Although the differences in these terms may be subjective and determined by the context of their use, we feel that there are some very important differences in how a professional describes the services that he or she provides. We believe the differences are in the deliverables.

JanCom provides not only consulting services, but also detailed, dimensioned (where required), and coordinated construction documents that are typically used as a portion of a full set of contract documents that describe a building project. By coordinating our documents with other related building disciplines such as electrical and mechanical systems, construction costs and change orders are significantly reduced relative to typical styles of consulting services delivery. JanCom Technologies, Inc. prepared drawings are typically created under the supervision of and sealed by a licensed professional engineer.

Design is the process by which engineered solutions are established. The design process begins with establishment of project requirements, development of feasible solutions or responses to the requirements, and finally documentation of an agreed upon solution that meets the needs of the project be that purely functional, or as is more often the case, a functional need attained within a set budget.

A Registered Communications Distribution Designer is a credential established and promoted by the organization Building Industry Consulting Services International. BICSI is an organization created out of the Bell System BIC's, or Building Industry Consultants as they were known prior to the divestiture of AT&T. BICSI promotes education and the participation on regional and national levels. The requirements to earn an RCDD include two years of experience in the industry, letters of reference, and a passing score on a timed exam. RCDD's must renew their membership every three years with the completion of a required number of continuing education credits.

Not all RCDD's are practicing designers. A cross section of RCDD's would include a very high percentage of sales professionals and installers.

A Professional Engineer (PE) is an individual licensed to practice engineering by the state(s) in which he or she practices. The requirements to obtain a PE license in Texas and most other states include a 4-year degree in the individual's branch of engineering from an accredited university, a minimum of four years of subsequent experience practicing under the guidance and oversight of a licensed Professional Engineer, and achieving passing scores on two separate 8-hour exams covering principles and practices of engineering. The engineering license must be renewed periodically (the frequency depends on the issuing state's requirements) and many states have continuing education requirements for license renewal. With certain exceptions, such as projects for the U.S. government, the engineer must be licensed in each state in which he or she practices.

The purpose of this licensing requirement is to ensure that all persons practicing engineering are competent and sufficiently experienced in their field to properly apply the technology and exercise good judgment in making engineering decisions. An engineer may only practice in his or her area of competency.

It can be, and it can also be a very costly proposition. Nothing is free. Services provided at no cost, at the very least, require the use of a vendors product exclusively with revenues built into the cost of the product to pay for the services provided. Our experience is that vendor provided design services are initiated very late in an ongoing process and therefore do not typically include timely and detailed coordination with related disciplines. Redesign and perhaps costly renovation can be required to accommodate the installed systems.

JanCom has proven that several other factors exist that will contribute to a cost effective installation:

Primarily, the integration of the system design into the architecture of a building early in the design process will result in reduced architectural and construction costs. Coordination and documentation of telecommunications spaces and pathways, power requirements, cooling requirements, and other building elements are critical to long term manageability and scalability of the installed systems.

Secondarily, the competitive bid process, where qualified contractors and product manufacturers compete evenly for your business will result in significantly reduced acquisition costs. Also, the objectivity inherent in independent design allows a choice of products and solutions. And finally, objective oversight of the installation process results in a much higher level of compliance with the installation contract.

We like to tell clients that "the once in a lifetime project is the type of project we do every day". JanCom brings several benefits to a project; first and foremost, experience. JanCom has been through the process of developing innovative telecommunications and critical power systems solutions for many different clients in many different industries and locations. Secondly, JanCom is an objective expert in technology and power systems. With no alliances, or biases to any manufacturer or vendor, JanCom evaluates potential solutions based upon it's ability to meet the needs of our client's specific requirements. And finally - although there are many more benefits to discuss -- JanCom is a resource that will complete a project minimizing additional workload on existing personnel.

The term "critical power" is used to describe the power systems and equipment supporting "critical" operations, for which an unexpected power outage may be disruptive, costly, or even dangerous. Examples include the power systems serving data centers, telecommunications centers, key manufacturing operations, and certain health-care functions. In these and similar cases, special provisions are made to prevent the interruption of power to the critical operations in the event of a failure of the power from the electric utility provider or to accommodate periodic maintenance. Such special provisions may include the installation of standby generators, battery or flywheel supported uninterruptible power systems, and/or redundant utility feeds.

JanCom's fees are determined using one of several different methods. Typically, JanCom will propose a fixed fee for a project where the scope of work is well defined and predictable. Where this is not the case or if the client prefers, hourly fees for the individual(s) assigned to the project are quoted.

In either case, a detailed scope of work and fees are provided and work begins upon execution of a formal contract. Invoices are presented for payment either monthly or at the conclusion of agreed upon project phases.

Customary reimbursable expenses are tracked and stated as a line item within monthly or phased invoices.