Prepare a steel pipe enquiry with the dimensions, material, length, quantity and documents needed for a clear quotation. LeKe Piping supplies steel pipe. Send your available item list and project specification, and mark details that still need to be confirmed.
1. Start with the pipe item list
Use a separate line for each size, grade, wall thickness and delivery condition. Keep item numbers consistent across the RFQ, drawings and quotation.
| Field | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Product standard and grade | Full specification, grade and project-required edition. Include supplementary requirements where applicable. |
| Outside diameter | State the outside diameter and units, or NPS / DN with the governing dimensional reference. |
| Wall thickness | Specified wall in mm or schedule with its dimensional reference. Identify any special tolerance or minimum-wall requirement. |
| Manufacturing route | Seamless or the required welded process, where specified. Ask the supplier to identify its proposed route if this is open. |
| Length | Fixed cut length with tolerance, or an agreed random-length range. Define the permitted short-length allowance if relevant. |
| Quantity | Pieces, total metres or tonnes. State the pricing and delivery quantity basis and any permitted variation. |
| Delivery condition | Required heat treatment, surface condition and end preparation, as applicable to the order. |
| Destination and timing | Country, port or delivery site; requested delivery date and quotation delivery basis. |
2. Make dimensions and quantities unambiguous
Nominal size alone does not specify a pipe wall. Include the wall thickness or schedule and the applicable dimensional reference. If the design requires a minimum wall, distinguish it from nominal wall and identify the governing tolerance requirements.
For fixed lengths, give the cutting tolerance and number of pieces. For random lengths, state the acceptable range. Avoid descriptions such as “standard length” without a defined basis.
If you request both a piece quantity and a total weight, explain which controls the order. Ask the supplier to state whether its price uses theoretical or actual weight. An estimated weight is not a substitute for the ordered dimensions and quantity.
3. Confirm the standard, grade and PSL
Different pipe specifications address different products and services. API 5L covers seamless and welded steel line pipe at product specification levels (PSL) 1 and 2 for petroleum and natural gas pipeline transportation systems. If API 5L is required, state the grade, PSL, specified edition and any applicable annex or additional project requirement.
ASTM A106/A106M addresses seamless carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service. ASTM A312/A312M addresses seamless, welded and heavily cold worked austenitic stainless steel pipes. These designations are not interchangeable purchasing descriptions. State the complete grade and delivery requirements for the selected specification.
For sour service, low-temperature duty or other special conditions, attach the approved project requirements, including applicable testing and acceptance criteria. A grade or PSL designation alone should not be treated as confirmation of every service-specific requirement.
4. Specify ends, coatings and protection
| Field | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Pipe ends | Plain, beveled or threaded ends as required. Identify bevel details or the thread standard and any coupling requirements. |
| External surface | Bare, temporary protective coating or a specified coating system. Give the coating specification and required inspection scope. |
| Internal surface | Any cleanliness, lining or internal coating requirement, including limits and acceptance criteria. |
| Coating cutback | Uncoated end length and tolerances, where required for the joining process. |
| Protection and packing | End caps, thread protectors, bundling, separators and handling requirements as applicable. |
Identify whether a coating is temporary transport protection or part of the service specification. Attach the relevant coating document rather than relying only on a colour or a generic coating name.
5. Define inspection and document requirements
State the required certificate type and traceability expectations in the initial RFQ. Identify the records needed from the supplying mill and any additional reports required for cutting, coating or other agreed processing.
- Material certificate type and the required link between heat numbers, pipe markings and records.
- Dimensional inspection and reporting requirements.
- Pressure testing and nondestructive examination requirements under the governing specification, plus any additional project requirements.
- Additional testing such as impact testing, positive material identification (PMI) or corrosion-related testing when required; include method, extent and acceptance criteria.
- Buyer or third-party inspection, witness/hold points and notification requirements.
- Required document language, submission dates and final dossier format.
Ask the quotation to identify included inspection, additional charges and any deviations. If your project requires an API licence or mill certification, identify the required scope in the RFQ and request evidence for the proposed manufacturing mill.
6. Separate enquiry documents from final records
| Stage | Documents or information |
|---|---|
| Initial RFQ | Buyer’s item list, project specification, drawings where relevant, inspection scope and required certificates. |
| Quotation review | Offered grade, dimensions, manufacturing route, length basis, source information where required, delivery terms and exceptions. |
| Before processing, when required | Approved drawings, coating procedures, inspection plans and other order-specific approvals. |
| Before shipment or at agreed milestones | Actual material certificates, inspection/test reports, traceability records and packing documents required by the order. |
You do not need to supply the mill’s final production records when requesting a quotation. Specify the records you need and their submission timing. If a sample certificate is reviewed during quotation, distinguish it from the certificate for the material actually supplied.
7. Copy this steel pipe enquiry template
Subject: Steel Pipe RFQ – [Project / Reference] Please quote the attached pipe item list. RFQ reference and revision: Product standard, edition and grade: PSL / annex / supplementary requirements, if applicable: Outside diameter and units: Wall thickness / schedule and dimensional reference: Manufacturing route: Delivery / heat-treatment condition: Length range or fixed length and tolerance: Quantity and quotation weight basis: End preparation: External / internal coating and cutback: Inspection, testing and certificate requirements: Traceability, marking and packing: Destination, delivery terms and required date: Attached specifications / drawings and revisions: Open points requiring clarification: Please list assumptions, deviations and exclusions in your offer.
Example completed item
Item P-01: seamless carbon steel pipe, ASTM A106 Grade B; outside diameter 114.3 mm; nominal wall 6.02 mm; 20 pieces at 6,000 mm each; total ordered length 120 m; plain ends; temporary external rust protection and end caps; EN 10204 type 3.1 inspection certificate. Quote by metre, FCA at the named dispatch location. Cutting tolerance, standard edition, delivery date and inspection requirements to be agreed against the attached project specification.
Illustrative RFQ example only. Confirm suitability, standard editions and all project-specific requirements before ordering.
8. Check before sending
- Each item identifies a standard, grade, diameter, wall, length and quantity.
- Units and dimensional references agree across the documents.
- PSL and special-service requirements are stated where applicable.
- Coating, end preparation and inspection are included in the quotation scope.
- Drawing and specification revisions are identified.
- Unknown details are marked for clarification.
9. Send your steel pipe RFQ
Send the information you have, including your item list and relevant project documents. LeKe Piping can review the enquiry scope and clarify the details needed for a quotation.
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Standards references
API 5L — Line Pipe
ASTM steel standards — A106/A106M and A312/A312M
Confirm the applicable edition and approved project requirements before ordering.
Related RFQ checklists