The quality of the quotes you receive is set by the quality of the request you send. A clear RFP (request for proposal) gets you accurate, comparable bids; a vague one gets padded estimates and apples-to-oranges responses. Use the structure below as a template when approaching a peptide CDMO.
What to include in a peptide CDMO RFP
1. Project overview
- Stage (discovery, preclinical, clinical phase, commercial)
- Objective and decision timeline
- Confidentiality / CDA status
2. Molecule details
- Sequence and length (under CDA)
- Modifications (cyclization, conjugation, labels, non-natural amino acids)
- Known difficult positions or prior batch history
3. Scope & scale
- Quantity required and target delivery date
- Purity grade and net peptide content (see purity grades)
- Salt form / counterion requirements
4. Quality & regulatory
- Grade: research or GMP
- Documentation needed (CoA, batch records, CMC support)
- Regulatory destination (IND/IMPD, commercial)
5. Analytics & specifications
- Required release tests and any draft specification
- Stability requirements
6. Commercial
- Budget range and pricing model expectations
- Future scale-up intentions
Tip: state your future scale, not just today’s order. A CDMO that knows you intend to scale will propose a route built for it — saving a costly re-development later.
How to evaluate the responses
Score bids on more than price: range of scale, quality systems, analytical depth, regulatory support and communication all matter, as set out in our how to choose a peptide CDMO checklist. Watch for vague answers on quality or an unclear path beyond clinical quantities — both are red flags. Realistic lead times are a sign of an honest bid.