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Ten pitfalls to avoid when choosing a security partner

You want to pick the right partner to ensure your safety and security. But what you don’t know can hurt you. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of things most organizations neglect to find out until it’s too late. Knowing what to ask from the outset will save you time and money, not to mention headaches in the future.

1. Is there full transparency around pay rates, bill rates and applicable mark ups?

RFP Tip: Insist on seeing a comprehensive breakdown of pay rates so you are comparing apples to apples. This will allow you to immediately see the discrepancies between each company and let you know where they choose to invest their resources and why.

Getting the pay rate balance right is the number one factor that’s going to contribute to quality on site. Yet ironically, pay rates are rarely considered when assessing an RFP submission. Most organizations just look at the overall total cost. Breaking out pay rates and seeing exactly where a security provider marks up costs are critical pieces of information you need to have to make an informed decision.

For example, a company that’s paying their Security Officers at minimum wage or close to it is going to have turnover issues. They won’t attract quality people, or be able to invest in adequate training, which will result in operational quality issues over time. A company that pays their Security Officers more, and who have a tiered and escalating rate for their various supervisory positions, will retain professionals who are serious about making security their career, rather than their summer job.

2. Do they provide references for lost contracts?

RFP TIP: Insist the security provider includes references for lost contracts and the reasons why services were terminated or not renewed.
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