I've separated staff handling, setter work and waiting in our pilot comparison. This carton-packing quote still leaves fixture development and recovery training unpriced, while the total looks temptingly final. What's a useful first paid stage when those answers aren't available yet?
They can price an initial study, but their draft excludes our operator's time and any sample fixture material. I've asked for those assumptions before agreeing the limit. A capped supplier invoice isn't the whole spend.
Scope is back with sample materials and our attendance identified. Study price still pending. My colleague and I will decide whether to fund the next stage after its result, not treat the study as a deposit on a cell.