Commercial & hardware margin audits
Line-by-line price check of all quoted hardware (Crestron, Cisco, Palo Alto, Ruckus, Kaleidescape) against wholesale and retail baseline costs to flag inflated dealer margins.
Service
Independent integrator proposal review.
Do not sign a million-euro AV/IT spec blind. We audit integrator quotes, analyze hardware markups, check for hidden software locking clauses, and verify that the technical specifications are complete — delivered in 5 business days.
Request proposal auditQuote Audit Scope
The deliverables.
Integrator bids are notoriously opaque. We redline the entire proposal line-by-line, providing you with a neutral comparison and clear negotiation points to save capital and protect long-term access.
Specification & technical omission check
Flagging omitted items—such as essential power conditioners, structural patch cords, or commissioning hours—that integrators intentionally leave out of initial bids to win contracts, only to charge as high-priced changes later.
Vendor lock-in & licensing review
Analyzing Crestron programming access, intellectual property (IP) transfer clauses, and proprietary software dependencies to ensure the owner has full rights to code files.
Support retainer & SLA validation
Redlining annual support contracts, remote telemetry retainers, and emergency ETO support packages to ensure response times are fair and that support costs do not balloon post-handover.
Redline document & comparison report
A structured, easy-to-read B2B report highlighting excessive costs, missing infrastructure, and potential contract issues, designed to serve as a negotiation guide.
5-Day turnaround & advisor walkthrough
A rapid 5-business-day delivery, completed with a 60-minute technical debrief call with the owner rep, family office, captain, or buyer team.
Unbiased Fee-Only Auditing. We sell no hardware, take no dealer commissions, and accept no integrator incentives. Our reviews are completely independent and objective.
Bespoke Technical Redlines. Your bids are redlined by a Palo Alto and telecom-trained network specialist who knows where dealers hide margins and where integrators skimp on infrastructure.
Experienced Owner Advocate. Led by Noel Pope, active MCA ETO with hands-on experience managing system deliveries on vessels up to 160m+, ensuring bids match operational realities.
FAQ
Common questions.
- What is an independent integrator proposal review?
- It is a rapid, productised audit of a third-party AV/IT integrator’s quote (e.g., Bond TM, ONEXP, Yacht Audio). We review their pricing structure, technical design, licensing clauses, and support retainers to ensure there are no hidden markups, missing systems, or vendor lock-ins.
- Why should we audit integrator bids?
- Superyacht AV/IT contracts are complex, and hardware margins are highly inflated. Integrators often underquote physical accessories (like cabling, rack layouts, or programming fees) to secure bids, or insert clauses that prevent the owner from ever hiring alternative support teams. We flag these pitfalls before contracts are signed.
- How long does a proposal review take?
- We offer a guaranteed 5-business-day turnaround from the moment all proposal documents and drawings are securely uploaded under NDA.
- Do you recommend specific integrators or take dealer fees?
- Kelvin Marine Technology is 100% commission-free and independent. We sell no hardware, take no integrator commissions, and have no vertical alignment. We do not recommend any specific integrator over another; we simply verify that their proposed costs and designs protect the owner’s budget and interests.
- Can we submit quotes from multiple competing integrators?
- Yes. Comparing multiple competing quotes (e.g., ONEXP vs. Bond TM proposals) is the most valuable application of this service. We provide a neutral, side-by-side technical and commercial comparison matrix.
- How much does a proposal review cost?
- Proposal reviews are offered as a fixed-fee service starting at £4,500 for single quotes on vessels up to 50m, and ranging to £9,500+ for multi-bid comparisons on 100m+ new builds. On average, our audits identify £30,000 to £150,000+ in unnecessary markup or omitted hardware before contract execution.