Vendor Scope Audit & Bid Review

Overview

A remediation scope written by the company that will perform the remediation is not an independent assessment. It is a bid. The company that benefits financially from a larger scope has no structural incentive to tell you a smaller, more targeted intervention will solve the problem. The Building Scientist reviews vendor scopes before capital is approved — identifying inflated line items, unnecessary demolition, misdirected repairs, and work that addresses the symptom rather than the cause.

When to Use This Engagement

This engagement is appropriate when: an owner or asset manager has received a remediation, HVAC replacement, or mechanical scope above a threshold requiring capital committee approval; a vendor is recommending full equipment replacement as the solution to a humidity or IAQ complaint; a remediation company is proposing to perform its own post-clearance testing; or a scope has been received that does not reference any diagnostic testing to identify the root cause.

What We Investigate

We review the proposed scope against four criteria: does it address the root cause or only the visible symptom; is the demolition scope proportionate to the actual extent of failure; are replacement recommendations supported by performance data or based on age alone; and is the post-remediation clearance protocol independent. Where the root cause is not established, we recommend field diagnostics before approving any scope.

What You Receive

A written Scope Review Report identifying: line items that are unnecessary or disproportionate; items requiring independent verification before approval; alternative targeted approaches that address the same problem at lower cost; and a recommended revised scope. For complex engagements, an independent Corrective Action List replaces the vendor scope entirely.

Why Independence Matters

The only party in this transaction with no financial stake in the size of the scope is The Building Scientist. We do not perform remediation. We do not install equipment. We have nothing to gain from a larger scope and everything to gain from an accurate one. That is why our scope review produces a different result from any review performed by a party with a commercial interest in the outcome.

The Decision This Protects

Capital approval. Owners who engage independent scope review before approving a major remediation or mechanical scope consistently reduce unnecessary expenditure. The review typically costs a fraction of the savings it identifies.

Request an Assessment

Contact The Building Scientist to discuss a scope review before your next capital approval.