What is the difference between MEAT and MAT?

MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) was the long-standing principle of awarding on value for money — balancing quality, social value and price.

Under the Procurement Act 2023 the language moves to MAT (Most Advantageous Tender), keeping the same idea while giving buyers more freedom in how they weight the criteria. Either way, quality answers carry real marks.