New chief will reel in outsourced services

PORTLAND, OR — Take it back: Mike Irish, new facilities chief at Portland State University, said he is devising a plan for his department to assume maintenance — except janitorial — of university-owned buildings over the next five years, the Daily Vanguard reported today. Irish concluded that the university could not be cost-competitive with the current outsourced janitorial service provider; however he will add a contract coordinator position for monitoring of performance and predicted improved performance, according to the newspaper. For related information, click here. To return to today''s news, click here. To discuss this item with other industry professionals, click here.