Procurement teams scoping a crushing campaign often get a wide spread of quoted prices. Most of the variance isn't in the contractors' margins, it's in how each contractor interpreted the scope.
A tight brief produces tight quotes. Below is the structure we recommend, refined across hundreds of inbound enquiries.
1. Material and geology. Name the feedstock and its properties. Basalt and limestone wear plant very differently, and wear costs a contractor money they will price back into your rate. Say whether the material is blasted, stockpiled, or ROM feed.
2. Tonnage and timeframe. Quote a total programme tonnage, the required monthly rate, and the campaign window. Continuous programmes over 12 months attract a very different per-tonne rate to a short campaign.
3. Output specification. Attach the exact spec sheet and fraction sizes you need to produce. The difference between a 20-40mm base course and a 7-14mm sealing aggregate is a different circuit, and a different quote.
4. Site and access. Give plant footprint, access, power, water, and haulage constraints. Remote or FIFO sites change mobilisation and crew logistics materially between Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
5. Quality and reporting. State the QA regime and reporting cadence you require. Daily reporting against a published spec is standard and should be priced in scope, not discovered later.
6. Compliance. Confirm the WHS, EPA, and site induction obligations the contractor must meet. Specify any insurer or accreditation requirements up front.
7. Engagement model. Say whether you want contract crushing, a defined campaign, wet or dry plant hire, or a build-own-operate arrangement. These price differently and misclassifying them is the single biggest cause of unusable quotes.
8. Commercial parameters. State the payment terms, the pricing basis (per tonne, per week, or lump sum), and any liquidated damages or KPI incentives you expect to apply.
Download the template free at /downloads/rostrevor-tender-brief-template.pdf.