Guide to hire a groundwater consultant
Why
Many consultants / Firms have been blacklisted or sub-standard report has been rejected by regulators
Background
I am sharing this guide based on my long working experience in both the government sector as well as a very large MNC. Generally, in the government sector, selection is based on competitive bidding, and they are able to manage better outcomes even from the lowest bidder because they have in-house experts. However, because many government-sector firms lack in-house capabilities, they struggle to obtain better results from the lowest bidder.
In the case of large, structured MNC companies, they adopt the same methodology if they are looking for a consulting firm. However, if they look for an individual consultant, they will first shortlist consultants based on qualifications and experience relevant to their needs, then share a well-defined statement of work and begin a discussion with the individual consultant on financial and timeline issues. Here cost comes last, with their intention to hire the best individual consultant fit for their SOW within their budget.
However, small, privately owned companies go by the lowest cost, and most of them understand that getting work done is customary and any type of report will serve their purposes. If the consulting work is related to regulatory compliance, it will fail in the long run. They also understand that all consultants are equal. Certainly, all are equal with respect to technical capability, but they differ completely from each other in the ethics of consulting work. Some are in a hurry to undertake the work at any cost. Businesses understand the importance of money. In general, you get what you pay for. No one is sitting here for charity, neither you nor the consultant.
Facts
Consultancy in groundwater is not a ready-made solution; it requires fieldwork, analysis, and the preparation of a report. Unfortunately, most small businesses believe this because they lack the in-house capability to judge.
Guidelines
Below are some guidelines on how to arrive at the selection of an individual consultant for your work.
1. Keep in mind that you need a worker, not a manager.
2. First, create a detailed statement of work and assign a reasonable time frame for completion.
3. Determine a reasonable price based on a market survey and feedback from other businesses.
4. Decide whether you are interested in hiring a consulting firm or an individual consultant.
5. Ask the individual consultant for a timeframe to complete the project; if your timeframe is not met, you should look for another individual consultant.
6. Keep your relevant information and data related to your project ready and inform the consultant about its availability.
7. Once you’ve chosen a consultant, share your SOW and time frame without getting into financial details.
8. After receiving a reply from consultants, ask for a brief CV along with details of similar projects that were completed for similar purposes.
9. Establish the credibility of the consultant by doing research on the website, looking into LinkedIn and public domain profiles, publications, etc.
10. Obtain feedback from others on the quality of the consultant’s work.
11. Avoid selecting consultants on the basis of their previous associations and positions.
12. Never request that the consultant obtain regulatory approval. Beware of those committing this. The quality of the work will suffer.
13. Identify the individual consultant based on past experience of similar work.
14. In case the consultant indicates a higher cost compared to your estimate, you must indicate your cost estimate before you start searching for another consultant.
15. Decide on a payment schedule and pay the consultant on time. This is a very important factor in getting quality work.
16. Carefully review the report submitted by the consultant. If required, seek the advice of a third party or other experts.
Applicability
These guidelines are valid for companies that believe in the ethics of positive business and intend to establish a reputation in the market as well as with regulators.
Guide to hire a groundwater consultant
