DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents
Consultants
Consultants can provide critical support to a mass fatality incident DNA identification response. For example, consultants may write or customize computer programs to tabulate and review data or to perform complex kinship analysis.
It may save time to ask prospective consultants to submit a proposal in response to an RFI (request for information), as this may allow the winning proposal to be incorporated into a contract. Proposals should define the consultant’s roles, responsibilities, tasks, acceptance criteria for deliverables, timeframes, and hours and fees. Consultants should provide a list of references, and the laboratory director should ask references such questions as:
- What did the consultant do for you?
- Was the consultant responsible and of value? Why or why not?
- What are the consultant’s strengths and limitations?
- Would you hire the consultant again? Why or why not?
Consultants typically charge by the hour, and they should be able to provide an estimate of fees. Any tasks beyond the scope of the contract would be reflected in invoices. The laboratory’s contracting office should ensure that contracting rules and regulations are followed when hiring a consultant, and an experienced consultant should be able to provide the necessary proposals and paperwork to make this a straightforward task.
