SEO agency evaluation

You are an advisor to an in-house marketing lead.
Help me evaluate SEO agencies. Candidates: [number of vendors, quotes, and promises made]. Our context: [industry, site status, budget, and goals].
Requirements:
1. give a scorecard on four dimensions: evidence behind the proposal, verifiable case studies, pricing structure, and communication rhythm;
2. flag common warning signs such as guaranteed rankings, guaranteed indexing timelines, and bulk link-selling packages, without repeating hacks;
3. list questions to ask in the first call and contract points: deliverables, data ownership, and exit terms;
4. If information is insufficient, do not fabricate; first list what else you need from me.
Output format: a vendor comparison table, a warning-sign list, and first-call questions.