Resin RFQ template: a free spec sheet for quoting plastic resin
An Excel and PDF template for purchasing teams, engineers and sourcing consultants. Use it with any supplier. No sign-up needed.
Updated October 2026
Request a QuoteThe short answer
A good resin RFQ gives each grade on its own line with the grade you run now, the key spec values as ranges with the test condition and method for each, annual volume and release quantity, packaging, ship-to location and the documents you need with each lot. Our free template lays that out in Excel (with drop-down lists) and as a printable PDF, plus a COA checklist by resin family and a list of documents to ask for.
Download the template
Resin RFQ template: four tabs (how to use, RFQ lines, COA checks, documents), one filled-in example row and a running total of annual volume.
Download Excel (.xlsx) Download PDF
Free to use and share with any supplier. Ready to send it? Upload it on our RFQ page or email quotes@resinbridge.com.
What the template asks for, and why
Most quoting delays come from missing details. These are the fields suppliers most often have to come back and ask about.
| Field | What to enter | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Grade you run now | Producer and grade name, from any supplier, plus the data sheet | The fastest way to a match. A chemist can read the grade sheet and compare like with like. |
| Description | Resin, copolymer type, filler and percentage, color | Lets a supplier quote an equivalent if your exact grade is tight. |
| Key spec values | Each value as a range you can accept, with its test condition and method | A melt flow of 20 only means something with the condition, for example 230°C / 446°F, 2.16 kg, ASTM D1238. See the MFI chart. |
| Annual volume and release quantity | Pounds per year and pounds per order | Sets packaging, freight and price breaks. See gaylord vs. LTL vs. truckload. |
| Packaging | Bags, gaylord box, bulk bag, bulk truck or railcar | Changes delivered cost per pound and what your plant can unload. |
| Compliance | Food contact, UL listing, medical or other requirements | Compliance is grade-specific, so the supplier must quote a grade that carries it. |
| Documents with each lot | COA values you need, SDS, FDA letter and so on | Agreed up front, so the first delivery is not held at receiving. |
| Equivalents OK? | Yes, yes after a trial, or this grade only | Tells the supplier whether to quote alternatives when your grade is short. |
How to write the spec values
- Give ranges, not typicals. Data sheet values are typical properties, not specifications. Say what range you can accept, for example melt flow 18 to 22 g/10 min.
- Name the test condition and method. Polyethylene melt index is measured at 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg and polypropylene at 230°C / 446°F, 2.16 kg, so the numbers do not compare. Impact and modulus values also differ between ASTM and ISO methods.
- Pick two or three values that matter for your part, usually flow (melt flow, viscosity or IV) plus density, VA content, filler level or impact. Long lists of typical properties slow quotes without adding control.
- Say how the part is approved. If a customer drawing or UL file names a grade, say so: the supplier then knows a substitute needs your approval first.
Not sure what a callout on your drawing means? Try the material code decoder, or look up a brand in the trade name decoder.
Values to check on the COA
The template’s COA tab lists these by resin family. Agree the list on the RFQ so each lot’s certificate shows them. More on reading one in what is a COA.
| Resin family | Values to check | Common test methods |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene | Melt index; density | ASTM D1238 at 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg; ASTM D792 or D1505 |
| Polypropylene | Melt flow rate | ASTM D1238 at 230°C / 446°F, 2.16 kg |
| EVA | VA content; melt index | ASTM D5594 (FTIR) or producer method; ASTM D1238 at 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg |
| Nylon | RV or VN; moisture as shipped | ASTM D789 (RV) or ISO 307 (VN); Karl Fischer or moisture analyzer |
| PET | Intrinsic viscosity; moisture | IV: ASTM D4603 or producer method; moisture: Karl Fischer or moisture analyzer |
| Polycarbonate | Melt flow rate | ASTM D1238 at 300°C / 572°F, 1.2 kg |
| ABS | Melt flow rate | ASTM D1238; check the condition (220°C / 428°F, 10 kg and 230°C / 446°F, 3.8 kg are both common) |
| Filled grades | Filler content | Ash by ASTM D5630 or producer method |
General guidance. Which values a producer reports varies, so ask before you approve a source.
Documents to ask for
- COA with every lot, showing the values you named.
- TDS for each grade at quote time.
- SDS before the first delivery.
- FDA food-contact letter for the exact grade if the part or film touches food. See FDA food-contact resin.
- UL yellow card (UL iQ listing) for electrical parts. See UL 94 ratings.
- Prop 65, REACH or RoHS statements when your customer requires them.
- Medical or USP Class VI data for medical devices and packaging. Many standard grades are sold as not for medical use.
- Change notification commitment for approved or validated parts.
Common RFQ mistakes
- Sending a part number or a color name with no resin or grade.
- Typical values copied from a data sheet as if they were the spec.
- No test condition on melt flow, so two suppliers quote different materials.
- Annual volume without a release quantity, or the reverse.
- Forgetting the FDA letter or UL listing until the first lot arrives.
- Asking for an exact grade only, when an approved equivalent would have shipped sooner.
Common questions
What should a resin RFQ include?
Each grade on its own line with the grade you run now, key spec values as ranges with test conditions and methods, annual volume, release quantity, packaging, ship-to location and the documents needed with each lot.
Is the template free to use with other suppliers?
Yes. Download it, fill it in and send it to any supplier. There is no sign-up.
Should I send the data sheet with the RFQ?
Yes. The data sheet for the grade you run now is the fastest way for a supplier to match it or propose an equivalent.
What is the difference between a data sheet value and a spec?
A data sheet lists typical properties for a grade. A spec is the range you will accept. The COA shows the measured value for each lot.
Can I send an RFQ for several grades at once?
Yes. Use one row per grade. Our RFQ page accepts the spreadsheet as an upload, and a polymer chemist reviews every line.
How fast does ResinBridge quote?
We aim to send your quote within one to three business days. Large packages and specialty grades can take longer.
If your grade is not listed, tell us what you run. We source commodity, engineering and specialty resins.
Prefer to send it to us now?
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Send your RFQ to a polymer chemist
Fill in the template or just list your grades. A polymer chemist reviews every line, confirms the exact grade or proposes an equivalent, and prices it.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade fits your part?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.