IT Project Management Specialists - Who are they?

Earlier in the week I was having a Coffee with an ex CIO of a relatively large New Zealand bank and the conversation got onto the topic of naming the Top 3 Project Management Services firms. Effectively those organisations whom purely specialise in providing Project Management services to external parties (this might services on setting up a PMO, introducing Project Management methodologies / principles etc).

There are many out in the marketplace that have this as an offering but certainly have it as their absolute specialisation. One that came to mind was Project Plus (a Wellington based outfit whom do some great work), but it was certainly a battle to name my "Top 3".

Many clients use the big vendors for such services, but it does put a smile on my face when they (vendors) come to agencies for people and then throw a rather large margin on the contractor and ship them off to a client. Why doesn't the end user simply come out to the market place and save themselves considerable money? I do know the answer - obviously when they engage a Services firm there is a little more responsiblity and accountability on the Services firm as the person will come with their 'rubberstamp' and will use their methodologies etc. Where if they engage a contractor directly from an agency due to 99% of agencies being 'labour hire' oriented organisations they don't get that same level of accountability.

Anyway feel free to comment on who you think are other well regarded specialist IT Project Management organisations!