Vendor Comparison Guide (Cold Chain)
Comparing cold-chain suppliers on headline price alone is the fastest way to overspend on your project's lifetime cost. Use this framework to compare like-for-like.
Normalise every bid on lifecycle cost (capex + 10-year opex), delivery risk, technology fit and after-sales support. Publish the weights inside your RFQ so bidders self-optimise.
Normalise scope
Force every bidder onto the same BOQ. Exceptions and 'alternatives' go in a separate register and are priced against the base scope.
Lifecycle cost (LCC)
Capex + 10 years of energy + maintenance + refrigerant top-up + downtime cost. Discount at your WACC. Often flips the ranking vs headline price.
Delivery risk
Factory lead time, logistics route, in-region service network, spare parts stocking, project references at similar scale.
Technology fit
Refrigerant compatibility with your F-gas roadmap, controls open-protocol vs proprietary, IoT integration, energy-efficiency features.
After-sales
Warranty length and coverage, response SLA, preventive maintenance packages, training, digital service.
Copy this checklist into your project workspace
- BOQ normalised across all bids
- Exceptions register maintained
- 10-year energy cost modelled
- Maintenance cost modelled
- Refrigerant top-up cost modelled
- Downtime cost per hour agreed
- WACC applied to LCC
- Delivery risk scored
- Technology fit scored
- After-sales scored
- Weighted total published
- Top 2–3 invited to BAFO
Frequently asked questions
How much does headline price differ from lifecycle cost?
Typically 15–35% on industrial refrigeration plants — the lowest capex is rarely the lowest 10-year cost once energy is included.
Which weightings should I use?
For turnkey: LCC 45%, delivery risk 20%, technology fit 20%, after-sales 15%. For equipment-only: LCC 60%, delivery risk 20%, technology 10%, after-sales 10%.