How should you compare material vendor quotes?

A cover-sheet total cannot tell you whether two vendors priced the same scope. The useful comparison sits at the line level, against the list the contractor intends to buy.

What should every vendor quote be compared against?

Use one contractor-owned material list as the row authority. Map every vendor line to that list. Keep extra vendor lines, alternates, and exclusions visible instead of forcing them into the nearest item.

What should be normalized before you rank vendors?

• QuantityShow the quote quantity beside the bid quantity.
• UnitConvert only with an explicit, valid conversion.
• Price basisSeparate unit price, freight, tax, discount, and allowance.
• RevisionName the quote and revision that supplied the price.

How should quote gaps appear?

NO QUOTE, not offered, not mapped, and needs review mean different things. Preserve the difference. A blank cell hides the next action and makes a low total look more complete than it is.

Should the lowest vendor price always carry?

Lowest price is useful information. The estimator may still choose another vendor because of scope, availability, freight, terms, or a relationship that reduces execution risk. Record the selected vendor and basis on each row. Split awards are normal when the evidence supports them.

What should an estimator review before pricing reaches the bid?

1. Every required row has a price or an explicit gap.
2. Each price points to a quote, revision, page, and line.
3. Quantity and unit differences are visible.
4. Freight, tax, discounts, and allowances have a named basis.
5. The estimator confirmed each selected carry.
6. The exported workbook preserves the contractor's original sheet.

How does Coffer compare vendor quotes?

Coffer maps each vendor quote to the contractor's list, prepares a line-by-line comparison, and keeps gaps explicit. The estimator selects the carried price. Those decisions stay connected to the workbook and the purchase orders that follow award.