Site Selection Questionnaireby Dr. Balazs Csorjan, Manufacturing Hungary Blog
2013 edition
This document tries to help the work of corporate site selection teams, looking for site for a new manufacturing facility. The site selection or plant location process can be divided in two phases: long listing phase: all the potential 1020 locations and facilities provides information, filling out this questionnaire short listing phase: after the due diligence of long listed locations, you have to select the most promising 48 sites, and visit it personally. After the ranking, you should present 23 sites to your board.
This questionnaire is based on a large international consulting company’s questionnaire, but feel free to modify and fit to your project’s requirements. It was developed for largescale, complicated investments, so do not hesitate to delete the unnecessary rows and parts.Finally, do not forget: finding a new location for your company, it’s not a science, so listen to your instincts.
About us
Manufacturing Hungary Blog is an information source about the production and manufacturing issues in Hungary, including its legal and business environment, infrastructure and labour markets etc. Our goal is to support site selection team member’s job, providing useful information.
Dr. Balazs Csorjan, investment promotion specialist at M35 Business Park, Hungary. As the former regional director of Hungarian governmental investment promotion agency, Dr. Csorjan has taken part in more hundred site selection projects, has managed ~80 corporate site visits in Eastern Hungary and succeeded more than a dozen investments.
p1 Project [cover name]
I. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONA. OverviewB. Timing
C. Site/Facility RequirementsD. Utility Requirements
E. Approximate Employment Estimate
II. COUNTRY INFORMATIONA. Project Support
B. Business EnvironmentC. Pre and PostConstruction Permitting
D. Human ResourcesE. Transportation Infrastructure
F. Customs and Taxes
III. GENERAL SITE INFORMATIONA. Site Information Data Request
B. Maps and reports request
p3 Project [cover name]
I. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONA. Overview
[Introduction, main goals, operation, instructions etc the background information you would like to share with stakeholders]
p4 Project [cover name]
B. TimingMILESTONE ESTIMATED DATE
Transmit RFI [date 1]Receive location proposals [date 1 + 23 weeks]Select investment areas for further analysis [date 1 + 56 weeks]Conduct detailed due diligence [date 1 + 2 months]Select Final Location [date 1 + 36 months]
C. Site RequirementsSite Requirements at Full Capacity
Total Land Requirement [your specifications]Construction SurfaceSoil Load Bearing CapacityBuilding Foundation and Depth RequirementsPreferred Water Table DepthRail accessHighway Access
D. Utility RequirementsUtility Requirements at Full Capacity
ELECTRICDemand (MW)Usage (MWh/year)NATURAL GASPeak Demand (Nm3/h)Usage (Nm3/y)WATERIndustrial Water Avg. Usage (m3/h)Industrial Water Est. consumption (m3/day)Drinking Water (m3/day)WASTEIndustrial Waste Water (m3/day)
E Approximate Employment EstimateEmployment Level at Full CapacityProduction
ManagersStaffWorkers
TOTAL
p5 Project [cover name]
I. COUNTRY INFORMATIONA. Project Support
Primary Contact Information:● name:● title:● organization:● adress:● country:● phone:● email:
B. Business Environment
1. The main industrial clusters in the region:
2. The top10 local employers in the region:
company profile emloyement
3. The overall quality of life and attractiveness of your area for this industry? Please include any comparative data sources to support your answer:
4. Available incentives in the proposed area:
p6 Project [cover name]
5. Relevant environmental policies and protectionist groups may limit this activities:
C. Pre and Postconstruction permetting
Please describe the process and procedures behind permitting and approvals for investments of this type. Please include any relevant examples and timelines:
D. Human Resources
1. The current population of primary city / labour draw area:
2. The highest educational achievement levels of the workforce (%)
3. Major universities and other educational institutions in the region, including annual number of graduates each year
4. Proportion of the primary city/labour draw area speak English
5. The workforce size and trend for the primary city / labour draw area:
6. The unemployment rate and trend for the primary city / labour draw area:
7. Standard workweek (hours per week) in the country?
8. Regular shift patterns of manufacturing employees?
9. Number of holidays per year?
10. Would 24 hour 7 day per week operation be permitted?
11. How many man days have been lost due to industrial unrest
p7 Project [cover name]
E. Transportation infrastructure
1. Motorway and road development projects in the country: last 5 years and projections for the next 5 years:
2. Railway development projects:
F. Customs and Taxes
1. Corporate income tax rate and how is it calculated?
2. Employment related taxes: social contributions, pension, health insurance etc. (payed by employers and employees), how these are calculated?
3. Country customs regime for components? EU/US customs for exporting goods from the country?
p8 Project [cover name]
III. GENERAL SITE INFORMATION
A. Site Information Data RequestPLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR EACH SITE SUBMITTED
SITE INFORMATION
SITE NAMENEAREST CITYADDRESSOwnership & Market PriceIs the property available?Which acquisition conditions can beproposed (purchase, rent, loan etc.)What is the market land price? (Euro/ha)Other expenses necessary for acquisition(please specify)Please list property owner(s)Is the owner's property represented by abroker? If yes, please provide contactinformation.Land Acquisition and ConstructionProceduresWhat is the typical negotiations timing tocomplete land contractsWhat are the procedures to complete theland contract?Is the site zoned for industrial use?If not what is the current classification?Describe necessary procedures to changethe zoning to industrialTime necessary for such proceduresEstimated cost to complete suchproceduresWhat are other procedures to getconstruction clearanceTime necessary for such procedures?Estimated cost to complete suchprocedures?Are there any third party claims on theterritory, if yes please clarify.
Site Description
p9 Project [cover name]
Size of proposed site (gross & usableacreage)Dimensions: length & depth (meters or feet)General shape of siteAny height restrictions? (Yes/No, Describe)Existing structures on site? (Yes/No,Describe)Any easements or impediments on site (e.g.high voltage lines, buildings, canals)?Topography (max grade variance(feet/meters))Is site development and “shovel” ready?If not shovel ready, please estimate sitepreparation costs and timingAre there any residential areas within 1kmradius from the site? (If Yes pleasedescribe)CompatibilityPresent usePrior use(s)Describe adjacent and surrounding usesand tenantsSite AccessMultiple existing access roads to site?(Yes/No, Describe, including distance to siteif no direct access)Description of each road including type ofsurface, number of lanes, transportlimitations in terms of weight, height,pressure, truck access, constructiontransport access, special daily or seasonallimitations.Rail access to site? (Yes/No, Describeincluding distance to site if no direct access)If direct rail access to the site is currentlyunavailable, could it be possiblyconstructed? What is the distance to apotential point of connection to the overallrail infrastructure?Nearest International standards highwayaccess (name, distance)Nearest national/international commercialairport (name, distance)Nearest medium or large international hubairport (name, distance)Availability of public transport to theproposed site (please describe)
p10 Project [cover name]
Bus Tram/Subway Train
UTILITIESElectric PowerElectric Supplier(s)Electric Power service to site (Yes/No)Line size (kV)Short term (2008) available capacity to siteMedium term (2009/10) available capacity tositeLong term (2011/12) available capacity tositeDistance to substationIs the substation dedicated to this site?(Yes/No)Is dual circuit service possible? (Yes/No)Provide a history of outages on this lineProvide a map that clearly shows theelectric infrastructure of the site andadjacent areaElectricity cost (per kWh)Please provide a copy of applicable tariffsDemand Charges (Euro/kW)Additional charges (other fees/charges)Describe any infrastructure upgradesrequired to meet the above requirements.Include the proposed time and costs tocomplete the upgrades.Have upgrade feasibility studies beenconducted?What are the line extension requirements?Is there a requirement for construction of anadditional substation?WaterWater Supplier(s)(include name(s) and contact phonenumber(s))Water line existing to site? (Yes/No)Line size & pressure (inches/mm bar/psi)Available capacity to siteWater source and location (e.g. aquifer,well, river)Ownership of water rights (evidence ofownership, timing and requirements for
p11 Project [cover name]
transfer of rights), if applicablePlease describe water composition andprovide an analysis of water qualityPlease provide map that shows the waterinfrastructure at the site and surroundingareaWater costOther ChargesDescribe any infrastructure upgradesrequired to meet the above requirements.Include the proposed time and costs tocomplete the upgrades.Have upgrade feasibility studies beenconducted?What are the line extension requirements?What is the timing and requirements fortransfer of water rights?Are there any additional requirements?Natural GasGas Supplier(s)(include name(s) and contact phonenumber(s))Gas line existing to site? (Yes/No)Line size & pressureAvailable capacity to siteLocation of nearest transmission line (ornext largest distribution line)Please provide map that shows the locationof gas infrastructure at the site andsurrounding areaGas cost (per mmBTU or m3)Please provide a copy of applicable tariffsOther ChargesDescribe any infrastructure upgradesrequired to meet the above requirements.Include the proposed time and costs tocomplete the upgrades.Have upgrade feasibility studies beenconducted?What are the line extension requirements?Are there any additional requirements?Are alternate fuels (fuel oil) available?Waste WaterService Provider(s)(include name(s) and contact phonenumber(s))
p12 Project [cover name]
Waste water line existing to site (Yes/No)Line size (inches/mm bar/psi)Name & location of waste water treatmentfacilityCapacity of existing treatment facilityExcess capacity of existing treatment facilityAnticipated time when discharge isanticipated to exceed existing designcapacityWaste control and handling proceduresPlease provide map that shows the wastewater infrastructure at the site andsurrounding areaDischarge limits (m3 or 1,000 gallons)Waste water discharge cost (per gallon)*Please provide allowable limits andthresholds for sanitary & process wastes.*Please provide schedule of surchargesassociated with exceeding above limits.Planned improvements to treatment facility(costs & timing)
B. Maps and Reports Request
Please enclose the following maps and reports, noting the location of the site as applicable.
● Local area map with the potential site(s) marked, including topography (please includescale/legend)
● Site map clearly showing site boundaries (please include scale/legend)● Aerial photographs● Map noting accessibility to highways and commercial airport● Maps and documentation detailing seismic, flood, and hurricane risk specific to the site and
unique permitting or other requirements with relation to the risk● Flood plain map and wetlands information with the potential site(s) identified● Water chemistry report for water provided to the site● Copy of water report noting that the source is held to cleanliness and safe drinking water
standards● Utility map showing existing electrical, natural gas, water, sewer, and telecom infrastructure
to the site (please include scale/legend)● Copy of the electrical outage report for the last 3 years or list all outages including time down,
date, and cause of interruption● Copies of any geotechnical, archeological, and environmental studies that have been done
for the site and/or immediate surrounding areas● Copies of soilbearing capacity measurements completed onsite or in the immediate
surrounding areas
p13 Project [cover name]