Surety bonding is a key qualifier in certain jobs, such as public works projects. It is the subject of a pair of free CD-ROM presentations, one for design professionals and another for contractors.

The materials were created by the Surety Information Office, Washington, D.C., which is supported by the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and the Surety Association of America. The narrated presentations explain how surety bonds work, what they cost, how they compare to other risk management products and how claims are handled.

The CDs can be obtained at www.sio.org.