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An editable greenhouse RFQ method that forces owner inputs, supplier responses, scope boundaries and deviations into one reviewable file.
CFGET original buyer tool
Commercial Greenhouse RFQ Builder
Free editable Excel workbook with 6 working sheets. No email is required. Save a controlled project copy before the team begins entering evidence.
Three greenhouse quotations can show the same floor area and three very different projects. One includes controls and commissioning. Another assumes the buyer will install every cable. A third lists a ventilation system without stating the net opening area after insect screens.
Comparing the totals at that point is not procurement. It is guesswork.
Complete the owner side before asking for prices
The RFQ begins with the project brief: site, crop, production system, area, target crop-entry date, structural input, weather data, water report and electrical basis. If the owner leaves these blank, bidders must invent assumptions. Each supplier may invent a different one.
Yellow cells in the workbook mark owner or project-team inputs. They are intentionally blank. Fill them with a value, unit and controlled document reference. Where a target is not yet known, say who will decide it and when.
Ask for a response, not a brochure
The Requirements sheet has 48 lines. Each line asks for an owner target, supplier response, deviation, evidence and acceptance decision. A supplier can propose an alternative, but the alternative should be visible beside the original requirement.
For the structure, ask for the code basis, design assumptions, steel grades, member schedule, total steel weight, coating, bracing and connection standard. For ventilation, ask for net opening area, screen effect, drives, control groups and storm position. For controls, request the sequence of operation, sensor locations, alarm routing, data access and subscription boundary.
Give every interface one owner
| Interface | Question the RFQ must answer | Typical gap |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Who designs, supplies anchors, sets out and constructs it? | Frame loads and local soil work sit in separate proposals |
| Electrical | Where does incoming utility work end and supplier wiring begin? | Panels are included but field cable and earthing are not |
| Water | Who provides storage, treatment, drainage and source connection? | Irrigation equipment is priced without source-water treatment |
| Controls | Who supplies sensors, network, programming, remote access and data? | Equipment is controllable but not integrated |
| Acceptance | Who tests, witnesses, records and signs each result? | Startup is offered in place of commissioning |
Work through the six sheets in order
- Use Project Brief to issue one common project basis.
- Complete owner targets in Requirements, then require clause-by-clause supplier responses.
- Assign the buyer, supplier, local contractor or specialist in Scope Matrix.
- Use Deliverables to set document content, format, revision, due date and approval status.
- Review the dashboard on Start Here for owner inputs, missing responses and deviations.
- Replace orientation sources with the controlling local and project evidence.
Do not reward a bidder for leaving a cell blank. Silence should mean “awaiting response,” not “complies.” Resolve deviations before the price comparison, because a lower total may simply contain less work.
A useful issue rule
Issue the workbook as part of the RFQ package and require suppliers to return the same file. Do not accept a separate response that cannot be traced back to the requirement IDs. Keep clarifications with dates and named representatives so the accepted answer can move into the contract.
Keep the completed workbook with the project’s controlled documents. You can also review the CFGET download library, greenhouse climate control options, irrigation and fertilization systems, and the commissioning and handover guide.
A CFGET project view to use with the workbook
Greenhouse Quality Inspection gives the project team a visual reference. Watch for interfaces, access, equipment position and work sequence, then record project-specific findings in the workbook rather than treating the clip as a design specification.
Who prepared this workbook?
Frequently asked questions
How detailed should a greenhouse RFQ be?
Detailed enough that suppliers can price the same performance, scope and evidence boundary. Avoid specifying equipment before the project basis is known, but do not leave critical outcomes undefined.
Can a supplier propose a different greenhouse system?
Yes. Require the proposal to state the deviation, technical reason, effect on price and schedule, and evidence that the alternative meets the project need.
What should happen to RFQ clarifications after award?
Incorporate accepted clarifications and deviations into the contract document hierarchy. Do not leave the final scope scattered across email threads.
