As a paving maintenance contractor we understand the difficulty of choosing the right pavement contractor and the variables that go into selecting a vendor. It’s important for the customer to get the most value out of their dollar, however how do they know which asphalt, concrete, or fencing contractor is right for them? FacilitiesNet published a great article shedding some light on how a organization should go about choosing an outside contractor and explains why the lowest bid isn’t their number one concern.

• Choose Wisely: Set up a system that allows you to compare the contractors and rate them on a variety of factors such as safety, reliability, services, and quality, rather than just price.
• Location: Be sure you have a vendor that is local, and can send more workers out onsite if need be. The last thing you want is an emergency to occur and have your vendor not be able to assist you for 2 -3 days.
• Clearly Outline the Details: When creating the contract make it clear what you are expecting to get out of this partnership. If possible have a contingency plan in place, saving yourself time for both parties if things don’t work out.
• Overcommunicate: Make sure everyone is on the same page before, during, and after the job is complete. By taking the time to clear things up you will minimize the errors on the job site.

The article goes in depth of best practices when choosing a vendor and has some great insight from facility managers around the country. If you have a moment check it out, Building Bonds with Contractors.