TranslateWhat to Ask Before Selecting a Remedial Injection Contractor
The right questions reveal whether a contractor has the experience, equipment, and expertise to deliver results — or is just a reagent reseller with a website. Use this checklist to evaluate every prospective injection contractor.
The Complete Question Checklist
Six categories, thirty questions. Print this page and use it in every contractor interview.
1Experience & Track Record
How many in situ injection projects have you completed in the last 5 years?
Can you provide references for projects with my specific contaminant (TCE, PCE, petroleum, etc.)?
What is your experience with my state's regulatory framework and cleanup standards?
Can you share case studies for sites with similar geology to mine?
What is your project success rate — how many sites have achieved cleanup goals?
2Technology & Reagent Expertise
Do you have patented or proprietary treatment technologies, or do you only use commodity chemicals?
How do you determine which reagent (persulfate, permanganate, ZVI, substrate) is appropriate for my site?
Can you combine technologies (e.g., ISCO followed by bioremediation) if needed?
What is your approach to preventing contaminant rebound after treatment?
How do you handle complex or mixed contamination (chlorinated solvents + petroleum + metals)?
3Equipment & Field Capability
Do you own your drilling rigs, or do you subcontract drilling?
What injection methods can you perform (direct push, permanent wells, soil mixing)?
Do you have experience with barge or marine drilling if needed?
What is your typical mobilization timeline once a contract is signed?
How do you handle difficult access conditions (indoor, tight spaces, active facilities)?
4Design & Proposal Quality
Will you provide a turn-key proposal with reagent quantities, injection grid, and cost estimate?
How do you determine injection point spacing and depth intervals?
Do you perform bench-scale or pilot testing before full-scale implementation?
What performance monitoring do you include in your proposal?
How do you handle design adjustments if field conditions differ from expectations?
5Safety, Insurance & Compliance
What is your Experience Modification Rate (EMR) for workers compensation?
Do you carry pollution liability insurance? What are the coverage limits?
What safety certifications does your field team hold (OSHA 40, HAZWOPER)?
Have you had any OSHA recordable incidents in the last 3 years?
Are you bonded for environmental field work?
6Cost & Contract Terms
Is your proposal a fixed-price turn-key quote, or is it time-and-materials?
What is included in the price — reagents, drilling, injection, monitoring, reporting?
Are there any potential change-order triggers I should be aware of?
Do you offer performance-based contracting tied to cleanup goals?
What payment terms do you offer (milestone-based, completion-based)?
Warning Signs in Their Answers
If a contractor's answers raise any of these red flags, proceed with caution:
- ⚠ Cannot provide specific project references or case studies
- ⚠ No in-house drilling equipment — everything is subcontracted
- ⚠ Only offers one technology regardless of your site conditions
- ⚠ Quotes materials only — no design, no field work, no monitoring
- ⚠ No pollution liability insurance or cannot provide a COI
- ⚠ EMR above 1.0 or recent OSHA recordable incidents
- ⚠ Unwilling to provide a fixed-price turn-key proposal
- ⚠ No experience with your state's regulatory requirements
How IET Answers These Questions
We welcome every question on this list. Here\'s a preview:
3,000+ injection projects completed since 1998
Multiple patented technologies (persulfate, EZVI, ISGS)
In-house fleet: Geoprobe, CME, AMS, Schramm rigs
6 regional offices for rapid nationwide mobilization
Turn-key proposals with design-level detail
EMR below 1.0, comprehensive pollution liability insurance
Full-time OSHA 40/HAZWOPER-certified field teams
Fixed-price turn-key quotes with no hidden change orders
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask a remedial injection contractor before hiring them?
Ask about six areas: (1) experience and track record with your contaminant and geology, (2) technology and reagent expertise including patented technologies, (3) in-house equipment and field capability, (4) design and proposal quality including turn-key pricing, (5) safety, insurance, and compliance, and (6) cost and contract terms. IET provides detailed answers to all of these — call 888-721-8283.
Why is it important to ask about in-house drilling equipment?
Contractors who own their drilling rigs control schedule, quality, and cost. Subcontractor-dependent contractors face scheduling delays, markup costs, and quality inconsistencies. IET owns and operates its own fleet of Geoprobe, CME, AMS, and Schramm drilling rigs — no subcontractor delays or markups.
What is a turn-key remediation proposal?
A turn-key proposal includes everything needed to complete the project: site-specific design, reagent quantities, injection grid layout, drilling and injection methodology, field implementation, performance monitoring, and a single fixed price. You get one point of contact and one accountable party. IET provides turn-key proposals for every project.
What insurance should a remediation contractor carry?
A remediation contractor should carry comprehensive general liability, pollution liability, workers compensation, and automobile insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) with your firm listed as an additional insured. IET carries robust coverage and maintains an EMR below 1.0.
Should I ask about contaminant rebound?
Yes. Contaminant rebound — when concentrations increase after treatment — is a common failure mode. Ask how the contractor prevents rebound. IET uses ferric iron-activated persulfate that provides sustained oxidation and supports secondary bioremediation, reducing the risk of rebound compared to single-event treatments.
