TCREI is a prompting methodology developed by Google that provides a structured framework for crafting effective AI prompts. The acronym stands for: Task, Context, Reference, Evaluate, Iterate.

This methodology ensures you get high-quality, accurate outputs from AI by providing complete information and systematically refining results.

Purpose: Clearly specify what you want the AI to do

Elements of a Good Task Definition:

Poor Task: "Write something about our approach"

Good Task: "Write a 1,200-word methodology section explaining our phased implementation approach for a municipal government tender. The section should be formal, professional, and demonstrate our understanding of public sector requirements."

Purpose: Give AI the situational awareness needed to generate appropriate content

Types of Context to Provide:

Example Context:
"This tender is for IT infrastructure services for a municipality with 50,000 residents. The client has had problems with their current provider's response times. Our win strategy is to emphasize our 4-hour response SLA and local presence. We have 15 years of experience in municipal IT but this would be our first contract in this specific region. The tender requires a formal, structured response with specific headings."

Purpose: Direct AI to specific documents and information sources to ensure accuracy

How to Provide References:

Example Reference:
"Please base your response on: (1) Tender requirements document pages 8-12, (2) Our company profile for team and experience details, (3) Our standard SLA template for service level commitments, (4) The client's current challenges described in the background section. Do not invent any facts - only use information from these sources."

Purpose: Systematically review AI output against your requirements and sources

Evaluation Checklist:

Completeness:

Accuracy:

Relevance:

Quality:

Compliance:

How to Evaluate in TenderB:

Purpose: Systematically improve the output based on evaluation findings

Iteration Process:

Step 1: Identify Specific Issues
Based on evaluation, list specific problems:

Step 2: Request Targeted Improvements
Provide specific, actionable feedback:

"Please revise the methodology section to: (1) Make the timeline more specific with exact week numbers and milestones, (2) Add a section on monthly reporting requirements as specified on page 15 of the tender, (3) Change '24/7 support' to 'business hours support with emergency on-call', (4) Replace generic examples with specific case studies from our municipal projects in the company profile."

Step 3: Re-Evaluate
After revisions, evaluate again using the same checklist.

Step 4: Repeat Until Satisfied
Continue the Evaluate-Iterate cycle until output meets all requirements.

Typical Iteration Sequence:

Task:
"Write a 1,500-word Project Management Methodology section for a tender response. The section should explain our approach to managing IT infrastructure projects, demonstrate our understanding of public sector requirements, and address all evaluation criteria on page 18 of the tender document."

Context:
"This is a tender for IT infrastructure modernization for a regional government agency with 500 employees. They've had issues with previous projects running over budget and missing deadlines. Our win strategy is to emphasize our structured project management approach, transparent communication, and track record of on-time, on-budget delivery in the public sector. We use Prince2 methodology. The evaluators are IT managers and procurement professionals."

Reference:
"Please base your response on: (1) Tender evaluation criteria on page 18, (2) Our Prince2 project management framework document, (3) Case studies from our company profile showing public sector projects, (4) The client's stated concerns about budget and timeline control in the tender background section. Ensure all claims are supported by these references."

Evaluate (after AI generates content):
"Please evaluate the Project Management Methodology section against: (1) All evaluation criteria on page 18 are addressed, (2) Prince2 methodology is accurately described, (3) All case study references are accurate, (4) Word count is between 1,400-1,600 words, (5) Budget and timeline control measures are prominent. Provide an evaluation report."

Iterate (based on evaluation findings):
"Please revise to: (1) Add more detail about budget tracking and reporting (evaluation criterion 3), (2) Include a specific example of how we recovered a project that was trending over budget, (3) Add a visual diagram showing our project governance structure, (4) Strengthen the section on risk management with specific techniques we use."

Using the 3-Dot Menu to Edit Agents:

Building a Prompt Library: