Engineering guide
How to Choose an Engineering Subcontractor for EPC Projects in Saudi Arabia: a 12-Point Checklist
Outsourcing engineering saves time only when the subcontractor's work goes through client review the first time. Use these twelve checks before you award.
By SLETEC Engineering · Updated 2026-11-06 · 4 min read
The 12 checks
- Legal registration. Ask for the company registration number and verify it with the issuing authority. For delivery inside Saudi Arabia, confirm which legal entity will sign the contract.
- Relevant evidence. Ask for project references in the same equipment type and code — not just a services list.
- Code competence. Check the codes on the references match your scope: API 650/653, ASME VIII, ASME B31.3, AISC 360, the Saudi Building Code and so on.
- Client standards. Confirm experience working to Saudi Aramco SAES/SAMSS, SABIC or your owner's specifications, and ask how they are tracked in the design basis.
- Independent checking. Ask who checks the work. The checker should not be the originator, and the check should be recorded.
- Document control. Look for a document numbering system, revision rules (IFR, IFA, IFC, as-built) and a master document register.
- Comment closure. Ask to see a sample comment-response sheet — it shows how they handle your client's review.
- Software and licences. Confirm the software for analysis, modelling and drafting, and the file formats you need.
- Named team. Ask for the lead engineers' CVs and years of experience in the discipline.
- Schedule realism. A credible offer states inputs required, hold points and review periods, not only a delivery date.
- Confidentiality. Check NDA acceptance and how client data is stored and accessed.
- Communication. Agree a single point of contact, reporting frequency and meeting arrangements in KSA.
Red flags
- No verifiable registration or no clarity on the contracting entity in KSA.
- Images in a portfolio that cannot be explained by the engineers who did the work.
- No independent check, or the checker is the same person as the originator.
- A fixed delivery date with no list of required inputs.
- Claims of certifications or approvals that cannot be produced on request.
Questions to ask in the technical clarification meeting
- Who will be the lead engineer, and which similar packages has that person delivered?
- How will you capture our client's specifications in the design basis, and how do you show compliance?
- What inputs do you need from us, and by when, to hold the schedule?
- How many review cycles are included in the price?
- How do you handle a technical query that affects scope or cost?
- What does your comment-response sheet look like, and who closes comments?
- Which files will we receive — native models and calculations, or PDF only?
- How is our data stored, and who can access it?
Contract and commercial points
| Topic | What to agree |
|---|---|
| Contracting entity | Which registered company signs, invoices and carries liability in each country |
| Scope boundary | A deliverables list with document numbers and revision targets |
| Inputs and holds | Client inputs with dates; hold points that pause the schedule if inputs are late |
| Review cycles | Number of cycles included and client review duration |
| Payment | Milestones linked to issued deliverables |
| Intellectual property | Ownership of drawings, models and calculations after payment |
| Confidentiality | NDA terms and data handling |
How SLETEC answers these checks
- Registered company: Sky Line Engineering & Technology Private Limited, CIN U71100TN2026PTC199170; KSA contracts through Advanced Times General Contracting Co., C.R. 1010604936. See company facts.
- 80+ selected project references across tanks, vessels, piping, structures, analysis and reverse engineering. See the Engineering Portfolio.
- Three-level verification and document numbering SLT-[Project]-[Disc.]-[Type]-[No.] on every deliverable.
- NDAs accepted; client data on a need-to-know basis.
Frequently asked questions
- What should an engineering subcontractor provide with a proposal?
- Scope and deliverables list, inputs required, hold points, schedule with review periods, the team, software, quality and document control approach, and commercial terms.
- Why is independent checking important?
- A recorded check by an engineer who did not prepare the work catches errors before the client review, which reduces comment cycles and schedule risk.
- Can an Indian engineering company work on Saudi projects?
- Yes. Engineering can be delivered remotely, with contracting and in-Kingdom coordination through a registered Saudi entity, as SLETEC does with its KSA delivery partner.
Start a project
Send your scope, drawings, codes and schedule to enquiry@sletec.com or WhatsApp +966 55 545 8298. An engineer usually replies within 24 hours.
Discuss your project with an engineer
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