Choosing the right Security Provider

Poor procurement practices in construction security provision can have serious consequences for both the construction site and the surrounding community with in some instances, terrible ramifications.?Poor procurement practices include failure to properly vet your security provider, not specifying performance requirements, not monitoring performance, not providing sufficient funding, not setting clear milestones or guidelines, not considering long term maintenance and repair, and perhaps most importantly not involving security experts in the procurement process.

?

Choosing your security provider:

With over 9,000 security providers in the UK ranging from large to small and good, to moderate and even poor, it is now more than ever high time that contractors, landlords and procurers of security provision do their due diligence.?By appointing a bad security provider for your construction site, you may save costs at the front end, but it can have horrendous consequences in the long term and ultimately cost you more overall.?An inadequate, or poor security provider will likely not provide adequate security for your site, which can lead to theft, vandalism, and other crimes.?Poorly trained, unmotivated, and inexperienced staff, including security officers, supervisors and managers may not be able to respond effectively to security threats or emergencies.?Some security firms may not be compliant with regulations and laws which can result in fines or legal action against the site owner or operator.?If security incidents do occur due to the contractor’s poor performance, it can damage the company’s reputation and thus lead to a loss of business.?Importantly, if a security incident does occur on the site and the contractor is found to be negligent, the construction company may be held liable for any resulting damages or injuries.?Finally, it can cause a delay in site operations which can affect the overall projects completion, profit, and commercial viability.

Procuring your security services:

1.??????Conducting a risk and project threat assessment: identify and assess the potential security risks and threats of your project and use this information to help you determine your specific security requirements.

2.??????Create a specification: develop a detailed specification of the security provisions that you require, including the type of service, the required level of service and the specific site location.

3.??????Researching providers: research potential security providers to find those that have relevant experience, qualifications, and certifications to meet your project requirements.?Look for providers that are members of organisations such as the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

4.??????Ensure that qualifications and certification are valid: ensure that your supplier is certified by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and have undertaken extensive audits via the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).?Your provider will be able to demonstrate this by showing you’re their accreditation.

5.??????Shortlist providers: shortlist potential providers based on their experience, qualifications, certification, and references.

6.??????Obtaining quotes: obtain quotes from the shortlisted providers to compare costs and service offering.

7.??????Conducting due diligence: conduct due diligence on the shortlisted providers, including checking their licences, insurance coverage and any relevant certification.

8.??????Evaluating the tenders: evaluate the tenders received from providers using a set of predefined evaluation criteria, for example, price, quality, and service level.

9.??????Stipulate compliance: make compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, such as carrying SIA licences, adherence to the Data Protection Act (DPA) and health and safety regulations a condition of the contract.

10.??Include sustainability measures: include sustainability measures in the contract, such as reducing energy consumption, water conservation, and waste management to ensure that the provider operates in an environmentally responsible manner.

11.??Signing a contract: once you have chosen your provider, sign a contract that clearly outlines the services to be provided, the costs and the terms and conditions of the contract.

12.??Review the contract regularly:?regularly review the contract to ensure that the provider is meeting your expectations and make any necessary adjustments to the contact.

Red Flags:

Failure to properly vet security providers: not properly researching and evaluating the qualifications and experience of security providers can lead to the selection of an inexperienced or unqualified provider.

Not specifying performance requirements: without clear performance requirements, security providers may not understand what is expected of them and may not provide the level of protection that is needed.

Not monitoring performance: not monitoring the performance of your security provider will mean that issues with the service provided may not be identified and addressed in a timely manner.

Not providing sufficient funding: insufficient funding can limit the capabilities of security providers, which can reduce their ability to protect the construction site effectively.

Not setting clear milestones or guidelines: not setting clear milestones or guidelines can lead to project delays, increased costs, and poor quality of work.

Not considering long-term maintenance and repair: not considering long term maintenance and repair of CCTV and other security related hardware and software systems can lead to the need or replacement in the future,

And….

Not involving security experts in the procurement process: not having security experts involved in the procurement process can mean that important security considerations are not taken into account.

In summary:

Overall, poor procurement practices in the construction security appointment process can lead to a lack of protection for your site, the surrounding community, and the construction workers.?To avoid these issues its important to carefully research and evaluate the security contractor to ensure that they are able to support your project before you appoint them, set clear performance requirements, monitor performance, provide sufficient funding and involve security experts such as Guardior in the procurement process.

For help in finding the right security provider, or to discuss your projects requirements, give the team at Guardior a call on 0208 278 7068 or email [email protected] who will be more then happy to help.