Selecting systems, running surveillance and security operations, etc., are some of the Casino Operations Manager’s many functions on a daily basis, and with this in view, Bill Miller, with 30 years’ experience in the field as well as owner of Reliable Security Sound & Data company, writing for Catwalk the casino surveillance media, offers some pointers on making a “thorough and thoughtful selection to select the installer and be responsible to management for a good installation”:
1. Preparation is the key to success. Make sure you understand what you want. Make sure you have a reasonable idea of what your budgets are. A little bit of homework on your part will save a lot of headaches. Also don’t be afraid to listen to a contractors’ recommendation or the manufacturer’s recommendations on ways that can bring value engineering to your installation. But make sure that you know what you want so you can evaluate the value engineering. I realize that this sounds like a simple step, but it is one of the major stumbling blocks I’ve seen over the years. Make sure your contractor understands your requirements. This begins with licensing, which may include electrical, contractor and gaming licenses.
2. Also make sure that your contractor is experienced in the product that he is selling. It is always a good idea to check references. If he is an authorized installer of the product that you want to install, get that in writing from the manufacturer. Make sure he has gone to all the latest training courses. Ask for verification. Very few properties do this and it never ceases to amaze me why they don’t. Look at your contractor’s qualifications. Ask him for a roster of his employees. Ask him who will be working on the job. See what his ability is to carry out his business. In other words, how close is his office, does he have all the latest technical training and proper licensing, does he have the ability to do AutoCAD. If you don’t get the right answer to these questions, find another contractor. Contractors that have not kept their people up with the latest training or do not have AutoCAD departments are not serious contractors in this business. Also it is a good idea to get an idea of your contractor’s financial stability. While most contractors that you will encounter are not publically traded companies, a letter from their bank or bonding company will give you a good indication of their ability to do the work. Also in checking out their previous jobs, and references can help you make a decision.
3. It is also important that you tie your contractor down to a timeframe. Once you have negotiated a timeframe, you contractor should provide you with a schedule of payment and schedule of values.
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A schedule of payment will tell you when monies will be due and you can relate this to management. Management does not like surprises with invoices that they are not expecting or prepared to pay. A schedule of values will protect you to make sure that you are getting the products that you ordered.
4. Request your contractor to provide line item pricing with a guarantee on how long the line items pricing will be valid. Typically in the electronics business, prices go down. This is not always the case with certain products, especially something that has a large amount of metal in it, such as technical furniture, equipment racks, etc. which may actually go up in price over a period of time.
5. Make sure that your contractor understands that he has to work with your other departments. This may include IP, Facilities, and other contractors of the trades such as mechanical, electrical and general contractors. Make sure that he presents his AutoCAD drawings so that you and your other departments can sign off on them. It’s also your responsibility as the lead in this project for the owner to make sure that the other departments are coordinated with and the contractor has followed up on this coordination. This coordination can include cable runs and electrical and cooling loads for the surveillance and IDF rooms.
6. In terms of the functions, understand who is going to inspect the work, when the payments will be submitted, when they will be paid and how the inspection will detail out in this.
7. A contract should summarize the above points. If your organization does not have a short form contract, simply have the contractor supply it, and send it to your legal department to make sure they approve.
Bill concludes by adding that any contractor that balks at any of the points above is a contractor that you don’t want on site, and recommends: “But remember that successfully executing a contract lies in your hands. Preparation and understanding what you need to accomplish will go a long way towards completion of a project on budget and that meets your requirements”. (E-07.07.11)
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