Winning NZ Government Tenders: What Evaluators Are Looking For in 2026

Since the 1^st December 2025, the 5th edition of the New Zealand Government Procurement Rules is now in effect.

Under the these new rules, tender evaluations in 2026 is centered on demonstrable value for New Zealand, not just technical compliance.

Evaluators are now looking for proposals that:

• Show clear economic benefit to New Zealand

• Provide credible evidence of experience and delivery success

• Introduce practical innovation that improves outcomes

• Are structured, transparent and easy to follow

  
  

To perform well, you must:

• Align their responses directly to the evaluation criteria and Rule 8 expectations

• Use real examples to prove capability, not just describe it

• Clearly explain how their approach delivers better results than business as usual

• Make it simple for evaluators to see how commitments will be achieved and measured

Want to find out more? We have gone into more detail below:

1. Focus on Economic Benefit to New Zealand

One of the biggest shifts in 2026 is how evaluators assess outcomes that benefit New Zealand’s economy.

Under Rule 8, agencies must:

• Actively seek and evaluate economic benefits when awarding contracts above defined thresholds

• Include a minimum 10% weighting for economic benefit in the evaluation criteria

• Set clear expectations in procurement notices on what economic benefits they want to achieve

• Include contractual provisions to deliver on agreed economic benefits

• Monitor delivery of these benefits throughout the contract lifecycle

Thresholds generally apply to procurements over:

• NZ$100,000 for goods, services and refurbishment; and

• NZ$9 million for new construction works

This means:

Evaluators are now actively looking for proposals that demonstrate positive economic impacts for New Zealand - not just compliance with technical requirements.

Examples of economic benefit include:

• Using New Zealand businesses or SMEs in delivery or supply chains

• Creating local jobs, apprenticeships or training opportunities

• Developing industry capabilities or capacity

• Encouraging innovation that supports local communities

• Contributing to environmental or social outcomes as part of broader economic benefit objectives

2. Clearer Demonstration of Public Value

Under the new procurement Rules, evaluators are expected to judge public value as a whole by combining:

• Cost and quality

• Economic benefit to New Zealand

• Risk mitigation and feasibility

• Broader outcomes that generate value for communities and stakeholders

Responses that articulate how your proposal supports broader economic and community outcomes are more likely to score strongly.

This means you should:

• Show how your solution delivers measurable impact

• Provide clear indicators and data where possible

• Link your methods and approach directly to the agency’s stated objectives

3. Proven Experience and Delivery Track Record

Under the updated Procurement Rules, evaluators are placing greater emphasis on evidence-based capability - not just stated intentions.

They are looking for confidence that you have:

• Delivered similar work before

• Achieved measurable outcomes

• Managed risk and complexity successfully

• Maintained performance over time

Strong responses will:

• Link experience directly to the scope of the tender

• Include relevant examples or case studies

• Show how lessons learned have improved your approach

• Demonstrate continuity of skills and delivery capability

Rather than listing projects, high-scoring bids explain:

• What was delivered

• How challenges were managed

• What outcomes were achieved

• Why that experience is relevant to this contract

4. Accessibility and Ease of Evaluation

With the Rules now streamlined and suppliers encouraged to make it “easier to do business with government”, evaluators are looking for responses that are logically structured, clear and easy to assess.

This means:

• Answers that map directly to evaluation criteria

• Plain English that avoids unnecessary jargon

• Clear headings that follows the provided templates

• Evidence tied to claims

A response that’s easy for the evaluator to navigate often scores better simply because the assessor can clearly see how you meet each requirement.

Still need further guidance? Get in touch and we can help!

It starts by contacting us for a free consultation and a quote. Reach our team on enquiries@kiwibidsupport.co.nz or use our online enquiry form.