Laboratory Casework and Fume Hood RFQ Form: Fields That Matter

Overview

A laboratory furniture RFQ should help the project team answer:

Current lab-furniture companies already use this structure.

PSA Laboratory Furniture currently asks customers to:

That is a strong commercial pattern.

• What kind of lab is being built or renovated?
• Which furniture and hood categories are involved?
• Are plans or specifications available?
• Does the customer need design support?
• Is installation part of the scope?
• What schedule drives the project?

1. select laboratory furniture;
2. upload artwork or a plan;
3. provide the project timeline;
4. provide contact information.

Field 1: Organization and requester

Collect:

Useful roles can include:

• organization;
• contact;
• role;
• email;
• phone.
• facilities;
• lab manager;
• architect;
• lab planner;
• GC;
• procurement;
• project manager;
• research/operations.

Field 2: Project name and location

Collect:

Location affects:

• project name;
• city/state/region;
• site address when appropriate.
• delivery;
• installation;
• service territory;
• project coordination.

Field 3: Laboratory type / industry

Useful options can include:

• research;
• education;
• pharmaceutical/biotech;
• healthcare;
• food/beverage;
• industrial/QC;
• environmental/water;
• government;
• other.

Field 4: New construction or renovation

Options:

• new laboratory;
• renovation;
• expansion;
• phased replacement;
• single-product replacement;
• not sure.

Field 5: Project stage

Useful choices:

This helps the supplier understand what level of proposal is realistic.

• early planning;
• schematic/design;
• construction documents;
• bidding;
• awarded/under construction;
• replacement/service request.

Field 6: Products needed

PSA currently branches around casework, fume hoods, services and flexible systems.

A provider can use its actual product categories:

• casework;
• fume hoods;
• benches/tables;
• work surfaces;
• sinks/fixtures;
• shelving;
• flexible/modular systems;
• accessories;
• multiple categories;
• not sure.

Field 7: Approximate quantity

Allow:

Do not force a buyer to convert a plan into a fake item count.

• room/lab count;
• cabinet run length;
• hood count;
• bench/table count;
• furniture schedule;
• not sure.

Field 8: Floor plan or sketch

Ask:

This is often more useful than paragraphs of description.

• plan attached;
• room sketch attached;
• plan forthcoming;
• no plan yet.

Field 9: Specifications / RFP

Allow:

• project specification;
• bid package;
• furniture schedule;
• RFP;
• scope document;
• none yet.

Field 10: Design support

Options:

Do not imply the supplier provides licensed engineering unless it actually does.

• design complete;
• design by architect/lab planner;
• layout support requested;
• product selection support requested;
• not sure.

Field 11: Casework preference

Where relevant:

Only show materials the business actually supplies.

• steel;
• wood;
• modular/flexible;
• provider recommendation;
• specified product line;
• not sure.

Field 12: Work-surface preference

Where supported:

The project team should verify compatibility with the actual lab use.

• epoxy;
• phenolic;
• stainless;
• other actual material;
• specified;
• not sure.

Field 13: Fume hood context

If fume hoods are selected, ask at a high level:

Do not use the web form to size exhaust or certify containment.

• quantity;
• type specified;
• size if known;
• project spec attached;
• replacement vs new;
• provider recommendation.

Field 14: Utilities / MEP coordination

At a high level:

The form should collect coordination context, not design the utilities.

• water;
• gas;
• power/data;
• vacuum/compressed air;
• exhaust/BAS coordination;
• by others;
• not sure.

Field 15: Installation

Ask:

• supply only;
• installation required;
• installation by GC/other;
• not sure.

Field 16: Delivery / site access

Useful context:

• loading dock;
• freight elevator;
• limited access;
• active/occupied facility;
• phased delivery;
• construction site;
• not sure.

Field 17: Desired delivery date

Separate product delivery from installation.

Field 18: Desired installation / occupancy date

Collect:

• install target;
• lab opening/occupancy;
• phased dates;
• flexible.

Field 19: Budget context

Optional:

• budget established;
• budget range;
• bid/RFP;
• need budget guidance;
• not sure.

Field 20: Notes

Prompt:

Describe the laboratory project, products needed, plans/specifications available, installation scope and the schedule the project team should review.

What the form should not decide

Do not automatically calculate:

Those belong to qualified project workflows.

• final layout;
• fume hood airflow;
• exhaust sizing;
• utility design;
• code compliance;
• product certification;
• final BOM;
• fabrication sequence;
• installation crew schedule.

Single product vs full project

Confirmation message

Use:

Thanks. We received your laboratory project request. Our team will review the product scope, plans/specifications, installation needs and project timeline and contact you about the next step.

Avoid:

Your lab design is approved.

or:

Your fume hood is certified.

Collect enough to start a project review without pretending the laboratory has already been designed

A strong RFQ lets the specialist see the project shape quickly and ask smarter follow-up questions.

Explore OneStudio features, compare plans, or review the turnkey website service.

Questions businesses ask