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Contracting Security Service: Challenges and Rewards

As workplace paradigm shifts are still developing, it is integral to be mindful of four key challenges currently affecting all industries and how this changing economic landscape could impact overall success. 

Contractor responses to your request for proposal should adequately describe how they will help achieve your goals by outlining the appropriate level of administrative support, applicable maintenance assistance, and an overall business model and system that will effectively support your site. Unfortunately, this level of response is not typically provided. More often, we are seeing site security directors performing administrative tasks in addition to their primary surveillance duties. For large accounts, it is recommended to include a separate role for administrative functions, ensuring clear separation of tasks and maximum site security.   

Performance-based metrics-based contract. Like Pavlov’s dog, we want to classically condition our provider with rewards for good performance, and penalties for poor performance.  

With the onset of the Great Resignation, job satisfaction has never been more important. To retain quality staff, it is imperative you provide regular feedback and reward exceptional performance. Consider using a metrics-based contract that uses key scoring criteria to show staff performance and overall engagement. Thresholds of scoring are suggested and may not always result in a yes/no response. Be explicit when defining staff expectations, including rewards and penalties for not meeting workplace expectations. Examples of some key performance indicators/metrics can include:  

Sean A. Ahrens (sahrens@aeieng.com), CPP, FSyl, CSC, is a premises liability expert and a board of directors' member with the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC). Ahrens provides security consulting, assessment, and security design solutions that reduce security exposures for domestic and international clientele as a market group leader forAffiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI).   

Steve Siegel (steveadvil@hotmail.com), is a member of and has served on the boards of many security industry associations, including ASIS, IAHSS, ADSAI, CAI, BOMA, IREM, ISPA, MSC and more. He is also a sought-after security industry subject matter expert.)