Outsourcing firms will tour the University of Idaho campus this week as the university continues to look into outsourcing specific units in UI Facilities Services.
UI opened requests for proposals (RFP) for facilities management and operations Nov. 23. The firms will be on campus Dec. 12 before the proposals are due Jan. 8, according to the official UI RFP.
UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker said in a previous interview with The Argonaut outsourcing would only impact a small percentage of employees working custodial, grounds and maintenance trade.
Outsourcing firms will be on campus Dec. 12, touring the university and prepping a proposal for officials to consider. The top three companies will provide the university with proposals and at that point, officials will determine if outsourcing will be a possibility, said Brian Johnson, assistant vice president of Facilities Services at a Dec. 10 facilities meeting.
Many UI Facilities Service workers stressed their frustrations and worries about budget cuts, potential furloughs, separation incentives and outsourcing during the meeting in the Lawn Shop.
Once the proposals are submitted, the finalists will present on-campus in mid-February before a selection is made later that month, according to the tentative schedule included in the RFP. The State Board of Education (SBOE) will receive the final contract with the selected company in March with a request for approval in April. If approved, the selected firm would begin transitioning and the official contract would start in the summer 2020.
UI President, C. Scott Green announced major budget cuts to the university earlier this semester, leading to potential outsourcing within Facilities Services, among other departments, and offering furloughs and other incentives.
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“There is a lot that I do know, and a hell of a lot that I do not know,” Johnson said of the solution to the projected $22 million university deficit at the meeting.
Johnson said Facilities Services will need to cut back $1.9 million. The question is how to cut it from a budget Johnson said is already tight. Several solutions have been offered by the university, including outsourcing, separation incentives and furloughs.
About 70 employees within Facilities Services received two different voluntary separation incentives via email, Johnson said. Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) and Optional Retirement Incentive Program (ORIP) are the two plans that have been offered, according to the Nov. 22 memo emailed by Green.
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VSIP is available to employees who have at least 10 years of consecutive service without an already-approved resignation or retirement announcement. Employees who meet the requirements and wish to go forth with this program will receive 33% of their Fiscal Year 2020 salary in exchange for resignation. Employee separation payments would not be made until after the start of Fiscal Year 2021.
ORIP is restricted to employees 55 years or older. The employee must have worked at least 20 consecutive years for the university and do not have an approved retirement plan. The retiree would receive 20% of their Fiscal Year 2020 salary annually for five years.
“There is no expectation or pressure that employees apply for these programs, but it is important to provide options for those of you who decide voluntary separation or retirement makes sense,” Green said in the memo sent to staff and faculty.
Salary reductions are on the table, however, no decisions have been made, Johnson said.
Johnson said offers have been made with UI Vice President of Finance and Administration Brian Foisy to consider, but they have yet to be authorized.
For more information, visit the finance page on the UI website, click on current bids and open the Facilities Management and Operations document.
John Webb can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @johnwebbnews