Procurement methods
Plain-language definitions of the consultant selection methods used by development banks — QCBS, QBS, CQS, FBS, and LCS — with scoring, comparisons, and how each one changes your bid.
QCBS, or Quality- and Cost-Based Selection, is the most common method development banks use to select consulting firms. This page explains how the combined technical and financial score works, when banks use it, and how it shapes your proposal.
QBS, or Quality-Based Selection, is the method development banks use to choose a consulting firm on the technical quality of its proposal alone, without scoring price. This page explains how QBS works, why technical quality dominates, when banks use it, and how it differs from QCBS.
CQS, or Selection Based on Consultants’ Qualifications, is the method development banks use for small consulting assignments, choosing the best-qualified firm rather than scoring full proposals. This page explains how CQS works, when banks use it, how it differs from QCBS, and how to prepare a winning expression of interest.
FBS, or Fixed-Budget Selection, is a consultant selection method development banks use when the budget for an assignment is fixed and disclosed in advance. This page explains how the best technical proposal within that budget wins, when banks use FBS, and how it differs from QCBS and LCS.
LCS, or Least-Cost Selection, is the method development banks use when the lowest price should win among consultants who clear a technical quality bar. This page explains how the technical threshold works, when banks use LCS, how it differs from QCBS, and how to prepare a bid for it.
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