A safety footwear RFQ is a written request that lets a factory quote a defined product and order. Start with the model, market, intended use, materials, protection requirements and quantity. Compare the same specification across suppliers, then agree sampling, testing, tooling and packaging costs before approving production.
Three decisions before requesting a price
- Choose a model or provide a reference, then separate essential features from optional ones.
- State the destination market and requirements instead of asking for a generic “certified shoe.”
- Request a cost breakdown and identify what is excluded from the unit price.
What should your first brief contain?
- Product direction: model code, reference images, shaft height and intended workplace.
- Construction and materials: cemented, PU direct injection or Goodyear welt; upper and sole preferences.
- Protection requirements: requested toe, puncture, water and outsole performance, with the destination standard where known.
- Order plan: approximate pairs, colors, sizes, repeat-order expectations and required delivery timing.
- Private-label details: logo positions, artwork, labels, shoe boxes and carton marks.
You do not need all of these finalized to start a conversation. Mark undecided fields clearly. For example: “ZY-006 direction, 500 pairs, destination USA, safety-toe configuration to discuss, private-label box.” This is a discussion brief, not a compliance claim or a binding quotation.
Which costs should be separated?
| Cost item | Specify | Ask the factory |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | Upper material, sole construction, protection package, size mix | Which specification and quantity does this price cover? |
| Tooling | Last, sole mold and branding tools, where needed | Is existing tooling available, and who owns new tooling? |
| Samples | Development samples, size set and shipment | Which sample stages and revisions are included? |
| Testing | Laboratory scope, test samples and agreed documents | Who arranges testing, and what changes require review? |
| Packaging / delivery | Boxes, cartons, labels, delivery terms and freight | Are these included or quoted separately? |
Agree currency, delivery terms and quote validity alongside the price. A change to leather, sole tooling, a safety component or packaging can change the quotation. Keep revisions in one dated specification so both parties know which version they are reviewing.
How do you control sample approval?
Keep an approval record with sample photos, size, material references and agreed changes. Identify the production-intent construction rather than approving only a color or silhouette. Ask the factory to explain any differences between the sample and the planned production materials before signing off.
Compare the sample against the written brief for fit, appearance, workmanship and the agreed performance plan. A technical review by the relevant laboratory should determine the scope of any required testing or retesting. Record who approves changes and who receives the final test documents.
Which documents should you request?
ISO 20345:2021 describes basic and optional safety footwear requirements. ASTM F2413 addresses protective toe-cap footwear performance. These references provide context; the applicable edition and requirements must be confirmed for your destination and final product.
Request documents that identify the tested model, construction, applicable requirements, laboratory and results. Ask how the proposed production specification relates to the tested sample. Do not infer a complete-shoe claim from a material name, a toe-cap document or another model's report.
Copy-ready footwear OEM RFQ template
To request a comparable quotation, send a model or reference, destination market, intended use and approximate quantity. Add the details below when known; write “please advise” for undecided fields. You do not need a completed tech pack to start.
- Product and market: model/reference, destination country, workplace and safety or non-safety footwear.
- Materials and construction: upper, lining, outsole, construction preference and essential versus optional features.
- Water exposure: occasional rain, splashes or repeated wet work; describe duration and where water reaches the shoe. State the requested test evidence separately.
- Order and branding: estimated pairs, colors, size mix, logo positions and packaging.
- Quote and approval: itemized unit, tooling, sample, testing and delivery costs; sample stages and written approval criteria.
DOWNLOAD EDITABLE RFQ TEMPLATE (.TXT) ↓
Open the plain-text file in any text editor, replace the bracketed prompts and paste your brief into our inquiry form or email it to fabio@zhiyunlai.com. If discussing ZY-006, use the model-selected inquiry form so the model stays attached to your request.
For leather work-casual footwear, separate the desired appearance from safety requirements. For wet environments, review our waterproof versus water-resistant footwear guide before choosing wording for the brief. A requested feature is not evidence that a model already meets it.
Template and procurement guidance updated .
Buyer questions
What should a safety footwear RFQ include?
A safety footwear request for quotation should identify the model or reference style, destination market, intended use, construction, materials, protection requirements, order quantity, size breakdown, branding and packaging. If a specification is undecided, label it as open and ask the factory to quote a defined alternative.
How do I compare OEM safety shoe quotations?
Compare quotations against the same written specification, size mix, quantity and delivery terms. Separate unit price from tooling, sampling, testing, packaging and freight. Ask each supplier to list exclusions and assumptions so a low headline price does not hide a different product or missing development costs.
Does every Zhiyunlai model have a 500-pair MOQ?
No. The published minimum order for the ZY-006 Heritage Moc-Toe Work Boot is 500 pairs. MOQ for other models and custom developments is confirmed in the quotation. Ask about color allocation, size breakdown and packaging quantities before planning the order.
Which samples should be approved before bulk production?
Agree which development sample, size set and production-intent sample your program requires. Record the approved materials, components, construction, dimensions, branding and packaging in writing. Appearance, fit and performance approval are separate checks; a visually approved sample alone does not establish safety compliance.
Can a component certificate prove that the complete shoe complies?
A component document describes the component and test scope shown in that document. It does not by itself establish compliance of every finished shoe using that component. Ask the testing laboratory to confirm the applicable finished-footwear requirements and verify that the tested construction matches your proposed production specification.
What can I send if I do not have a tech pack?
Send a reference image or an existing model code, your target market, approximate quantity and the work environment. Explain which features are essential and which are flexible. Zhiyunlai can discuss an existing development platform or a custom brief, then clarify the specification before sampling and quotation.
Choose a platform and send your brief
Browse the OEM product library, compare manufacturing methods, or review the moc-toe work boot sourcing guide. For a known starting point, the ZY-006 Heritage Moc-Toe Work Boot has a published MOQ of 500 pairs.
SEND YOUR SOURCING BRIEF →