Question Types

3 different types of questions can be created within the Evaluations module of ProContract;

Library Question

Questions created in the library can be selected and added to Questionnaire templates. They will also store suppliers’ answers against them (validity period can be added if necessary).

 Questionnaire Question

A custom question, where the supplier is required to answer it online, however it is not saved in the library but only on that questionnaire template/project. These types of questions can be promoted to the library by administrators if required.

Question

This type is used when the supplier is not required to answer the question online i.e. Samples or Presentations. These can be hidden from suppliers, so long as the template allows it.

Data Types

This is the way that a supplier makes a response to the question and the data or information that you want the supplier to respond to the question with. It is selected from a drop-down list.

- Attachment -This will make the supplier respond by attaching at least one attachment. This can be any type of attachment, as required.

“Please attach a copy of your company’s Environmental Policy.”


- Checkbox - This will make the supplier respond by selecting one or more options from a selection of checkboxes, which will be determined on the next screen.

“Please indicate which of the following Certifications you have been awarded”


ISO27001

ISO29001

Etc…


- Date - This will make the supplier respond by specifying a date.

“What is the earliest date that the goods can be delivered?”


- Number – This will make the supplier respond by entering a number.

“How many staff do you currently employ?”


- Option – This will make the supplier select one option from a drop-down list, which are determined on the next screen.

“What level of Public Liability Insurance do you currently have?”


0-£1,000,000

£1,000,000.01 - £2,000,000

Etc…


- Radio – This will make the supplier by highlighting a radio button from a list, which will be determined on the next screen.

“What type of company do you class yourself as?”

Sole Trader

Partnership

Etc…


- Text – This will make a supplier respond by entering text. It is possible to restrict the number of characters that can be entered on the next screen.

“Please detail how any previous problems have been overcome.”


- Yes/No – This will make the supplier choose either Yes or No in their response. By choosing this data type the options are predefined and require no user input.

“Does your company have an Equal Opportunities Policy?”


Scoring Types


This specifies the way that you want the question to be scored, and this is key when scoring an evaluation. There are eight different score options to choose from in the drop down list.


- Automatic (Pass/Fail & Manually Scored) – This scoring option will automatically Pass or Fail a suppliers response based upon the parameters you set and the response that they give. If they pass then you can then also manually assign them a score based on their response.


-Automatic (Pass/Fail & Scored) – This scoring option will automatically Pass or Fail the suppliers response based on the paramenters that have been set and the response that has been given. If a supplier passes they will be automatically assigned a score based on the set-up of the question.


-Automatic (Pass/Fail) – This scoring option will automatically Pass or Fail a suppliers response based upon the parameters you set and the reponse that they have given.


 -Automatic (Scored) – This scoring option will automatically score a suppliers response based upon the parameters you set and their response.


-Manual (Pass/Fail & Scored) – This scoring option allow require you to manually Pass or Fail the response that has been given and then if they pass, manually assign a score.


-Manual (Pass/Fail) – This scoring option will allow you to manually pass or fail a suppliers response.


-Manually Scored – The question will be scored manually by the evaluator and entered into the scorecard based on the response.


-Not Scored – This question will not be scored at all, it is just for information.


Other Options


Mandatory: Select if the supplier must to answer this question in order to submit their response.


Allow Comment: Select if the supplier can add additional comments to the answer that they have given, which is useful for Yes/No responses where further information may be needed. (This can be set as mandatory or optional.)


Allow Attachment: Select if the supplier can add an attachment to the answer that they have given to the question. (This can be set as mandatory or optional.)

Note: This option cannot be used with the “Attachment” data type.


Data Types and their Additional Options

When an online question is set up, the data type that is selected for the supplier to respond with will affect the validation rules/options that are presented. These screens are all detailed below. Options and validation are set with some data types, but are not needed for all, such as the “Attachment” data type.



Checkbox/Radio/Option

Here the options that the supplier will be given to select from must be specified. The same process is followed for the checkbox, radio and option.


Date

If Date is chosen as the data type for this question, then you get the option to add validation rules to the date that a supplier can enter when making a response. A start date (earliest allowed) and an end date (latest allowed) can be specified so a supplier must enter a date between these two.

If no validation is required then no dates need to be entered and there will be no validation on the date range when the supplier responds, allowing them to select any date.


Text

If Text is chosen as the data type then a validation rule can be added to restrict the maximum number of characters (key strokes, including spaces) or words a supplier can respond with. If this is required, then enter the maximum number of characters/words allowed in the “Text Length” field. This is not mandatory so can be left unrestricted if required.