Planning guide · Published by Atlantis NDT

Compare NDT quotations by scope before comparing totals

Normalize deliverables, assumptions, exclusions and review responsibilities in competing inspection quotations.

Open the working brief Jump to the decision table ↓

Start with the decision you need to make

A lower quotation may describe a smaller scope rather than a more efficient service. Build a comparison around the asset population, examination requirements, preparation responsibilities and deliverables. Ask each bidder to make exclusions and provisional assumptions explicit. Keep technical capability confirmation separate from the commercial comparison. Where one proposal includes engineering review and another only supplies examination reports, resolve that difference before treating the totals as comparable.

What to check and why it matters

Use these questions to reveal missing evidence before deciding the next step.
Decision area	Evidence to prepare	Question to resolve
Scope baseline	Use the same asset list, drawings, method requirements and examination extent for each bidder. Record any questions that change the baseline.	Which quantity or requirement is still provisional?
Execution assumptions	Compare site preparation, access, work windows, standby conditions and report timing. Confirm who supplies each prerequisite.	Which owner-provided condition would change the price or schedule if unavailable?
Deliverable and review	List the reports, source files and review responsibilities included. Identify any separate engineering or certification service.	Does the quotation include the decision you need, or only the data feeding that decision?

Illustrative example · Not a customer case study

Apply the questions to a real-world situation

Hypothetical procurement: one bid includes a consolidated report register, while another prices individual reports only. The buyer records the difference and asks both providers to price the same handover requirement. A separate access assumption remains unresolved with the site team. The comparison can proceed transparently, with that dependency visible, instead of presenting a single total that conceals different obligations.

Prepare your working brief

Capture what is known and name the unresolved questions. You can use the worksheet without registering or sending information to Atlantis.

Common baseline: Reference the asset list, drawings and examination requirements sent to all bidders.
Assumptions: List quantities, access and scheduling assumptions requiring confirmation.
Deliverables: Specify report, register and source-data requirements.
Technical confirmation: Record credentials or approvals that the buyer must verify.
Commercial clarification: Identify exclusions or optional work to resolve before award.

Create and download your brief →

When you need project-specific support

Use the normalized brief to request industrial NDT inspection services. Confirm the current deliverables and fit for your requirement with the Atlantis team.

For unresolved programme questions, discuss NDT technical consulting. Confirm the current deliverables and fit for your requirement with the Atlantis team.

For a US enquiry, include the project state and time zone, the responsible employer or owner, and the documents governing the work. For other countries, include the relevant recognition or customer requirements. Delivery and availability are confirmed for the engagement.

Request an inspection scope review

Scope and further reading

This comparison does not verify a supplier’s credentials or establish service availability. Obtain written scope and capability confirmation before award.

Continue with the detailed companion guide, Maintaining an Inspection RFQ Clarification Log and Bid Assumptions, for a related evidence-handling workflow and its source references. The planning suggestions here are original discussion aids, not approved procedures or reproductions of standards.

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