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can conduct the needs assessment, automation design, budget
development, procurement process, and if approved, construct the system that
will provide the best means of meeting all your objectives.
Key Benefits
- No guess-work on who will construct and service your system
- Selection of contractor and vendor based on qualifications
- Selection is retained by the owner, not a general contractor or
other party that does not serve your long-term interests
- Budget and performance objectives are balanced to provide the best
system to meet all your needs
Procurement Process Options
- Option 1
- Open Bid - This process has been used for years to select
contractors to complete work. Most often, SCADA and plant
automation work is a portion of a larger general contract. In
such cases, the general contractor takes subcontractor bids and
selects the subcontractor of his choice, usually based on the lowest
price. You have no control over his selection. Your
security generally lasts only as long as the warranty.
- Option 2
- Pre-qualification of Bidders - Better control over getting a good
contractor, but still the final selection is generally based on lowest
price. However, you and your engineer can limit the scope of
bidders to those of your selection based on performance and support
records.
- Option 3
- Request for Proposals - This is the best means of controlling your
selection. You can set aside high-technology procurements as
separate and distinct contracts on the basis that price should not be
the controlling factor in contractor selection, although it is an
important one. An RFP can be used to put you in control of your
vendor selection. Once selected, you can incorporate the price
and contractor selection in a general contract by a price/contractor
allowance. Or, you can simply require a separate contract for
the automation portion of the contract.
Recommended Qualification & Selection Criteria
SCADA Vendors should be selected based how they grade overall in the
following areas:
- Company stability and length of service
- Qualifications of service in your industry
- References - construction and service
- Proximity to your location
- Qualifications of integrators/technicians that will be working on your
project
- Price
- Warranty and technical support schedule
- Use of non-proprietary, open-source equipment
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