News Release

For Immediate Release 
Contact: Marla McIntyre 
202-686-7463; mmcintyre@sio.org

SIO OFFERS FREE EDUCATIONAL CD-ROM
TO CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS

OCTOBER 14, 2004, WASHINGTON, DC - The Surety Information Office (SIO) has an all-new, educational CD-ROM for contractors and subcontractors. Surety Bonds: A Guide for Contractors is packed with answers to questions contractors and subcontractors may have about the bonding process and developing and maintaining the surety relationship. The CD features an easy-to-use interface that gives the user access to three audio-narrated presentations, which address how to obtain surety bonds, developing a surety relationship, and bonding subcontractors.

Created with Macromedia Flash software, Surety Bonds: A Guide for Contractors gives users full navigational control, access to SIO's most up-to-date online publications for contractors and subcontractors, as well as links to practical Web sites.

Free copies of Surety Bonds: A Guide for Contractors and SIO’s other materials may be ordered online at www.sio.org or by contacting SIO at 202-686-7463; sio@sio.org. Surety bonds give contractors access to new markets and opportunities. Savvy contractors will take advantage of this new free resource to better understand the bonding process and the benefits of establishing a solid surety relationship.

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SIO was formed in 1993 to disseminate information about the benefits of contract surety bonding in private and public construction. Located in Washington, DC, SIO is supported by the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) [surety agents and brokers] and The Surety Association of America (SAA) [surety companies]. Surety bonding is a careful, rigorous, and professional process in which surety companies prequalify contractors and then assure project owners that these contractors are capable of performing the contract and will pay certain subcontractors and suppliers associated with the project.