Supply-Only vs Delivered vs Installed Unitized Curtain Wall Quotes
Why Quotation Labels Are Not Enough
A unitized curtain wall quotation may be described as supply-only, delivered-to-site, technical support, supervised, or installed. These labels are useful starting points, but they do not by themselves define the complete scope. Two quotations using the same label may still assign packaging, unloading, storage, lifting, installation, adjustment, replacement, inspection, or handover to different parties.
There are three primary commercial scope models: supply-only or factory collection; delivered-to-site; and installed or supply-and-install. Technical support, design assistance, training, and supervision are a separate service layer. They may be added to any primary model, but they do not automatically equal installation labor.
These are review categories, not automatic legal or contractual allocations. The exact boundary must be stated in the quotation, scope-of-supply schedule, responsibility matrix, project documents, and qualified professional review.
This article helps buyers compare quotation models after receiving supplier proposals. It does not recommend a universally cheapest, safest, fastest, or best model. It does not teach Incoterms, customs, tax, insurance, engineering responsibility, BIM, shop drawings, full installation methods, or multi-bid leveling.
Direct Answer: What Are the Main Quotation Scope Models?
Supply-only / factory collection
This may focus on unitized panels, specified materials, and defined factory activities. State whether it stops at factory release, loading, collection, or another named point. Packaging, transport, unloading, storage, lifting, installation, replacement, records, and handover must be identified separately.
Delivered-to-site
This may cover transport to a stated endpoint. It does not automatically include unloading, receiving inspection, storage, weather protection, movement to an installation floor, lifting, installation, replacement, or handover.
Installed / supply-and-install
This may combine product supply, factory work, delivery, site handling, lifting, installation labor, supervision, adjustment, replacement, inspection, and handover. Still require a line-item scope and exclusions.
Technical support / supervision
Advice, coordination, training, site visits, observation, supervision, or design assistance are separate activities. They do not automatically equal installation labor.
Supply-Only, Ex-Works, or Factory-Collection Scope
A supply-only quote should state exactly what the supplier will provide and where its stated activities stop. Ask whether the scope includes:
- unitized panels and specified materials;
- factory assembly, glazing, sealing, inspection, and labeling;
- factory-release status and release records;
- packaging, loading, and collection readiness;
- collection from the factory, terminal, or another named point;
- transport arrangement or carrier appointment;
- damage or shortage records after release or collection;
- replacement units, re-delivery, or reinstallation; and
- product records, manuals, training, or handover documents.
Do not infer that supply-only includes packaging, loading, transport, unloading, storage, lifting, installation, inspection, replacement, or handover. Do not infer that it excludes them without reading the stated quotation. The relevant question is which activities, documents, and responsibilities are expressly Included, Optional, Excluded, Subject to Confirmation, or an Open Question.
Factory work and release
Where factory work is included, identify assembly, glazing, sealing, dimensional checks, labeling, inspection, rework, storage, and factory-release records as applicable. Factory release is a workflow or project status; it is not automatically site receiving, installation approval, final acceptance, certification, or code compliance.
Packing, loading, and collection
Clarify the package or crate basis, loading responsibility, collection window, collection location, labels, visible-condition records, and point at which the next party assumes handling. Do not add a trade-term or insurance interpretation to the label. Those matters belong in applicable project and commercial documents.
Activities after release
A supply-only quote may leave transport, unloading, storage, lifting, installation, adjustment, replacement, and handover to other parties. Name the expected party or mark the item Subject to Confirmation or Open Question rather than leaving the boundary implicit.
Delivered-to-Site Scope
“Delivered-to-site” should be accompanied by an exact endpoint and post-arrival scope. Possible endpoints include a gate, site entrance, unloading area, warehouse, depot, receiving zone, floor, or another project-defined location. This article does not determine which endpoint applies.
- appointment and receiving-window coordination;
- transport to the stated endpoint;
- unloading labor or equipment;
- receiving inspection, package count, and visible-damage records;
- temporary storage and weather protection;
- movement from the receiving area to the installation zone;
- lifting equipment, operators, crane, hoist, access equipment, or staging;
- damage reporting, replacement, and re-delivery; and
- installation, supervision, adjustment, records, and handover.
The boundary should be connected to site-readiness assumptions, receiving arrangements, and named responsibilities. This article does not teach Incoterms, customs, duties, taxes, insurance, title, or trade-risk allocation. Those subjects belong in applicable delivery and contract documents and should be reviewed by relevant professional teams.
Technical Support, Design Assistance, Training, and Supervision
Technical support is often used as a broad phrase. Break it into activities before comparing it with an installed quote. Ask whether the supplier offers:
- technical answers and coordination meetings;
- product or system information;
- installation guidance or training;
- remote support or site visits;
- observation or supervision of another party’s work;
- site measurement or condition review;
- installation labor and tools;
- site adjustment or rework;
- inspection records and reports; and
- handover documentation.
“Supervision” may mean observation, guidance, coordination, management, or another stated activity. It does not automatically mean that the supplier performs installation labor. “Design assistance” is not automatically delegated design. Engineering responsibility, BIM, calculations, and shop-drawing scope should be stated separately.
The quote should state support activities, limits, frequency, deliverables, site presence, exclusions, and responsible party. If support is only advisory, do not treat it as labor, equipment provision, installation, or completed-work responsibility.
Installed or Supply-and-Install Scope
An installed quotation should describe the complete sequence it covers rather than relying on the word “installed.” Ask whether the offer includes:
- product supply and factory activities;
- packaging and delivery basis;
- unloading, receiving, and storage;
- lifting equipment, operators, access, and staging;
- installation labor, tools, consumables, and supervision;
- floor release, substrate readiness, anchors, embeds, and interfaces;
- installation sequencing and site coordination;
- site adjustment and interface work;
- damaged-unit replacement, re-delivery, and reinstallation;
- installation inspection, records, and reporting;
- protection or cleaning where required; and
- handover, manuals, training, and final records.
The installed scope should also state what remains with the main contractor, site team, design team, QA/QC team, carrier, or another specialist. Installed work may still depend on floor release, access, storage, lifting, approved information, receiving conditions, adjacent trades, or site readiness. Record these dependencies as project assumptions rather than silently including them.
Scope Model Comparison Matrix
The matrix compares the three primary commercial models. Technical support and supervision remain a separate service column because they are not automatically installation.
| Activity or scope field | Supply-only / factory collection | Delivered-to-site | Technical support / supervision | Installed scope | Status / owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panels and specified materials | State products and material limits | State products and material limits | State support basis | State supply basis under installation offer | Five scope labels |
| Factory assembly, glazing, sealing, release | Identify factory activities and records | Identify factory and shipment preparation | Confirm document or support role | Link factory scope to installation offer | Supplier |
| Packaging and loading | State package and collection boundary | State packaging and loading basis | Usually separate; confirm | State package responsibility | Supplier / carrier / project team |
| Transport to stated point | May be excluded or arranged separately | State transport and endpoint | Not implied by support | State delivery basis | Carrier / supplier |
| Unloading and receiving | Separate unless stated | State explicitly | Not implied by supervision | State labor, equipment, receiving scope | Carrier / installer / contractor |
| Storage and weather protection | Separate unless stated | Confirm after delivery | Not implied by support | State temporary protection and storage | Site team / installer |
| Lifting, crane, hoist, access | Separate unless stated | Not automatic | Not installation labor | State equipment, operators, access assumptions | Installer / contractor |
| Installation labor | Excluded unless separately offered | Not automatic | Separate from advice or supervision | State labor, tools, sequencing | Installer |
| Technical support and training | Optional or defined support | Optional or defined support | State activities and limits | Link support to installed scope | Supplier / installer |
| Site adjustment and interfaces | Separate unless stated | Separate unless stated | Advice only unless stated | State adjustment and interface work | Installer / contractor |
| Damage, replacement, re-delivery | State boundary after release | State delivery and site-handling boundary | Support only unless stated | State replacement and re-delivery process | Parties to assign |
| Inspection, records, handover | State factory and supply records | State delivery records | State support or supervision records | State installation, inspection, handover records | Project team |
This matrix is a disclosure and clarification tool, not a universal allocation or contract interpretation.
Responsibility Matrix: Who Owns Each Activity?
Populate this structure from the actual quotation, scope schedule, responsibility register, project documents, and qualified professional review. In this example, Open is an illustrative project workflow status only; it is not a quotation-scope label.
| Activity | Supplier / manufacturer | Carrier / logistics provider | Installer | Main contractor / site team | Project design / QA/QC team | Status / open item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product and factory scope | State supply, factory work, release records | — | — | Confirm interface | Confirm review basis | Open |
| Packing and shipment preparation | State packaging and loading | State transport handling | — | Confirm receiving conditions | — | Open |
| Transport and delivery point | State offered basis | State transport activities | — | Confirm access and receiving | — | Open |
| Unloading and storage | State any support | State equipment or handling limit | State if included | State site and storage provision | — | Open |
| Lifting and installation | State support or included work | State carrier limits | State labor and equipment | State access and floor release | — | Open |
| Adjustment and interfaces | State technical clarification | — | State site work | State adjacent-trade coordination | State design review | Open |
| Replacement and re-delivery | State replacement process | State damage or re-delivery role | State installation/replacement role | State notice, storage, access | State review | Open |
| Inspection and handover | State records | State delivery and damage records | State installation records | State receiving and coordination | State review or acceptance basis | Open |
Do not populate responsibility fields from a quotation label alone. Scope allocation needs written confirmation.
Site-Activity Scope Questions
Unloading and receiving
- What exact endpoint is stated?
- Who supplies labor and equipment for unloading?
- Who checks package count, labels, visible damage, and receiving condition?
- What receiving window, access route, and site-readiness conditions are assumed?
- Who records damage, shortage, or delivery exceptions?
Storage and protection
- Who provides temporary storage, weather protection, security, and movement control?
- How long is storage assumed if the site is not ready?
- Who moves units to the installation area?
- Who protects panels, glass, finishes, and labels?
Lifting and access
- Who provides cranes, hoists, lifting devices, operators, rigging, access, and staging?
- What floor release, access, loading, edge-protection, and coordination assumptions apply?
- Are lifting and installation included together?
- Who handles a unit that cannot be lifted or installed under stated conditions?
Installation and adjustment
- Who provides labor, tools, consumables, and supervision?
- Are site adjustments, interface coordination, and rework included?
- Who controls sequencing and records completed work?
- What is included for replacement, re-delivery, and reinstallation?
Records and handover
- Which factory, delivery, receiving, installation, inspection, and replacement records are included?
- Who compiles the handover index, manuals, training, and final documents?
- Does the quote include site-acceptance support or only supply and delivery records?
- Which items remain Subject to Confirmation or Open Question?
Scope and Workflow Statuses Must Stay Separate
Quotation scope states
IncludedOptionalExcludedSubject to ConfirmationOpen QuestionWorkflow and project states
OpenSubmitted / Returned / Revised / ReviewedFactory ReleaseSite ReceivingFinal AcceptanceTo be confirmed / Professional review / Responsibility to assign“Factory Release,” “Site Receiving,” and “Final Acceptance” are separate project statuses. None should be inferred from a scope label.
FAQ: Supply, Delivery, and Installation Scope
What is included in a supply-only unitized curtain wall quote?
A supply-only quote may focus on panels, materials, and defined factory work, but the exact boundary must be stated. Ask whether factory assembly, glazing, sealing, inspection, release, packaging, loading, collection, records, replacement, and handover are included, optional, excluded, or subject to confirmation.
Does delivered-to-site include unloading and storage?
Not automatically. Confirm the exact delivery endpoint and whether unloading labor or equipment, receiving inspection, storage, weather protection, movement to the installation area, and site handling are included.
Is technical support the same as curtain wall installation?
No universal equivalence should be assumed. Separate advice, coordination, training, site visits, supervision, installation labor, tools, adjustment, records, and handover in the quotation.
Who provides lifting equipment for unitized curtain wall panels?
The quotation and responsibility matrix should name the party responsible for cranes, hoists, lifting devices, operators, rigging, access equipment, staging, floor release, and site coordination. Do not infer the answer from “delivered” or “installed.”
What should an installed curtain wall quotation include?
It should state product supply, factory work, delivery, unloading, storage, lifting, installation labor, tools, supervision, site adjustment, replacement, inspection, records, and handover. Also confirm dependencies such as access, floor release, substrate readiness, and adjacent-trade coordination.
Who is responsible for site adjustment and replacement units?
Name the responsible party for adjustment, damage reporting, storage, replacement request, re-delivery, reinstallation, records, and review. The answer depends on the quotation, scope schedule, responsibility matrix, and project documents.
What should a unitized curtain wall responsibility matrix show?
It should map supplier, carrier or logistics provider, installer, main contractor or site team, and project design or QA/QC team against factory work, delivery, unloading, storage, lifting, installation, adjustment, replacement, inspection, records, and handover.
Does installed scope automatically include handover and acceptance?
No. Installation, inspection records, manuals, training, final documents, site receiving, project review, and final acceptance should be listed separately with their responsible parties and workflow statuses.
Conclusion and Project-Specific CTA
Supply-only, delivered-to-site, technical-support, and installed unitized curtain wall quotes should be compared by activities and responsible parties, not by labels alone.
- Identify the quotation model. State whether the offer is supply-only, delivered-to-site, technical support or supervision, supply-and-install, or another defined model.
- List the activities. Separate product supply, factory work, packaging, transport, unloading, storage, lifting, installation, adjustment, replacement, inspection, records, and handover.
- Name the parties. Assign supplier, carrier, installer, main contractor or site team, and project design or QA/QC responsibilities.
- Record assumptions and statuses. Use the five quotation scope labels and keep them separate from workflow and project statuses.
- Confirm the site basis. Record access, floor release, storage, lifting, staging, site readiness, adjacent trades, replacement, records, and handover dependencies.
- Obtain project-specific review. Route legal, trade, tax, insurance, design, installation, QA/QC, acceptance, and handover questions to qualified professionals.
Share the quotation, scope-of-supply schedule, delivery basis, site-readiness assumptions, installation requirements, replacement expectations, records, and handover list for a project-specific supply/delivery/installation scope review.
FOWALL’s public pages describe categories such as engineering, manufacturing, delivery planning, installation guidance or supervision, and quality-control processes. Any service availability, scope, fee, technical responsibility, delivery content, installation activity, or project deliverable must be confirmed for the specific project. This article does not select a universally best quotation model and does not provide legal, tax, insurance, engineering, installation, acceptance, or performance conclusions.
