The current state of outsourcing Facilities services
Contracted services are not a new strategy for higher education institutions. In fact, most institutions have contracted or outsourced some task or function within their Facilities division. However, in the past, senior leaders focused outsourcing arrangements on only a handful of areas (such as custodial services, auxiliaries, and highly specialized tasks).
Today, higher education leaders increasingly view outsourcing arrangements as a potentially effective solution to the growing pressures facing their Facilities departments. Four major pressures and the possible benefits that outsourcing provides are detailed below.
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 Pressure on Facilities Potential benefits from outsourcing Tightening budgets Most campuses face resource constraints due to uncertain state funding and unpredictable tuition revenue. Outsourcing holds cost saving potential for institutions with expensive fringe benefits; it also locks in the cost of providing that service. Limited workforce With an aging workforce and dwindling skilled labor supply, leaders struggle to hire and retain qualified staff. Hiring, onboarding, and firing staff is the responsibility of the third-party vendor. Such arrangements can also provide access to workers with hard-to-source skills. Complex technology Facilities tasks are increasingly complex and technology-dependent (e.g., building automation systems), which can overwhelm current staff. Vendors…