Gold, Platinum, Or Diamond: Chosen By The Work You Have, Not A Ladder
We price to the value we deliver, not the hours we log. If the value isn’t there for you, we’ll say so in the assessment.
Chosen by the work you have, not a ladder. Gold is a lower-risk start, never a requirement. Some clients start with Platinum or Diamond. See why teams choose PPS.
Or contract one, or buy the software
Engineering is a team sport
Three questions about your work. We suggest Gold, Platinum, or Diamond, then follow up with a free roadmap. It is a suggestion, not a commitment. The assessment confirms the fit.
Do you offer fixed-price engineering services or hourly billing?
As an engineering consultant, PPS prices each engagement to the value it delivers, not to the hours it takes. Hourly billing sounds safe. But it pays the vendor more every time a design fails and needs another loop. That risk sits with you, and it shows up later. It lands as tooling changes, extra prototypes, and missed launch dates. Federal buyers know this well. The Federal Acquisition Regulation says a time-and-materials contract gives the contractor no profit incentive to control cost. We price to the value we deliver, not the hours we log. If the value isn't there for you, we'll say so in the assessment.
You buy the design that removes your constraint, with the data you approved and the IP. Gold starts from $35K for one defined project. Platinum starts from $15K a month for recurring work at a steady rhythm. Diamond starts from $800K a year for a long program. Each is a starting point, chosen by need, not a ladder. Your price comes from the free assessment.
Is the assessment free, and how is FEA consultant cost set?
Yes. The free assessment is the first step with PPS as your engineering consultant, and it carries no obligation. Many firms charge for discovery, so the meter runs before you know whether they can help. We think you should see the path before you pay for it. Sharing data before you trust a firm is a real worry. Your drawings and test results are worth protecting. The USPTO notes that a trade secret must be kept secret with reasonable efforts. So we sign your NDA or send ours before you share any data. You can also start with a short description that holds nothing confidential.
You send the data you have: CAD, drawings, loads, test results, or a description of the problem. We review your project scope and send a roadmap proposal with scope, approval gates, and price. If the assessment needs us on site, we quote travel before we go. We don't start the engineering until every data set is in. Every project is scoped on its own. We reply within one business day.
Can we change engagement models later?
Yes. With PPS as your engineering consultant, the engagement model follows your work, not a ladder you have to climb. Many buyers worry that a plan locks them into a contract that no longer fits once the program changes. It shouldn't, and with us it won't. Programs change shape. A one-off fix turns into steady sustaining work, or a long program winds down. Federal buyers plan for this: FAR 16.103 notes that changing circumstances may make a different contract type right in later periods. A plan that can't follow your work makes you pay for capacity you don't use, or wait for capacity you need.
A one-off design problem fits Gold, a fixed scope for one project. Steady drawing updates, ASME calculations, or FEA for each sale fit Platinum. A long development program fits Diamond, with a dedicated PPS team on it every day. Gold is a lower-risk start, but it is never required. Some clients start at Platinum or Diamond. We revisit the fit with you as your work changes.
Why don't you quote hourly engineering consulting rates like others?
An hourly engineering consultant is paid more when a design fails and needs another loop. That puts the incentive in the wrong place. The vendor earns from rework, and your program pays for it in tooling, prototypes, and time. Most buyers never see that cost on the first quote. The government's own rules say the same. FAR 16.202-1 says a firm-fixed-price contract gives the contractor the most incentive to control costs, because the contractor carries the risk. Hourly work flips that: you carry the risk, and every extra loop adds to the bill. One person learning your product on the clock makes it worse.
PPS is paid for the design that works. The price covers FEA, CFD, CAD, and DFMA from one team. You approve the data at every gate. We guarantee our work, not your savings, test results, or dates. If we missed something in our design QC, we fix it. If your supplier can't make the part, or it can't be bought, within three years of delivery, we fix that too.
Not sure which model fits? Send your data. Get a free roadmap.
Send your data, drawings, and targets. We review your project scope in a free assessment and reply within one business day with next steps.
On-site assessments that require travel are quoted separately.
