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Two radar quotations can list the same tank height and output while including different antennas, process connections and commissioning work. Comparing 80 GHz vs 26 GHz radar quotations means checking what will be delivered, not assigning a benefit or price premium to the frequency alone.
Put both suppliers on the same operating case
Issue one tank drawing and one process requirement set, with revision numbers. Include the actual medium, operating temperatures and pressures, near and far distances, nozzle and receiving input. If one offer assumes clean water while the other allows for the specified product, their prices do not represent the same duty.
Ask each proposal to identify assumptions explicitly. A nominal range is not a statement about performance in every liquid or surface condition. Record the acceptance observation that will resolve any uncertain application point rather than leaving a general promise of stable measurement in the quotation.
Read 80 GHz vs 26 GHz radar quotations line by line
| Quoted item | MV-RD12 example | MV-RD902 example |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna | The published liquid model uses a 32 mm PTFE lens with an 8-degree nominal beam. | The listed stainless-steel horns are 46, 76 and 96 mm; the offer must identify which one. |
| Distance interval | The published interval is 0.1-30 m; include the actual antenna reference. | The published interval is 0.3-30 m; check the upper surface against that configuration. |
| Process assembly | Specify the connection, exposed materials and required pressure-temperature duty. | Identify horn, connection, seal and temperature version as one proposed assembly. |
| Electrical option | State the selected 4-20 mA/HART or RS485 version, not an unqualified list of both. | Obtain the corresponding power and terminal documents for the offered electronics. |
The MV-RD12 and MV-RD902 are examples of configurations to identify, not evidence that either is already approved for the enquiry. A generic brochure attached to a price does not resolve missing options.
Price the work outside the transmitter box
Clarify responsibility for mounting adapters, process seals, cable glands, barriers where required, host configuration and site testing. Some items may be supplied by the project rather than the instrument vendor. Mark that responsibility instead of assuming an accessory is included because it appears in a drawing.
Separate commissioning assistance from instrument configuration. Loading a range before shipment is not the same as checking the real tank echo or validating the PLC display. State whether the quotation includes remote review, site attendance or neither, and obtain confirmation rather than implying a service commitment.
Compare delivery and warranty terms as quoted for the actual configuration. Do not infer stock availability, lead time or interchangeability from a familiar model. For spares, state which parts can be replaced under the documented procedure and which require assessment of the complete assembly.
Q1. Can a cheaper offer with a smaller horn be accepted directly?
Accept it only after the proposed horn and installation drawing have been reviewed against the same tank requirement. Check clearance, position and the beam data for that antenna over the required measuring interval. Ask the offer to identify the changed configuration and any excluded accessories or commissioning work. A lower unit price is not a comparable saving if those differences remain unresolved.
Q2. What should happen to a blank compliance field?
Return the field for an explicit response and keep it unresolved until the required evidence is available. Name the applicable requirement, offered model and configuration, and the document expected to support the response. Neither a blank box nor a general brochure establishes compliance. Resolve any exception before treating the offers as technically equivalent or releasing the order.
Q3. What makes an alternative offer acceptable?
An acceptable alternative identifies the departures from the requested configuration and their consequences for fit, process exposure, measurement, wiring and maintenance. It also identifies who will supply any additional parts or work. The responsible project reviewer should accept those differences in writing before the revised price is compared with an offer that meets the original scope.
Summary
Choose an offer whose supplied configuration and responsibilities are clear. Request an itemised MV-RD12 or MV-RD902 proposal against the same tank specification so technical exceptions and missing scope can be resolved before ordering.
