Hi Christopher, and Happy New Year!
Qs. "Are contracts often renewed multiple times over the years, and if so, are rate increases built in? Do budgets tend to stay flat, and how does inflation impact the number of hours of work that can be provided? Have you had clients open to negotiation about contract sizes as relationships are built over time?
A. It depends!
Consider the field of clients, e.g., private and public sector.
Federal, State, County, Town . . .each with their required contractual protocols.
If your initial contract results are just "Satisfactory," that means the client probably won't be filing a claim,
nor will they probably return.
However, if the client is "Delighted," you will see the fruits of that!
Cheers,
Bill
p.s. To start delighting your client, within the first few days of the work either visit or call.
Ask the client when, how, and what they would like to see as to the project's progress.
------------------------------
William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
Buffalo, N.Y.
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 12-27-2023 12:08 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Understanding Budget Dynamics in Civil Engineering Contracts
I have been fortunate to work in a field where contracts with clients tend to be measured in months or years, rather than days or weeks. This has made work more stable and easier to plan for. However, I still have many questions about the rest of the industry.
For others out there - Are contracts often renewed multiple times over the years, and if so, are rate increases built in? Do budgets tend to stay flat, and how does inflation impact the number of hours of work that can be provided? Have you had clients open to negotiation about contract sizes as relationships are built over time?
------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------