How to Write a Power Supply RFQ That Suppliers Can Quote

Separate fixed requirements from open questions

A good request for quotation helps both sides understand what is being priced. Begin with the application and the purchasing goal: a catalog replacement, a new device launch, a bulk reorder or a custom project. Identify the requirements that are fixed and the choices where you would welcome an alternative.

For an OEM/ODM discussion, distinguish a cable, label or packaging change from a request for a new electrical design or enclosure. Ask the supplier to confirm feasibility, development work and any associated costs separately. Do not assume that every form of customization is available on every model.

Build a better power brief

Use the following checklist in your internal brief or paste the relevant items into an inquiry. Write “to be confirmed” where information is missing; an explicit open question is more useful than a guessed specification.

Application and load

Device type, required voltage, continuous current, peak demand and total power.

Connection

Connector drawing or dimensions, polarity, cable length and AC plug or inlet.

Installation

Available space, operating environment, mounting and cooling constraints.

Market documentation

Destination countries, required documents and the team responsible for reviewing them.

Order plan

Sample quantity, estimated initial order, expected repeat demand and target delivery timing.

Customization

Electrical changes, label artwork, cable, enclosure and packaging requirements.

For USB-C PD, add output profiles, port count and simultaneous-use requirements. For a battery charger, add battery chemistry, cell configuration, charging requirements and the pack datasheet. For an LED power project, provide the load’s required drive mode and electrical limits rather than only the lighting application name.

Make quotations comparable

Ask each supplier to quote against the same revision of your brief. Request that the quotation identify the model, proposed configuration, included accessories, quantity basis, currency, delivery basis and quote validity. Separate sample pricing and any tooling or development charges from production unit pricing.

If an alternative is proposed, record which requirement it changes. A lower unit price is difficult to assess if one offer includes a mains cord and retail packaging while another excludes both. Clarify lead time, payment terms, inspection expectations and warranty terms before selecting a configuration.

Define the sample decision and handoff

Decide who will evaluate samples and what evidence is needed for approval. Keep the device setup, required checks, documentation review and unresolved items in one record. The sample should represent the intended order configuration; document any differences before relying on the evaluation.

Before placing a bulk order, agree the final datasheet revision, approved label and packaging, sample acceptance record and process for later changes. This gives procurement and engineering a shared reference when repeat orders are discussed.

You do not need a perfect specification to begin a conversation. Send the requirements you know, identify what remains open and ask for configuration review. Voltivo Power’s inquiry form lets you add certification and customization requirements without making every optional field mandatory.