. After the award, compare your scores with the winner's in your [assessment summary](/glossary/assessment-summary) to see exactly where MAT was decided. Find tenders that fit your business Search UK, EU and World Bank tenders in one place, get AI summaries and a fit score for each one, and track bids in a pipeline. Professional comes with a 14-day free trial, no card needed. [Browse live tenders](/opportunities)[Start free trial ](/register) 14-day free trial, no card required Browse by sector - [Construction work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/construction-work)6853 - [Architecture, engineering & surveying](https://tendernation.io/sectors/architecture-engineering-surveying)3880 - [IT services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/it-services)1713 - [Business services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services)2412 - [Health and social work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work)1034 - [Sewage, refuse, cleaning & environmental](https://tendernation.io/sectors/sewage-refuse-cleaning-environmental)3324 [All sectors ](/sectors) ## Nearby terms - [MMEAT (most economically advantageous tender)The legacy test for choosing a winning bid under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, replaced by the most advantageous tender under the 2023 Act.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/meat) - [MMini-competitionA short competition run among the suppliers on a framework to award a specific call-off contract.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/mini-competition) - [MModern slavery statementAn annual statement, required of larger businesses under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, on steps taken to prevent slavery and trafficking in their supply chains.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/modern-slavery-statement) - [OOpen procedureA single-stage competitive tender, open to any supplier, where everyone submits a full bid by the same deadline.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/open-procedure) - [PPayments compliance noticeA notice public buyers publish twice a year showing how well they have met the 30-day payment rule on their public contracts.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/payments-compliance-notice) - [PPipeline noticeAn annual notice from buyers spending over £100 million a year, listing contracts over £2 million they plan to tender in the next 18 months.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/pipeline-notice) [Read our procurement guides ](/guides)