Writing an RFQ for a Robot System: The Required Sections

The eleven sections every robotics RFQ needs

• Process description and current measured performance.
• Product range: size, weight, material, variants.
• Required output and cycle time, with the basis of the figure.
• Quality requirements and measurement method.
• Environment: temperature, dust, washdown, available space.
• Existing equipment and interfaces.
• Safety requirements and the applicable standards.
• Utilities available at the cell boundary.
• Deliverables: drawings, backups, manuals, training.
• Commercial terms: milestones, warranty, payment.
• Response format and the deadline for questions.

Ask for the same numbers from everyone

Handle the response as a table: cycle time, uptime assumption, delivery weeks, price, running cost estimate, and the assumptions the vendor used. Without a fixed format, a cheap offer and an expensive one are impossible to compare honestly.

State clearly that the lowest price is not automatically the winner. It changes how vendors bid — fewer hidden exclusions, better documentation.