diff --git a/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx b/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx
index ef50cbb..9c58348 100644
--- a/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx
@@ -468,16 +468,18 @@ export default function RoundDetailPage() {
       action: undefined as Route | undefined,
       actionLabel: undefined as string | undefined,
     },
-    {
-      label: 'File requirements set',
-      ready: (fileRequirements?.length ?? 0) > 0,
-      detail:
-        (fileRequirements?.length ?? 0) > 0
-          ? `${fileRequirements?.length} requirement(s)`
-          : 'No file requirements \u2014 configure in Config tab',
-      action: undefined as Route | undefined,
-      actionLabel: undefined as string | undefined,
-    },
+    ...((isEvaluation && !(config.requireDocumentUpload as boolean))
+      ? []
+      : [{
+          label: 'File requirements set',
+          ready: (fileRequirements?.length ?? 0) > 0,
+          detail:
+            (fileRequirements?.length ?? 0) > 0
+              ? `${fileRequirements?.length} requirement(s)`
+              : 'No file requirements \u2014 configure in Config tab',
+          action: undefined as Route | undefined,
+          actionLabel: undefined as string | undefined,
+        }]),
   ]
   const readyCount = readinessItems.filter((i) => i.ready).length
 
@@ -1738,25 +1740,27 @@ export default function RoundDetailPage() {
           {/* Evaluation Criteria Editor (EVALUATION rounds only) */}
           {isEvaluation && <EvaluationCriteriaEditor roundId={roundId} />}
 
-          {/* Document Requirements */}
-          <Card>
-            <CardHeader>
-              <CardTitle className="text-base">Document Requirements</CardTitle>
-              <CardDescription>
-                Files applicants must submit for this round
-                {round.windowCloseAt && (
-                  <> &mdash; due by {new Date(round.windowCloseAt).toLocaleDateString()}</>
-                )}
-              </CardDescription>
-            </CardHeader>
-            <CardContent>
-              <FileRequirementsEditor
-                roundId={roundId}
-                windowOpenAt={round.windowOpenAt}
-                windowCloseAt={round.windowCloseAt}
-              />
-            </CardContent>
-          </Card>
+          {/* Document Requirements — hidden for EVALUATION rounds unless requireDocumentUpload is on */}
+          {(!isEvaluation || !!(config.requireDocumentUpload as boolean)) && (
+            <Card>
+              <CardHeader>
+                <CardTitle className="text-base">Document Requirements</CardTitle>
+                <CardDescription>
+                  Files applicants must submit for this round
+                  {round.windowCloseAt && (
+                    <> &mdash; due by {new Date(round.windowCloseAt).toLocaleDateString()}</>
+                  )}
+                </CardDescription>
+              </CardHeader>
+              <CardContent>
+                <FileRequirementsEditor
+                  roundId={roundId}
+                  windowOpenAt={round.windowOpenAt}
+                  windowCloseAt={round.windowCloseAt}
+                />
+              </CardContent>
+            </Card>
+          )}
         </TabsContent>
 
         {/* ═══════════ AWARDS TAB ═══════════ */}
diff --git a/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/evaluate/page.tsx b/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/evaluate/page.tsx
index 0e969fa..18b761d 100644
--- a/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/evaluate/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/evaluate/page.tsx
@@ -299,14 +299,10 @@ export default function JuryEvaluatePage({ params: paramsPromise }: PageProps) {
     )
   }
 
-  // Check if round is active and voting window is open
-  const now = new Date()
+  // Check if round is active — round status is the primary gate for evaluations
   const isRoundActive = round.status === 'ROUND_ACTIVE'
-  const isWindowOpen = isRoundActive &&
-    round.windowOpenAt && round.windowCloseAt &&
-    new Date(round.windowOpenAt) <= now && new Date(round.windowCloseAt) >= now
 
-  if (!isWindowOpen) {
+  if (!isRoundActive) {
     return (
       <div className="space-y-6">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
@@ -325,9 +321,7 @@ export default function JuryEvaluatePage({ params: paramsPromise }: PageProps) {
             <div>
               <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">Evaluation Not Available</h2>
               <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-1">
-                {!isRoundActive
-                  ? 'This round is not currently active. Evaluations can only be submitted during an active round.'
-                  : 'The voting window for this round is not currently open. Please check back when the window opens.'}
+                This round is not currently active. Evaluations can only be submitted during an active round.
               </p>
               <Button variant="outline" size="sm" className="mt-4" asChild>
                 <Link href={`/jury/competitions/${roundId}/projects/${projectId}` as Route}>
diff --git a/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/page.tsx b/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/page.tsx
index 9c3a616..52b4dd6 100644
--- a/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(jury)/jury/competitions/[roundId]/projects/[projectId]/page.tsx
@@ -27,11 +27,8 @@ export default function JuryProjectDetailPage() {
     { enabled: !!roundId }
   )
 
-  // Determine if voting is currently open
-  const now = new Date()
-  const isVotingOpen = round?.status === 'ROUND_ACTIVE' &&
-    round?.windowOpenAt && round?.windowCloseAt &&
-    new Date(round.windowOpenAt) <= now && new Date(round.windowCloseAt) >= now
+  // Round status is the primary gate for evaluations
+  const isVotingOpen = round?.status === 'ROUND_ACTIVE'
 
   if (isLoading) {
     return (
diff --git a/src/app/(jury)/jury/page.tsx b/src/app/(jury)/jury/page.tsx
index c113d99..318fa93 100644
--- a/src/app/(jury)/jury/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(jury)/jury/page.tsx
@@ -357,12 +357,7 @@ async function JuryDashboardContent() {
                       const evaluation = assignment.evaluation
                       const isCompleted = evaluation?.status === 'SUBMITTED'
                       const isDraft = evaluation?.status === 'DRAFT'
-                      const isVotingOpen =
-                        assignment.round.status === 'ROUND_ACTIVE' &&
-                        assignment.round.windowOpenAt &&
-                        assignment.round.windowCloseAt &&
-                        new Date(assignment.round.windowOpenAt) <= now &&
-                        new Date(assignment.round.windowCloseAt) >= now
+                      const isVotingOpen = assignment.round.status === 'ROUND_ACTIVE'
 
                       return (
                         <div
diff --git a/src/components/admin/rounds/config/evaluation-config.tsx b/src/components/admin/rounds/config/evaluation-config.tsx
index 4e8f3c5..60ed85f 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/rounds/config/evaluation-config.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/rounds/config/evaluation-config.tsx
@@ -143,6 +143,18 @@ export function EvaluationConfig({ config, onChange }: EvaluationConfigProps) {
             />
           </div>
 
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+            <div>
+              <Label htmlFor="requireDocumentUpload">Require Document Upload</Label>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Applicants must upload documents for this evaluation round (disable if documents were uploaded in a previous round)</p>
+            </div>
+            <Switch
+              id="requireDocumentUpload"
+              checked={(config.requireDocumentUpload as boolean) ?? false}
+              onCheckedChange={(v) => update('requireDocumentUpload', v)}
+            />
+          </div>
+
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
             <div>
               <Label htmlFor="peerReviewEnabled">Peer Review</Label>
diff --git a/src/types/competition-configs.ts b/src/types/competition-configs.ts
index e407576..51d0ffd 100644
--- a/src/types/competition-configs.ts
+++ b/src/types/competition-configs.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ export const EvaluationConfigSchema = z.object({
   feedbackMinLength: z.number().int().nonnegative().default(0),
   requireAllCriteriaScored: z.boolean().default(true),
 
+  requireDocumentUpload: z.boolean().default(false),
+
   coiRequired: z.boolean().default(true),
 
   peerReviewEnabled: z.boolean().default(false),