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Switching suppliers without losing the specification
Most failed switches fail at the specification, not at the price.
Reverse-engineer what you already buy
Before asking for a quotation, write down what the current product actually is: blend, basis weight, dimensions, fold, pack count. If the incumbent will not provide these, measure them — weight per sheet and dimensions will get you most of the way.
A quotation against a vague brief cannot be compared with the current supply, and the comparison is the entire point of switching.
Run a parallel batch, not a pilot
Order a production-sized batch and put it into service alongside the current product, in the same week and the same conditions. Side-by-side in a busy week tells you more than a sample folder.
Keep the approved sample and the batch reference. When the second shipment arrives, that is what you compare against.