Separate direct execution from management layers
Site monitoring, data management, safety, statistics and regulatory work may be necessary. Project management, handoffs and duplicated vendor oversight deserve explicit review.
Tie scope to the protocol
A complex protocol naturally creates more CRO work. Simplifying the design before contracting can be more powerful than negotiating a lower rate.
Compare like-for-like
Different proposals can place the same activity in different line items. Normalize deliverables before comparing totals.
Questions people actually ask
FAQ
What is a normal CRO margin?
Margin varies by provider, scope and contracting model. The important commercial question is whether the total scope delivers value relative to alternatives.
Should I unbundle vendors?
Sometimes. Unbundling can reduce markup but increase sponsor coordination burden.
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