The Best Clinical RFPs We’ve Ever Seen
We see a ton of RFPs at Xerimis. At this point in our growth, we know what information a company needs to provide to determine if we’re a good fit for their trial. But RFPs are still a good way for us to get on the same page with a prospect, some of whom don’t have as much experience in the industry.
The obvious goal of an RFP is a quote, as well as an estimated service timeline. It’s the first outward-facing step toward deciding on a packaging vendor. RFPs (also referred to as RFQs, or “requests for quote”) can provide so much more. The RFP process is a discussion between us and the requestee (sponsor/CRO) that hones in on the finest of details. We’ll pose a variety of questions to the requestee , the requestee has questions for us, and at the end, everyone has a clear picture of the job, who’s doing what, and the costs.
We tend to see two types of RFPs. The first type is what we call ballpark estimates: the requestee knows what services they will need and looks to us to give them an estimated quote based on our experience. These requestees tend to be working on a budget deadline.
In these situations, we need the following specifics:
- Location of clinical sites
- Total number of clinical sites
- Dosage form
- Type of packaging needed
- Approximate quantity
The second type of RFP we call comprehensive estimates.
The RFP provided includes more detailed study specific information. Comprehensive estimates tend to center around temperature requirements, comparative sourcing, treatment group quantities, return accountability and destruction, translation needs, and more.
We guarantee a quote within five business days as long as two conditions are met:
The client fills out the entire questionnaire we send
Unanswered questions lead to an incomplete RFP process and a longer turnaround time. If you have questions as you complete the questionnaire, reach out to us instead of leaving any required fields blank.
Know what service you are seeking
Clinical trial drug packaging’s nomenclature can be confusing. Do you need primary packaging, secondary packaging, label generation, or label assembly? Do you need them all?
A quick refresher course: Primary packaging refers to bottle fill or blistering for tablets or capsules. Secondary packaging is the seal that locks a tablet into its protective blister card or blister wallet. Label generation is the design of labels. Label and assembly refers to affixing them to a fully packaged drug, or putting the fully packaged drugs into a larger kit, if applicable.
Xerimis often receives RFPs with voids about the type of trial being conducted. Is it blinded? Open label? Randomized? These details are crucial to quote generation. Again, a Xerimis team member is happy to provide clarity as needed.
A final note: having the right point-of-contact within a company is crucial. Ideally, we speak to someone in clinical supplies who understands the details of the study. This helps us avoid miscommunication that sometimes results from the information transfer. When we’re speaking the same ‘language,’ everybody wins.
In Xerimis’ experience, a complete RFP is often the indicator of a smooth packaging and labeling process. We look forward to answering yours!