Frequently Asked Questions

How do I initiate a project or obtain additional information?

The process starts by contacting us so that you can discuss your needs with a project coordinator. After this initial discussion, the coordinator will then assign a consultant (or team of consultants) to further define the scope. The assigned consultant will then follow up with you to get any additional technical details he/she may need in order to understand the project and estimate the effort required. Once we have a good understanding of the project and your needs, RCS will provide you with a formal proposal detailing estimated time and costs, project scope and a preliminary schedule. Once you have reviewed and accepted our proposal, we can begin work on your project.

Will you execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?

Yes. Even though RCS always takes the utmost care to assure that your data and intellectual property are protected, we encourage the execution of a mutual non-disclosure agreement prior to any project initiation. We use an industry standard agreement (see linked Word® document, *.doc). You may use this agreement or your organization's legal department may provide one. Please keep in mind that if your company agreement substantially deviates from our standard agreement, it may take longer to execute and/or may be refused.  

What is the fee for your service?

Depending on the project and/or task, ReliaSoft charges a consulting fee on an hourly, daily or per project basis.

• For smaller analysis projects done at our facilities, the cost is based on the actual hours spent on the project. The project proposal will include an estimate of the maximum hours for budgeting purposes. ReliaSoft will then bill only the time actually spent on the project.

• If a project requires a visit to your facility, RCS usually applies a daily fee. For any project requiring travel, RCS will also bill for the actual costs incurred for related travel expenses.

• In some long-term projects, RCS may utilize a fixed project fee.

Please note the following:

• The exact fee will vary based on the expertise sought, the location of the consultant and other relevant factors. Our fee structure is in line with what you would expect to pay for similar professional services.

• Regardless of the project, ReliaSoft will provide you with a written proposal outlining the costs. Work on the project can be initiated after your acceptance of the proposal and the issuance of a purchase order. Smaller projects can also be charged to a credit card.  

How quickly can I initiate a project?

This depends on the project and the expertise required. In general and for most standard requests, we can have a consultant assigned to your project immediately. Requests that require a specific consultant or a fairly specialized skill set may have to be aligned with the specific consultant’s schedule.

I just need someone to look over my work (or do a quick analysis for me). Do you provide that?

Absolutely. In most cases, we can do this on the same day. You can e-mail your data set and/or analysis and we can get back to you with an estimate of the time and cost required to accomplish the task. Smaller projects such as this can be charged to a credit card and will be delivered to you electronically as soon as they are completed.

What are the project deliverables?

In general, all projects include a complete and thorough report that describes our findings, analysis and recommendations. Depending on the project, other deliverables will be included as required. These deliverables will be defined in the project proposal or added in subsequent modifications to the scope as the project progresses.

What are my responsibilities?

This depends on the project. Many projects will have milestones that are dependent on both you and RCS. Whenever possible, the project proposal will include a reference to the type of cooperation that will be required in order to successfully complete the project (such as a single point of contact within the organization, timely response to requests for information or decisions, and so on). In general, our project scheduling involves time to complete each task once other milestones have been completed. If decisions or delays on your part cause milestones to be missed, the project schedule may need to be adjusted to reflect that.

Do you perform consultation via the phone and Web, or are site visits required?

RCS will strive to minimize the project costs. A major part of the cost of any project is usually travel-related. As such, we will try to accomplish as much as possible via the use of teleconferencing and/or Web meetings. If the situation requires it, RCS consultants will travel to your location for an in-person meeting. Alternatively, and if you find it more productive, ReliaSoft can host these meetings at one of its offices.

Do you have test facilities or labs?

No. RCS does not perform physical tests nor do we have labs or testing facilities. We can, however, assist you with finding an independent testing facility if required as part of the project.

Where are your consultants based?

Consultants are usually based out of our corporate headquarters in Tucson, Arizona or one of our regional offices worldwide.

If I use your services, can you assure me that I will get the answer that I want?

We can assure you that our services and our deliverables will be complete and thorough. We cannot provide you with assurances that any analysis will yield results that coincide with your expectations.