[HarryHirsch]

My slightly informed opinion about biotech consumables is that a plasmid construct is only half of the deal. What you need as well - and that is indispensable - is a competent technician who will isolate and purify the overexpressed protein and run assays to confirm activity.

Competent technicians don't grow on trees. You are looking at a salary of 60 kUSD/year + benefits, and then you start running numbers if reagent kits might actually be the cheaper option.

[Thriptic]

While its true that someone needs to do the things which you mentioned, basic protein expression and purification are standard skills learned at the undergrad level for biochem / molecular bio majors. Depending on the composition of the plasmids, it should be very straight forward, and presumably the manufacturer will also provide plasmid-specific protocols to help. An existing lab tech / lab member / the investigator themselves could quickly pick up this work, or a tech could be had for a lot less than 60 grand a year.