When procurement teams evaluate a fill/finish CDMO, price and available line capacity are only the starting point, not the full story. The RFPs that lead to the strongest partnerships also probe hidden cost drivers, tech transfer risk, true operational capacity, project management strength, quality culture, and the CDMO’s ability to support programs from Phase 1 through commercial launch. By asking more precise questions in these areas, procurement teams receive clearer proposals, uncover potential risks earlier, and reduce the likelihood of costly downstream surprises.