The 6-step aquaculture procurement sequence
The same sequence behind every FishMatch country sizing and cost page: size the system, localize for the market, benchmark CAPEX/OPEX, plan operators, stress-test bids — and only then submit a human-reviewed RFQ. Skipping a step is how projects end up comparing bids priced against different assumptions.
The sequence, step by step
- 1
Size the system before any number
Tank volume, recirculation flow, biofilter media and oxygen duty are what turn a per-tonne benchmark into a budget that survives a bid comparison. Run the RAS sizing calculator first — every downstream cost figure depends on these outputs.
RAS sizing calculator - 2
Localize for country conditions
Water rights, energy price, climate, permitting and local fabrication capability change the design before they change the price. A system sized for Norway is not the system sized for Vietnam — even at the same annual tonnage. Check the country-specific sizing and cost pages for the market you are building in.
Country sizing & cost pages - 3
Benchmark CAPEX and OPEX
Apply planning-grade per-tonne and per-kilogram bands to the sized system — as sanity checks, not quotations. CAPEX per tonne of annual capacity and OPEX per kilogram produced are the two numbers that expose an unrealistic bid fastest.
RAS system cost breakdown - 4
Plan operator availability early
Senior RAS process expertise — biofilter start-up, CO₂ and nitrate control — is scarce in most markets. Decide before tendering whether you will recruit, train or contract commissioning support, and carry that cost in the OPEX model rather than discovering it at start-up.
Operator availability by country - 5
Stress-test and normalize bids
Score instrumentation, redundancy, materials and after-sales support explicitly — these four items decide lifetime cost far more than headline CAPEX. Normalize every bid to the same scope before comparing prices, and pressure-test the water budget and cost per kilogram.
How to compare RAS quotations - 6
Submit a human-reviewed RFQ
Only after steps 1–5 does a brief go to FishMatch. A person reviews every brief before sourcing begins; suppliers are researched with technology support, validated for technical fit, and introduced only after approval by an authorized FishMatch team member. Suppliers are never contacted automatically.
Start a human-reviewed RFQ
Step 2 in practice — country sizing & cost pages
Each market page applies the sequence to local conditions: benchmarks, operator availability and the context that moves the design before it moves the price.
What should you decide before the sequence starts?
Four decisions shape every step above. Our full aquaculture procurement guide covers each in depth.
Species and market
Confirm the species, target size and buyers before choosing equipment — market fit drives system design.
System type
RAS, ponds, cages and flow-through differ in water use, energy, control and risk; compare them for your site.
Equipment
Define filtration, oxygen, water treatment, monitoring and backup scope so supplier bids cover the same items.
Lifecycle cost
Compare offers on building plus running cost — energy, feed, service, spares and staffing — not purchase price alone.
Run the numbers behind steps 1, 3 and 5
The calculators in this cluster are the working tools of the sequence — sizing, cost per kilogram, water budget and bid normalisation.
- RAS system sizing calculator
Size tanks, flow rate, biofilter volume and oxygen supply from your target biomass and feed load.
Open calculator - RAS water turnover & exchange rate calculator
Check hydraulic retention time and daily new-water exchange against stocking density and feed input.
Open calculator - RAS feasibility & production cost calculator
Estimate cost per kilogram produced — feed, energy, oxygen, labour — before committing CAPEX.
Open calculator - RAS bid normalizer — compare supplier quotations
Compare RAS supplier quotes on identical scope so price, capacity and lead time line up line-for-line.
Open calculator
Procurement sequence — FAQ
FishMatch Group is a managed sourcing service. Every brief is reviewed by a person before sourcing begins — suppliers are never contacted automatically and supplier identities are never exposed.
Short answer
What is the fastest way to get quotes for Procurement Guide?
Submit one structured request for Procurement Guide. FishMatch Group translates it into a technical RFQ, runs a confidential sourcing round with project-matched international suppliers, and returns comparable quotations. No fee is charged to the buyer, and your identity and project details stay private until you choose to proceed.
- How it works:
- One structured request, human-reviewed before any supplier outreach
- Typical turnaround:
- Depends on scope and site data; no turnaround is guaranteed
- Confidentiality:
- Supplier names are never exposed during evaluation
- Cost to buyers:
- No fee charged to the buyer