Contracting
Environmental Consulting Costs
We offer environmental consulting costs at an hourly rate or fixed price depending on the particular service required.
Projects done at an hourly rate will be billed at a standard labor rate per hour spent, plus the cost of materials used. Our staff roles and corresponding billing rates are listed on our Rate Sheet, which we would be glad to send you. These projects tend to be custom jobs, having an indefinite scope of work or schedule. However, we can still set a guaranteed Not-to-Exceed amount, so that you can create a budget and issue a purchase order.
Projects done at a fixed price, will be billed at a set price for all work carried out during the course of the project. These prices are primarily based on both the market price for a particular environmental product, and price that is economical for us to perform. These projects tend to be standard environmental work products which have supported our industry for many years.
Strong communication is key to successful business relationships
We pride ourselves in our straight-forward quotes and transparency with our clients. While every project is different and has diverse needs.
Environmental consulting cost is based on the budgets of past projects. If you would like more background on the Environmental Consulting Industry or Tips on Hiring an Environmental Consultant are provided below.
The Players In Our Industry
Environmental Consulting is a professional services industry, where work is typically performed by degreed staff. We handle our business where staff hours are charged according to established billing rates. There are also certain services and work products with fixed competitive pricing.
Environmental Consulting companies range in size from independent individuals, to mid-sized companies having engineering and land planning capability, to large, publicly traded corporations with thousands of employees and international office locations. Generally speaking, billing rates increase with company size; this should be expected since larger companies also carry higher operating (overhead) costs.
Large companies have more capacity and staff capability for completing larger projects. They often advertise as being a ‘one-stop shop’, where all the project work can be completed by their own company personnel, which may certainly be the case with their private contacts. However, public contacts often require a teaming approach, where a percentage of the project budget be performed by a veteran-owned business, or other historically underutilized business (HUB); these contractual stipulations are known as a ‘set-asides’.
Mid-sized companies may also lead larger projects, although are more inclined to take a teaming approach. Some companies also take more of a team approach, and engage subcontractors (individuals or specialty companies) to perform certain parts of the project that their core staff are not qualified to do. It this arrangement, the team leader and ‘Prime Consultant’ will act as the Project Manager/Administrator and primary point of contact for the Client.
Small companies are better equipped to perform more specialized projects, which have shorter schedules (turnaround time), and require fewer professional disciplines to complete. They often have relationships with Prime Consultants (larger companies) to serve as subcontractors (or meet set-aside requirements) on larger projects. Small companies may also act in the specific role of Project Manager on larger projects.
Independent consultants are often senior-level professionals who have had careers in consulting or other industries, and at some point, decided to venture out on their own. They are usually specialized in a certain discipline, and are able to secure work through their relationships and reputation. Depending on the contract, they may even report to work at their client site. They may also have relationships with Prime Consultants to serve as subcontractors on larger projects.
Tips For Hiring An Environmental Consultant
Most of our prospective clients have had some experience in bringing on new contractors or vendors. If you are new to the ‘environmental services’ game, below are some tips for hiring consultants in our industry. These are written from the perspective of the client experience, and some things to help avoid pitfalls.
We want to be fully transparent about our industry, and make sure that you land in the right spot!
Our Tips
Depending on your project needs, location, and budget, you will want to first consider a firm size and compare the services offered.
If your project will require field work or visits to your office/facility, then you will want to consider using a company with a local presence (i.e., the staff actually performing the work are local). This will minimize your project expenses for consultant travel and lodging.
Seeking a referral from similar businesses/industries can be a good way to identify a consultant. Although, if you do get a referral, still check to see if the consultant has an online presence, such as a website and LinkedIn page.
If the consultant website is poorly constructed, has poor functionality, or has incorrect information, this may be an indication of the organizational management.
If you contact a consultant, and it turns out that they do not perform the work that you need, ask them to refer another consultant.
If you call the Consultant and leave a detailed message for someone to return your call, and you do not get a call back within a reasonable timeframe (2 business days, or so), then move along to the next Consultant.
For smaller jobs, the Consultant should be able to get a proposal or quote to you fairly quickly. Try to agree upon a timeframe when you speak with them.
Ask the Consultant to provide a brochure, Statement of Qualifications, CV/resume, or other documentation of their qualifications and experience; ask about similar projects that they have performed. Depending on your project, you may also ask for references.
Verify that the Consultant holds the required certifications in order to perform certain work, such as lead, mold, and asbestos related services. Some environmental projects require a Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist to perform.
Make sure that the Consultant carries the level of insurance (Commercial, Professional, Automobile, other) that you or your organization requires to bring on a new contractor/vendor. If you decide to hire them, request their Certificate of Insurance, naming your company as Certificate Holder.
Always request a written proposal, with a Scope of Work, Schedule, and Cost Estimate. The level of detail needed should be based on the complexity of the project.
For larger jobs, it is recommended to get at least 3 competitive quotes, if practical. For small jobs, a couple of quotes from reputable companies/Consultants should suffice.
For a new Consultant relationship, never agree on any work outside of the initial project at hand, and be aware that some consultants may push for contractual agreements for ongoing services. Discussions should be made regarding your exact needs, and outlined in writing by the consultant to ensure an agreed upon scope of work.
If you decide to hire the Consultant, reference their proposal in your Purchase Order or written authorization to proceed.
Agree on lines of communication and frequency (e.g., email/call/text, regular meetings, project status reports, etc.).
Payment terms (Net) should be agreed upon during the contracting stage. Net 30 is common in our industry; this means the full amount is due in 30 days of invoice.
Avoid up-front payments to the Consultant, unless the project requires significant expenditures (travel, lodging, equipment, etc.) at the start of the project. The proposal should describe any upfront payments.
Always avoid a demand for cash payments. For independent consultants who are not operating under an entity (LLC, Inc., other), you will want to request that they complete a Form W-9 during the contracting stage, and be prepared to issue them Form 1099 (for tax year) to document payments.
Make payment to the company/legal entity that you hired (or individual, if 1099), in order to have complete tax transparency.