Transparency in technical bid evaluation requires disclosed standards and recorded reasons; opaque scoring invalidated tender awards and required fresh RFPs.

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....Challenges to disclosed parameter-wise technical evaluations remain maintainable where an earlier challenge was premature and the disclosure creates a fresh cause of action; res judicata and constructive res judicata do not apply to issues that could not then be adjudicated. In public procurement, comparative technical assessment requires disclosed objective standards, recorded reasons for deductions, consistent marking of materially similar proposals, and meaningful communication of reasons. Numerical scores and oral presentations cannot replace contemporaneous reasons or cure undisclosed benchmarks. Failure to meet these requirements makes the evaluation arbitrary, opaque and contrary to equality, natural justice and fair administrative action. The technical evaluations and consequential awards were set aside, with fresh RFPs directed and existing services continued pending completion.....