Supplier proposal comparison
Compare up to three industrial proposals across fifteen criteria. Surface missing information, hidden exclusions and basis differences — before anyone mentions price.
Quick answer
Compare industrial proposals on fifteen criteria in writing — price basis, guaranteed capacity, scope, installation, commissioning, warranty, lead time, energy, service, spares, payment terms, exclusions, automation and lifetime. Never compare headline prices quoted on different bases.
Inputs that matter
- Proposal price (currency)
- Criterion status (stated / not stated / excluded / unclear)
- Criteria covered (list)
How it is calculated
Completeness per proposal = stated criteria / 15 x 100. Divergence flag = any criterion where proposals differ in status (one stated while another excludes or omits). The model produces no ranking and no winner by design.
What the result means
- Documentation completeness — Not a supplier ranking
- Stated exclusions
- Clarification requests — Criteria not stated in writing
- Comparison risks — Criteria where proposals differ in basis
What is not included
- Does not rank, score or recommend suppliers, and never declares the cheapest proposal the winner.
- Completeness measures written commitment, not technical quality, delivery capability or commercial merit.
- Technical evaluation, reference checks and site visits remain the buyer's responsibility.
- Single-currency model. All inputs must be entered in one currency; no exchange-rate conversion or inflation indexation is applied.
- Pre-tax model. Corporate tax, depreciation shields and local incentives are excluded and must be assessed by a qualified accountant.
What must be confirmed
This is a preliminary planning estimate. Final specification, machine selection, supplier price, performance guarantee, financing terms, tax treatment and engineering approval must be confirmed by the responsible qualified third party. Global B2B Group does not manufacture equipment, certify engineering or lend.
Next step
Carry the result into a structured RFQ: Clarification gaps per supplier, Exclusion lists, Basis differences to equalize, Price basis and currency. You review and approve every transferred value — nothing is submitted automatically.
Engine version 1.2.0 · reviewed 2026-08-21 · full methodology
Short answer
Industrial proposals are compared on fifteen criteria, in writing: price basis, guaranteed capacity, scope, installation, commissioning, warranty, lead time, energy, service, spares, payment terms, exclusions, automation and design lifetime. The cheapest headline price is frequently the most expensive real offer once scope is equalized — which is why this tool never declares a winner.
Your proposals
Compare two or three proposals on the same fifteen criteria. Mark what each document actually states — not what was said on a call.
| Criterion | Supplier A | Supplier B |
|---|---|---|
Total price Headline figure, in one currency. | ||
Price basis (Incoterm) EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP… plus currency and validity date. | ||
Guaranteed capacity Throughput or output the supplier will guarantee, not the nominal nameplate. | ||
Scope of supply defined A line-item scope list with battery limits. | ||
Installation scope Who installs, supervises, provides rigging, civil interfaces. | ||
Commissioning & training Start-up, performance test support, operator training days. | ||
Warranty terms Duration, coverage, response time, what voids it. | ||
Lead time & delivery schedule Contractual delivery, not estimated. | ||
Energy efficiency data kWh/unit, connected load, efficiency at operating point. | ||
After-sales service Local service presence, response time, service contract terms. | ||
Spare parts package Commissioning spares, 2-year spares list, parts pricing policy. | ||
Payment terms Milestones, retention, guarantees required. | ||
Exclusions listed A written exclusions list — what the price does NOT cover. | ||
Automation & controls level PLC/SCADA scope, integration, cybersecurity provisions. | ||
Expected design lifetime Years / operating hours the equipment is designed for. |
Supplier A
0%documentation completeness — not a supplier ranking
0 of 15 criteria stated · 0 excluded · 15 missing
Request before deciding:
- Total price
- Price basis (Incoterm)
- Guaranteed capacity
- Scope of supply defined
- Installation scope
- Commissioning & training
- +9 more
Supplier B
0%documentation completeness — not a supplier ranking
0 of 15 criteria stated · 0 excluded · 15 missing
Request before deciding:
- Total price
- Price basis (Incoterm)
- Guaranteed capacity
- Scope of supply defined
- Installation scope
- Commissioning & training
- +9 more
This tool structures your own reading of supplier documents. It does not rank, recommend or endorse any supplier, and the lowest price is deliberately not highlighted as the winner. Completeness measures how much a proposal commits to in writing — nothing more. Global B2B Group is supplier-neutral: suppliers cannot pay for inclusion, ranking, placement or recommendation.
The five comparison failures this tool catches
1. Different price bases. An EXW price excludes freight, insurance, duties and on-site risk transfer; a DAP price includes them. Comparing the two headline figures is comparing different products. Always convert proposals to the same Incoterm and currency before any price discussion.
2. Silent exclusions. Installation, commissioning, training, rigging and spares are the classic silent exclusions — together often 20–35% of real installed cost. A proposal without a written exclusions list is an incomplete proposal, full stop.
3. Nameplate vs guaranteed capacity. Suppliers quote the capacity the machine was designed for; what matters is the capacity they will contractually guarantee at your operating point, with a performance test and remedies attached.
4. Missing energy and lifetime data. Energy, maintenance and downtime usually exceed the purchase price over a 10-year horizon. A proposal without energy data cannot enter a TCO comparison at all — request it before, not after, shortlisting.
5. Payment terms treated as an afterthought. Advance percentage, milestone structure and retention are financing terms. A 40% advance at a lower price can cost more than a 10% advance at a higher one once your cost of capital is included.
From comparison to clarification to RFQ
- Score the proposals here. Mark what each document states, excludes or leaves silent across the fifteen criteria.
- Send a clarification round. Every "not stated" becomes a written question; every "excluded" becomes a priced option. Serious suppliers answer clarification rounds quickly — slow or vague answers are themselves decision data.
- Re-issue as a structured RFQ. Once the gaps are known, convert the comparison into a formal RFQ so all suppliers bid the same scope, basis and acceptance criteria.
- Compare total cost, not price. Feed the equalized proposals into a 5- and 10-year TCO view before any award decision.
Turn the clarified scope into a supplier RFQ
Your comparison has already defined the scope questions. Start a structured RFQ so every qualified supplier bids the same basis — no re-entry of what you have already worked out.
Screening outputs only. Final scope, pricing and financing terms depend on technical specification, supplier quotations and lender approval.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare industrial equipment supplier proposals?
Compare proposals criterion by criterion, not by headline price: price basis (Incoterm and currency), guaranteed capacity, scope of supply, installation, commissioning, warranty, lead time, energy data, after-sales service, spares, payment terms, exclusions, automation level and design lifetime. Mark what each document states in writing; anything not stated is a question, not an assumption.
Why shouldn't I just pick the cheapest proposal?
Because headline prices are rarely quoted on the same basis. A lower price that excludes installation, commissioning and spares — or quotes EXW instead of DAP — can be the most expensive option once scope is equalized. This tool flags exactly those basis differences.
Does this tool rank or recommend suppliers?
No. It measures documentation completeness and surfaces comparison risks. It never ranks, scores or recommends a supplier, and it never declares the cheapest proposal the winner.
What are hidden exclusions in industrial proposals?
Costs a proposal does not cover but a project still needs: installation, rigging, commissioning, training, spare parts, duties, freight, civil interfaces, automation integration. If a supplier has not provided a written exclusions list, the real price has not been seen yet.
What project size does Global B2B Group work on?
Global B2B Group works on commercial and industrial projects from USD $250,000 upward. Smaller catalogue purchases are better served directly by a distributor or manufacturer.
This tool provides a preliminary, educational estimate for planning purposes. It is not a credit decision, a quotation or a commitment of any kind. Supplier-neutral: suppliers cannot pay for inclusion, ranking, placement or recommendation. Global B2B Group is compensated by the supplier side only after a project the buyer selected proceeds, and that fee does not influence who is invited or how bids are scored.
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Next step
The Procurement Operating System
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