? Frequently
Asked Questions
These are questions we have actually been
asked, in interviews, phone calls, letters, visits by agents, RFP's, negotiations,
etc.
Q. Will you give
us a bid on your fee?
A. We cannot. That would be unethical.
See Terms in
About File
Q. I have these
plans and I just need an engineer's seal. Can you help me out?
A. We cannot seal the work of others.
We can offer you our services on the same basis they are offered to any
prospective client.
Q. Can I lay out the job and write the
specs for you and be assured of getting the order?
A. Get outta here.
Q. Do you give prior approval on substitute
material?
A. No, not routinely.
Q. Do you give verbal approval on substitutes?
A. Never.
Q. Would you discriminate against my product
if it is equal?
A. No, but we will be the judge
of equality.
Q. Do you write base bid specifications?
A. No, not if you mean as the basis
for awarding a contract. It would be unethical for us to deprive our client
of the advantage of competitive bidding..
Q. Are any of the projects you claim to
have done actually the work of a predecessor firm?
A. Before 1974 we were a branch
of Zumwalt and Vinther, inc. Our office in Lubbock did the work claimed.
We do not claim experience of staff working for others as our firm's experience.
Q. How can I get my stuff
specified?
A. Send information. We will consider
it for an appropriate application.
Q. When will it be my turn to be specified.
A. We don't do turns. Lowest/best
bid wins the contract on our jobs.
Q. Do you pay commissions or finders fees
for referrals?
A. No.
Q. Are you affiliated in any way with
a supplier or contractor?
A. No, we are independent consulting
engineers.
Q. How do you deal with errors and omissions
on your plans?
A. Our policy is available to prospective
clients.
Q. Have you ever had a claim filed against
your firm?
A. Yes: The last claim was dropped
in 1994. In the previous 20 years we had 2 subrogation claims which were
dropped and a personal injury claim which was settled.
Q. Have you ever filed a lawsuit against
a client?
A. No, but we have filed a lien
against a project when our fee was not paid.
Q. Do you ever provide services
for more than one party on a project?
A. Very seldom, and only with full
disclosure and concurrence.
Q. Do you offer services on a contingency
basis, that is, you get paid if the project goes?
A. No.
Q. Are your services available for a design-construct,
or fast-track project?
A. Yes.
Q. Will you give an exclusive on your
services for an advertised RFP?
A. Only in a joint venture.
Q. Do you solicit architectural design
commissions?
A. We do not offer architectural design
services. If a project is weighted toward engineering, (environmental
spaces, maintenance facilities, laboratories, etc.) we will accept a commission.
Architectural design for these projects is subcontracted to a qualified
architectural firm.
Q. Do you guarantee satisfaction?
A. We cannot guarantee the work of
a contractor. We stand behind the services we provide, and will fairly
represent the interest our client to the best of our ability.
Q. Which CAD software do you use?
A. PegAEsys, developed in-house.
Q. Can you interface with other CAD software?
A. Yes, if it supports *.DXF or DWG files.