• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Canadian-flag
us-flag
SEARCH
  • Careers
  • Employee Login
  • SECURITY SERVICES
    • Guard Services
    • Mobile Patrol
    • Loss Prevention
    • Event Security Services
    • Integrated Guarding
    • Operations Centres
    • Investigations & Risk Management
    • Parking Management
  • Industries
    • Healthcare
    • Office & Commercial
    • Government & Infrastructure
    • Aviation
    • Industrial Security
    • Retail & Shopping Malls
    • Warehouse & Distribution
    • Post Secondary
  • Locations
  • About Us
    • Why Paladin
      • Industry Leading Training
    • Leadership & People
    • Our CARE Culture
      • Paladin CARES
      • Diversity
    • History
    • Our Companies
    • Careers
      • Benefits
      • Promotion From Within
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Media Relations
    • Preparing an RFP?
  • Training Services
Home » Knowledge Centre » Preparing an RFP?

Need to hire security? Preparing an RFP?

Check out the Top 10 Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing a Security Partner. At Paladin, we’ll take the time to understand the security challenges you face and help you develop an integrated security program customized to address your individual situation, needs and budget.

Download Now

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.

Supplying references for current clients is expected. Providing references for lost contracts is telling. There are many factors to consider when choosing to terminate or not renew a security contract. Understanding the reasons why, the impact it had on services, and even the way the security provider reacted, allows you to make an informed decision by seeing all sides of the situation.

TO SEE THE REST, ENTER YOUR EMAIL BELOW

Download RFP

Please provide your email address to download the

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Company Name*
Your Name*
Privacy Policy checkbox*

DOWNLOAD the TOP 10 PITFALLS WHEN CHOOSING A SECURITY PARTNER
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Our Companies
  • Locations
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Copyright © 2026 Paladin Security

Security Guard Resume Template

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Consent
Consent

Get a Quote

Integrated Guarding

Name(Required)
Address(Required)

Get a Quote

Get a quote

Please let us know your security needs and leave your information. We will contact you shortly.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The Difference Makers

Contact Us

 

Contact Us

We will respond to your inquiry as soon as we are able to.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.