Facility Support Services LLC

Facility Support Services LLC (FSS) is a subsidiary of Goldbelt Incorporated (Goldbelt), an Alaska Native Corporation with 13 independent, non-affiliated LLCs established in 1974 and celebrating its 40-year anniversary in 2014.

Goldbelt opened FSS in 2008 to take over the construction component of the group’s service line. Working together with other subsidiaries under the same parent company, FSS has been able to tackle large government contracts that are normally out of reach for an operation of its size.

“We are one of 13 LLCs owned or partially owned by Goldbelt,” says John P. Mroz, president of FSS. “We are an 8(a) small, disadvantaged business as recognized by the Small Business Administration.”

The business has taken on several new projects in recent years, as well as acting as a subcontractor to other subsidiaries in the group on existing construction contracts. These projects and new initiatives in the pipeline have allowed FSS to more than triple in size since 2010.

FSS operates as a union general contractor and is signatory with laborers, carpenters, electricians and finishers local unions. With 20 employees in the Pittsburgh office, not including field labor, the company has proven to embody diverse capabilities. FSS works in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia primarily, with the ability to travel throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Mroz and his team have established a solid reputation for high-quality government work and the company has the reviews and referrals to back it up.

A growing portfolio

FSS recently served as the prime contractor on a project providing comprehensive renovations to multiple warehouse buildings at the Defense Supply Center in Richmond, Va. The contract included repair and renovation of concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and concrete floors. The team installed acid resistant epoxy flooring material in all warehouses. FSS also completed the full renovation of one set of restrooms and a break room. The company’s workers removed and replaced the existing sprinkler system and fire alarm. The project included constructing small telecommunication rooms on six of the warehouse bays. Work included the installation of small HVAC units, as well as new bollards and guardrails that were installed to protect the walls and sprinkler risers. The crew also installed new overhead doors and new emergency door exit devices.

Another major recent project is a design-build contract for the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Albany, Ore. FSS renovated an existing two-story 7,200-square-foot laboratory building, dealing with asbestos and lead abatement, as well as interior demolition of all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. In its place, the company completed a new laboratory outfitted with a new exterior curtain wall system, designed to resemble the original façade of the facility. The crew took care of all new laboratory casework, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, including an automatic temperature control system and air balancing system. FSS completed the project in February 2013, 58 days ahead of schedule.

Promoting growth

The business is doing well as the economic recovery takes hold, especially in private markets. “The biggest thing for us is to keep our customers happy,” Mroz explains. “We have a good reputation in both the government and commercial sectors.” The team just entered year five operating under the 8(a) program, though roughly 15 percent of the company’s revenue comes from non-8(a) projects.

Going forward, Mroz and his team are focusing on taking the business further into the commercial market. “We just won a large project for the University of Pittsburgh,” he elaborates. “We are renovating two auditoriums they use for classes. That project comes in at just under $5 million. That project started in May and will be completed in about 12 months. Our reputation allowed us to get on the bidder list.”

The team is also building up an electrical specialty division. That aspect of the business has been warming up on in-house projects, though Mroz says he plans to have the team work on a subcontractor basis for larger contractors in the coming years. Having the in-house capability has proven a huge benefit for FSS, though the company still relies on several subcontractors for mechanical, plumbing and site work, among other trades.

FSS is well established and has a solid foundation for growth. Drawing on relationships with the parent company, unions and subcontractors, the business has set up a strong network. As the team expands into a greater share of the commercial market, Mroz is looking ahead to growth. In the next two to three years, he expects the company’s revenue to nearly double. Facility Support Services LLC will continue to grow over the next few years, building new relationships in the commercial sector while providing ongoing support and new construction services to government clients.