Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•.
Review.the.scope.of.services.to.determine.if.the.consultant.has.expertise.for.
the.company's.requirements.
•.
Is.the.consultant's.staff.trained.to.properly.conduct.the.scope.of.work?
•.
Has. the. consultant. had. other. projects. similar. to. the. company's. problem?.
Ask.for.references.from.previous.clients.that.had.similar.needs..Has.he.or.
she.had.repeat.business?
•.
Does.the.consultant.have.to.come.to.speed,.and.is.there.a.leaning.curve?
•.
Ask.for.a.list.of.subcontractors.and.check.their.performance.
•.
Does.the.consultant.have.professional,.compensation,.and.liability.insurance?
•.
How.does.the.consultant.tend.to.bill.for.project?.Are.charges.
per diem, direct
personnel cost (time and materials), cost plus ixed payment, ixed lump sum,
or.
percent of cost?
•.
Is.the.consultant.a.member.of.trade.or.professional.organizations,.and.what.
is.his.or.her.status.in.these.organizations?
•.
Carefully.and.thoroughly.evaluate.all.references.that.the.consultant.provides.
•.
What.is.the.consultant's.present.workload?
•.
Is.the.consultant.and.his.or.her.staff.trained.in.safety.and.health.procedures.
in.accordance.with.OSHA?
•.
Does. the. consultant. have. the. equipment. and. testing. instruments. to. carry.
out.any.needed.procedures?
•.
Has.the.consultant.met.expectations,.fulilled.the.requirements,.met.dead-
lines,.and.provided.a.professional.and.accurate.product.or.deliverables.in.
the.past?
•.
Are.there.any.conlicts.of.interest?
•.
Does.the.consultant.have.the.resources.to.deliver.on.the.requirements.in.the.
scope.of.work?
•.
Is.the.consultant.inancially.stable?
•.
Do.the.work.practices.and.testing.follow.nationally.recognized.best.prac-
tice.standards?
•.
Is.there.a.quality.control.facet,.and.are.testing.laboratories.certiied?
•.
Will.legal.representation.be.needed.to.safeguard.the.company's.conidential.
data.or.trade.secrets?
Evaluate.more.than.one.consultant.so.that.some.basis.for.comparison.is..available..
This. will. help. in. selecting. the. consultant. who. is. best. suited. for. your. particular.
.situation..Pay.close.attention.to.the.consultant's.compensation.procedures..The.fol-
lowing.inancial.information.will.be.needed:.Does.he.or.she.work.hourly?.What.is.
the.estimated.total.cost?.What.will.be.used.as.a.retainer?.How.will.the.consultant.
bill.for.travel,.shipping,.report.generation,.computer.time,.and.other.services.such.as.
laboratory.fees?.The.decision.to.employ.the.consultant.should.not.be.based.purely.
on.a.cost.comparison..It.may.be.like.comparing.cooking.apples.and.eating.apples..
They.are.both.apples.but.only.one.has.the.qualities.to.meet.the.company's.needs.at.
that.point.in.time,.and.expect.to.pay.the.price.for.the.type.of.apple.that.meets.your.
needs..It.is.appropriate.to.prequalify.consultants.prior.to.allowing.them.to.submit.a.
proposal,.be.interviewed,.or.make.the.cut.for.selection.
