1. The Numbers Don’t Lie
For all of our clients at Assurance Screening who are utilizing our subcontractor/vendor screening services, we
provide to them confidential reports which we call our Status Update Reports. These reports are designed to show
our clients the statistics regarding their current subcontractors, whether they are currently in their database, or
being asked to go through the screening process to become one of their pre-screened bidders for a job or
contract. Below are samples of the findings we have discovered for some of our clients. The numbers don't lie.
9.27% of the subcontractors/vendors for a client were not registered with the state in which they
were attempting to do business/or were not in good standing with that state
23.12% of the subcontractors/vendors for a client had bankruptcies, tax liens and/or judgments
filed against them
19.84% of the subcontractors/vendors for a client did not have the proper type of insurance
coverage amounts required by their contracting requirements
34.41% of the subcontractors/vendors who were bidding on a job for a client did not have the
required trade license requirements for the job they were bidding
Yes, these numbers not only don't lie, but they are concerning. I haven't even touched on those subcontractors
and vendors who qualify for a contract or job, but then a couple months in change, alter or cancel their insurance
coverage. Yes, cancel.
What does this mean? It doesn't take a math scholar to see the causes for concern here. Knowing this type of data
is one of the steps needed to implement a plan of action to address any issues. At Assurance, we help make our
clients' jobs easier. Our job is never to make the final decision on contracting to a vendor or subcontractor, or any
decision on that matter. Our clients trust, while Assurance verifies.
At Assurance, we want to make sure a couple of things are occurring, as well as a follow up. First, we work with
our client's subcontractors and vendors to make them aware of their lack of compliance, and put follow ups in
place to communicate where they are lacking to help them shore up the gaps. Secondly, we also provide copies of
the reports to any subcontractor or vendor who requests a copy, so they can know where they stand on other
diligence we perform for our clients to review. Ignorance is never bliss for either party involved. Since knowing is
half the battle, any causes for concerns can be addressed up front and our clients and their subcontractors and
vendors can work together to get on the right track. In the end, it's always better to Be Sure.
-Karen Herrera Adamson, President & CEO of Assurance Screening, LLC
©2011 Assurance Screening, LLC