Blind Multi-Stage Scoring Auctions with Value Function Estimation
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Government procurement often suffers from subjectivity because reviewers rely on variable and partially unknown value functions to score multi-attribute bids. We address this challenge with a few-shot value function estimation framework and propose a greedy online heuristic solver that incrementally approximates both the structure and weights of the underlying value function. We apply the algorithm to a public works case study, where our results show that a 7-attribute value function can be accurately recovered in under 20 iterations, enabling bidders to adapt quickly and effectively in multi-stage scoring auctions.