Value Delivered
Over the course of this multi-year, ongoing contract, EMCOR Government Services (EGS) has adhered to a set of government building operations and maintenance services procedures (developed in-house) specific to the Department of State (DOS) and the unique mission-critical aspects of their four facilities.
EGS has delivered an extensive suite of integrated facilities services including:
- Mechanical and HVAC Systems Services—15,000 tons of commercial refrigeration and various types of mechanical equipment including pumps and motors ranging from fractional to several hundred horsepower
- Electrical Services and Emergency Power Generation—High-, medium-, and low-voltage electrical systems, multiple generators, automatic transfer switches, and related equipment
- Power Distribution Systems to Computer Rooms—Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that support mission-critical computer rooms
- Energy Management Systems—Graphics-based building control systems that monitor and control chiller systems, cooling towers, air handlers, and variable air volume boxes
- Steam Supply Service—90,000 pounds of steam per hour at 250 psi, reduced to 100 psi and lower for use in dehumidification, reheating, hot water, and kitchen applications
- Water Treatment Services—Chilled water closed loop and condenser water
- Architectural and Structural Sustaining Maintenance—All aspects including maintaining the historical character, particularly for Blair House
- Roofing Systems—Conversion of various flat roofing systems to terra cotta, slate, or composite pitched roofs
Client Objectives
The DOS needed building operations and maintenance services for four facilities: the Harry S. Truman (HST) Building, the nearby Columbia Plaza Complex, the International Chancery Center (ICC), and Blair House. These key Department of State facilities are among the most challenging building management sites in the world.
- The 2.5 million square-foot HST Building, which houses the DOS headquarters, contains the offices of the U.S. Secretary of State and 24-hour mission-critical areas
- The Columbia Plaza Complex, the next-largest complex, houses diplomatic security, the main passport office, and a full medical clinic
- The ICC houses diplomatic administrative functions and maintains a 24x7 special police force
- Blair House, the official guest residence of the United States, is a historically and politically significant structure with special architectural, technical, and security needs
The mechanical, HVAC, electrical, energy management, and building control systems and equipment in these facilities must operate continuously and efficiently to support U.S. foreign policy functions.
Solutions
As part of this endeavor, EGS delivered a wide variety of project solutions through the execution of work broadly pertaining to facilities management and operations, including:
- Focusing on redundancy in order to ensure efficient operations
- Utilizing a cutting-edge status reporting system to prioritize work and track job progress
- Maintaining and testing backup systems as well as partnering with specialty electrical subcontractors in order to prevent power outages
- Rapid response to emergencies and issues as they arise, helping to ensure that communications to overseas posts are not disrupted
- Preserving the historic integrity and protecting the diplomatic function of the DOS’s structures
- Daily collaboration between EGS Quality Assurance teams and DOS counterparts to randomly review service calls and scheduled work, identify problems, and find solutions to any issues that arise
- Exceeding contractual staffing requirements, in both number and qualifications of EGS employees
Client Background
The United States Department of State leads America’s foreign policy to advance the interests and security of the American people. It operates from a number of key government facilities, primarily in Washington, D.C.