A wholly-owned subsidiary of RMB Properties, Facilities Management Africa (FMA), secured the contract to provide a full facilities manage ment service to Microsoft at its 5 000 m2 head office in Sunninghill, Johannesburg, last year.

FMA projects and developments manager Brandon Goldsworthy says the contract includes the management of all technical and soft services for Microsoft, incorporating everything from air conditioning, fire detection, waste management and security, to pest control,catering, carpeting and landscaping.

"We have also been contracted to establish a helpdesk and toll-free line that is linked to a computerisedfacilities management system that is Web-enabled and fully networked," says Goldsworthy.

In addition to this, FMA was given the task of mana-ging Microsoft’s utilities accounts. This involves conducting full analyses of tariffs, time of usage, unit rates and maximum demand chargesrelating to electricity and water. Goldsworthy says FMA has saved a Durban-based company R100 000 a month by managing its utility accounts efficiently.

A full-time facilities manager and handyman have been employed on site at the software company to manage all services and maintenance relating to the building.