Three platforms, three different industries, three sets of fees. Here's exactly which contractor prequalification network your business requires — and what happens when you're on the wrong one.
You need the platform your client requires. That's the whole decision. ISNetworld, Avetta, and Veriforce are not interchangeable — operators pick one and require it of all their contractors. You don't get credit on ISNetworld for being compliant on Avetta.
Before spending any money on registration fees or compliance management, call your three biggest clients and ask which platform they use. That answer determines everything.
ISNetworld is the dominant contractor prequalification platform in:
If you work in the energy corridor — Gulf Coast, Permian Basin, Bakken, Marcellus, or alongside major petrochemical operators — ISNetworld is non-negotiable. ExxonMobil, Shell, Dow, BASF, Chevron, Valero, and hundreds of regional operators run contractor management through ISNetworld.
ISNetworld scores contractors on a 0–100 scale. Most operators set a minimum threshold — commonly 70, 75, or 80 — below which contractors cannot work on their facilities. A failing grade means you're not on the approved vendor list, regardless of your track record or your relationship with the project manager.
The scoring covers: safety program documentation, OSHA recordkeeping metrics (TRIR, DART, EMR), training records, insurance certificates, and written policies. Each operator can weight these categories differently, but the scoring framework is standardized across the platform.
Avetta covers a wider range of industries than ISNetworld:
Unlike ISNetworld's standardized 0–100 score, Avetta compliance is evaluated per-client through operator-defined questionnaires. Your compliance status can vary by hiring client — what satisfies one Avetta operator may not satisfy another. This variability makes Avetta management more complex when you're working with multiple operators simultaneously.
Avetta is generally less common in pure oil and gas environments, but if your client base is diversified across industries — especially if you do any healthcare, commercial, or light manufacturing work — Avetta is likely in the picture.
Veriforce is concentrated in:
Contractors working in pipeline right-of-way, compressor stations, metering and regulation, or midstream processing frequently encounter Veriforce requirements. Some Gulf Coast operators use Veriforce alongside ISNetworld — requiring both for different phases of work.
Veriforce has more pipeline-specific technical documentation requirements than ISNetworld or Avetta. Qualification Maintenance (QM) programs, pipeline safety procedure documentation, and DOT compliance requirements are common additions beyond standard safety program content.
| Factor | ISNetworld | Avetta | Veriforce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary industries | Oil & gas, refining, petrochemicals, heavy mfg | Healthcare, general industry, commercial, utilities | Pipeline, midstream, gas utilities |
| Scoring method | Standardized 0–100 score | Per-client questionnaires | Operator-defined, pipeline-specific |
| Common minimum threshold | 70–80 depending on operator | Varies by client | Varies by operator |
| Time to passing grade (new profile) | 30–90 days | 30–90 days | 60–120 days |
| Who requires it | ExxonMobil, Shell, Dow, Chevron, Valero | Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, facility management cos. | Midstream operators, gas utilities, pipeline cos. |
Registering on the wrong platform is more common than it sounds. A contractor who works primarily with oil and gas clients sets up Avetta because the registration process looked simpler. A pipeline contractor joins ISNetworld because it's the one they've heard of, while their actual client uses Veriforce.
The result: you're paying annual fees and maintaining a profile that your clients never look at, while your actual required platform has a failing grade or no profile at all. This happens before bid season, and contractors lose work because of it.
Before registration on any platform, get written confirmation from each client which platform they use and what their minimum threshold is.
Some contractors need two or all three. This is more common in large Gulf Coast operations where oil and gas clients require ISNetworld, pipeline clients require Veriforce, and the company has diversified into adjacent industries that use Avetta.
Managing multiple platforms requires a system: a centralized document library, renewal calendar, training records that transfer across platforms, and someone whose job it is to monitor each profile and catch gaps before they become failing grades.
EHS Inc. manages ISNetworld, Avetta, and Veriforce profiles simultaneously for contractors who need all three. One team, one contact, one flat monthly rate — all platforms covered. Most clients reach a passing grade on each within 30 to 90 days of engagement.
Aaron West
Founder, EHS, Inc. — 18+ years in EHS compliance and contractor safety
Aaron West has spent over 18 years helping contractors and businesses navigate OSHA compliance, ISNetworld® certification, and workplace safety management. He founded EHS, Inc. to make enterprise-level EHS accessible to companies of all sizes — serving contractors and businesses nationwide — without long-term contracts or enterprise overhead.
Our team handles the complexity so you can focus on running your business. No long-term contracts, no learning curve.
Talk to EHSISNetworld and Veriforce both prequalify contractors for major operators — but they serve different sectors and have different compliance requirements. Here's how to decide which one your business actually needs.
Avetta and Veriforce serve different industries and different compliance requirements. If your clients are asking for one or both, here's exactly what each platform demands and how to decide.
ISNetworld is required by specific operators in specific industries — not all contractors need it. Here's how to know if your business actually needs an ISNetworld profile and what happens if you don't have one.
Framework to achieve zero incidents
Stop hitting paywalls
54 topics in English & Spanish