Pro-Vac - Buyers of Subsurface Infrastructure Services

We are conducting research on behalf of an institutional client of Woozle Research into the market for subsurface infrastructure services, including hydro and vacuum excavation, utility locating and potholing, pipeline and sewer cleaning and inspection, and related non-destructive digging work. We are looking to speak with professionals who buy, specify or manage these services on the customer side — for example procurement, supply chain, contracts or category managers, and operations, construction, engineering or asset management leaders who hold responsibility for awarding or overseeing this type of work. Relevant employers include electric, gas, water and telecoms utilities, municipalities and public agencies, general and specialty contractors, engineering and design consultancies, and industrial or energy site operators. You are likely to be a good fit if you have been personally involved in selecting or managing subsurface service providers in the United States within the past two years, ideally in the Pacific Northwest or other western states, and can speak to how vendors are evaluated and how work is allocated. Those who have never had direct involvement in vendor selection or oversight for this category are unlikely to qualify.

The discussion will focus on how the market works from a buyer's perspective. Themes are expected to include how demand for subsurface and non-destructive excavation work has developed and where it is coming from, how contracts are structured and awarded, the criteria used to evaluate providers, and the relative importance of factors such as fleet availability, crew quality, safety record, turnaround times, geographic coverage and technical capability. We would also like to understand the competitive landscape as you see it, including the mix of regional specialists and larger diversified players, pricing and rate dynamics, capacity constraints, and the circumstances in which buyers add, change or consolidate suppliers. Your own view of where the market is heading over the next few years would be valuable.

The format is a one-to-one expert call of approximately 60 minutes, conducted by phone or video at a time that suits your schedule, and led by a member of our research team using a semi-structured discussion guide. No preparation or documentation is required, and we ask only for your general industry perspective rather than anything confidential or proprietary to your employer. Calls are being scheduled over the coming weeks. Participants receive an honorarium of USD 350 in recognition of their time.