Rate Information

We specialize in providing information and document retrieval for both firms and individuals from our office in historic Old Town Alexandria, located in the heart of the DC Metro area.  George Washington surveyed the streets of Old Town and we believe that Alexandria's favorite son would be pleased with our commitment to providing the highest level of service to our clients at honest, affordable rates.  At NICOM we recognize that different projects of research and information retrieval call for different levels of expertise and we structure our work to ensure you have the best service to meet your needs.

We have a simple straight hourly fee that is billed in fifteen minute increments.  We do not bill for travel time, added research fees, travel expenses, phone calls, or any other add on charges.  For instance on document retrieval, our time starts when we enter the building and ends when our researcher leaves the facility.  You are only billed for the actual time spent on your project and any actual expenses such as photocopy charges. 

FAQ

We recognize that the greatest concern most individuals have when hiring a research firm is not knowing up front how much it is going to cost.  To help address some of these concerns we have prepared a few frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Why can't you just give me an exact estimate?

Like individuals each job is unique.  There are often similarities but there is no way to predict exactly how much time a given project will take.  Research is always an inexact science, for until you begin the work, it is impossible to know how well the process will go or what roadblocks will present themselves.  Some projects are very straight forward and we can retrieve the needed document in a short amount of time.  Other projects are more illusive and may require extensive research before retrieval can take place.  We pride ourselves on doing the very best for our clients and will always stay in close contact to allow you the say over expenses.

Why do some researchers say most jobs take only an hour or provide a very low quote?

You will find there are a lot of individuals and businesses offering to provide research or document retrieval services. As with any business, there are unethical rogues who will promise you many things, chief of which is that they can provide what you need at a very low price. It has been our experience that these individuals will make these promises but generally have neither the experience to follow through nor the inclination of delivering upon their promises. The old saying "you get what you pay for" is very applicable to research and information retrieval services. The goal for these individuals and firms is to lure you in to authorize them to work for you and keep you dangling until it is too late for you to back out. At that point, the researcher raises the price using any number of proven tricks that he has developed for that purpose. We provide honest, efficient service at fair and highly competitive rates.

Why does it seem to take so long at the Archives or Library of Congress to retrieve a document?

Unlike the public library in your home town, the cavernous research facilities in the metro area house millions of documents under extremely tight security. The advantage of this is that you have a high degree of certainty that the information can, in fact, be retrieved. You do not have to worry whether the facility subscribes to a journal or whether a book you need is checked out by someone else, the common frustrations you may have experienced in your own research. However, this also means that research and retrieval can be a little more time consuming. In most cases a request must be submitted in writing and then the material is brought by the library staff to the researcher. Where the item is located, how many people are using the facilities, and a whole host of other variables can contribute to retrieval time. We plan as much as possible which reduces the amount of time that has to be spent at the facility and are familiar with each facility which helps increase the odds of more rapid retrieval.

Why are the photocopy charges different on my invoice?

Each facility sets its own charges for photocopies and we bill exactly what was spent on photocopies for you.

Can I specify how I want the documents sent to me?

You certainly can.  We will send by U.S. mail, Fed Ex, UPS or any other way you prefer the documents to be sent.  You will only be billed for the actual time spent preparing the document for mailing and the actual shipping charges. You may also choose to bill to recipient and you will only be invoiced for the time spent preparing the documents for mailing.

Why don't you have a rush service?

In the fast paced environment of today we recognize that everyone expects information ASAP and we do our best on every job to do a rapid turnaround.