Incorporating Social Equity into Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Project Bidding

11 pages•Published: July 23, 2025

Bharath Chandrasekar, Mehmet E. Ozbek and Asli Pelin Gurgun

Abstract

The paper presents a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework that integrates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to assist contractors in selecting which construction projects to bid on. AHP is used to assign weights to decision criteria, including bid amount, expected profit, company fit, social impact, project location, and contract terms. These weights are then applied in TOPSIS to rank projects based on their proximity to ideal solutions. The study seeks to understand how contractors prioritize these factors, with a focus on the role of social impact alongside financial and operational considerations. The results suggest that while social responsibility is acknowledged, practical and strategic factors such as financial viability and company fit often take precedence in the bidding process. This highlights the complexities contractors face in balancing multiple priorities while striving to align their project selection with both business objectives and evolving expectations around corporate social responsibility. The research offers valuable insights into how contractors can enhance their bidding strategies by considering a broader range of criteria, including the growing importance of social impact in the construction industry.

Keyphrases: ahp, bid/ no bid decision making, social impact, topsis

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference, vol 6, pages 552-562.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/WrFX
	https://doi.org/10.29007/bds6

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2025:Incorporating_Social_Equity_into,
  author    = {Bharath Chandrasekar and Mehmet E. Ozbek and Asli Pelin Gurgun},
  title     = {Incorporating Social Equity into Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Project Bidding},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {6},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/WrFX},
  doi       = {10.29007/bds6},
  pages     = {552-562},
  year      = {2025}}

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