A multicriteria model to select candidates for public contracting using the OPTIONCARDS method

Modern construction should comply with more complex objectives such as sustainability and so greater importance should be given to the selection of candidates stage. Saaty AHP model and the DEA model have often been proposed to estimate the weights of the selection criteria but such applications may not respect the principles of equity and transparency required by public procurement as it is shown in this paper. Therefore, the research question addressed is: how can such estimation be performed complying with such principles and avoiding non-structured and subjective procedures? A new approach based on a multicriteria model using the OPTIONCARDS method is presented answering the research question and an illustration of its use to procure the design of a new public hospital in Portugal is also presented. Future research can be developed using this approach to solve other problems such as the estimation of weights to evaluate tenders. •The selection of candidates is a critical issue for sustainable and innovative contracting of public works.•Several methods based on AHP or DEA models do not comply with the public contracting principles of equity and transparency.•A multicriteria model is proposed to select candidates using the OPTIONCARDS method and complying with such principles.•This model can have significant impacts on research advances about other related issues such as tender evaluation.