Requesting a Quotation for a PV Carport: How to Divide the Supply Scope Between Steel Structure, Modules and Electrical Works

In an RFQ (request for quotation) for a photovoltaic carport, the most common problem is not an inflated price but an unclear scope: the steel fabricator assumes the modules and electrical works belong to the other party, while the PV supplier assumes foundations and loads are already handled. The gap only appears on site, when schedule and cost are already affected. Separating and confirming the three scopes at the RFQ stage matters more than comparing prices first.

What the structural design needs from the PV side

The span, column spacing and beam depth of a PV carport structure are directly related to the module layout on top. When requesting a quotation for the steel structure, ask your PV supplier to provide:

1. The module coverage area, tilt angle and layout pattern, which determine the canopy shape and cantilever dimensions;
2. The load conditions imposed by modules, rails and mounting frames on the structure, including dead load and maintenance load;
3. Cable routing and tray/cable ladder positions, and any connection points to be reserved on the beams;
4. Any requirements on columns and foundations from wall-mounted inverters, combiner boxes and similar equipment.

Qingsong Membrane Structures works on a one-to-one custom design basis. For large sites, after initial communication, drone surveying can be used to align site dimensions with the PV layout; smaller sites can generally be measured on site. Load conditions must be confirmed by both parties in writing — what loads the structure is designed for, and how the PV side will be fixed — so that neither side is later left waiting for the other's input.

What should be assigned to the PV and electrical supplier

The steel structure supplier covers the canopy itself: structural design, component fabrication, surface treatment and on-site installation. From design through fabrication, surface treatment and installation the process is integrated, and components leave the factory as finished products with no fabrication on site.

The following items should be clearly assigned to the PV module and electrical supplier, and listed item by item in the contract:

• Selection, supply and installation of PV modules, mounting frames and rails;
>Inverters, combiner boxes, cabling, cable trays and other electrical works;
• Grid-connection procedures and electrical commissioning;
• Ongoing maintenance and repair of the electrical system.

This article does not verify any specific module or electrical supply capability; buyers should request the relevant qualifications and project references from their PV supplier and assess them independently. On the structural side, what can be coordinated is the reservation of interfaces: for sites where hot work is not allowed, bolted connections can be discussed in advance to leave conditions for later electrical routing. On installation quality, in addition to factory-finished components, the cooperating installation teams work to a unified process standard, with key nodes checked by the fabricator's technical staff on site.

How to structure and confirm an itemized quotation

A PV carport is best quoted as two or more separate itemized quotations rather than one lump sum:

Package	Contents	Responsible party
Steel structure	Design, fabrication, anti-corrosion coating, transport, installation	Steel fabricator
Foundations and embedments	Civil works, embedded parts	As agreed in the contract; may be separately appointed by the owner
Module package	Modules, rails, installation	PV supplier
Electrical package	Inverters, cabling, grid connection, commissioning	PV supplier

When confirming each item, focus on three points: the boundary of work each price covers (does it include transport, lifting, embedments?); the handover points between work stages (who builds first, who inspects and accepts before handover); and how warranties are written. Warranties for the membrane and steel components should all be written into the contract, with no verbal promises; the PV-side warranty should likewise be secured in the supplier's contract terms, not left to verbal agreement.

Regarding confidence in the manufacturer: Qingsong Membrane Structures uses its headquarters factory in Henan, China as its manufacturing base. Components are prefabricated in the factory and shipped directly; projects are served through a nationwide cooperating installation service network in China, with a unified warranty across China. The company regularly welcomes customer factory visits and visits to completed projects.

How to coordinate loads and embedment conditions between the two sides

This is where the structural and PV sides most often become disconnected. A step-by-step approach is recommended:

1. The PV supplier issues a module load condition document stating dead loads, how wind loads are considered, and fixing point positions;
2. The structural designer reviews the canopy scheme under those load conditions and feeds back column positions and connection points;
3. Both parties confirm embedment specifications and positioning, and the civil contractor builds to the drawings;
4. After the steel structure is installed and accepted, a written handover is completed before the PV side enters to install the modules.

Keep a written record at every step, so that if a problem arises, responsibility is clear and neither side can shift blame.

Align the scope first, then discuss the scheme

A PV carport is a combined structural and electrical project. Only when the scopes of the steel fabricator, the module supplier and the electrical supplier are aligned do quotations become comparable and schedules become workable. Buyers are advised to prepare, at the RFQ stage, the intended use, dimensions or drawings, and the service scope they wish to award, and to settle the package boundaries first. Costs vary considerably with span, membrane material and configuration; once the scope is clear, a scheme and price can be prepared after a site review.

Share your project location, intended use, dimensions and available drawings, and tell us which design coordination, custom fabrication and supply scope services you need so we can review the scope with you via our contact page.