1. Confirm the active amount—not only the fish-oil weight
One proposal may describe 1,000 mg fish oil while another lists EPA and DHA amounts. Those values are not interchangeable. Compare the EPA and DHA per capsule and intended serving, then verify the oil specification and basis used to support them.
2. Match oil and finished format
Record oil form, concentration, fill weight, capsule shape/dimensions, shell, serving, count and pack. Small differences can change raw-material costs, tooling fit, label declarations and freight.
3. Normalize MOQ and unit terms
“MOQ 1,000” is incomplete without a unit: softgels, bottles, boxes, cases or a batch size. Confirm count per pack, case configuration, number of SKUs, packaging materials and whether the MOQ applies to each formula or combined order.
4. Find the start point of lead time
Ask whether timing begins after deposit, specification approval, artwork approval, raw-material availability, sample approval or another event. Confirm whether testing, packaging procurement, document review and transit are inside or outside the quoted period.
5. Compare the actual delivery basis
Put the Incoterm and named place on every proposal. Ask whether freight, insurance, export clearance, import duty, taxes, registration and local delivery are included. Avoid comparing an ex-works unit price with a delivered price.
6. Compare evidence and exclusions
List product and batch documents, requested test panels, sample costs, label/artwork work, payment terms, change-control rules and every exclusion. Make the quote reference the same final specification revision.
Use the RFQ checklist to collect the inputs first.