Jones Lang LaSalle wins bid for Haslam’s campus outsourcing

March 30, 2017

Collins Parker,

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Real estate giant Jones Lang LaSalle has been selected as the winning bidder for Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to privatize property management on the campuses of the Tennessee’s public colleges and universities.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the Chicago-based company that already manages a large number of general state government buildings beat out proposals by Aramark and Compass Group.

It’s not yet clear how many campuses will choose to participate in the privatization plan. Final cost details won’t be known until the five-year contract is signed.

The Jones Lang LaSalle proposal says the company plans to subcontract with Alabama-based Diversified Maintenance for janitorial and housekeeping services, and with Pennsylvania-based BrightView Landscapes for grounds keeping and landscaping.

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NASHVILLE (WDEF) The state democratic party has fought the Governor’s outsourcing plan.

Party Chair Mary Mancini said, “If Governor Haslam had put as much effort into expanding Medicaid as he did into outsourcing state jobs, over 200,000 more people in the state would have health insurance. Instead, thousands more are at risk of losing coverage and potentially their jobs. He has been fighting tooth and nail for a plan nobody voted for and has shown no evidence will save taxpayer money or improve services.”

Mancini accuses Governor Haslam of picking a company he has previously invested in.

“The first contract to JLL didn’t even have a bidding process. It is not surprising that they ‘won’ this contract. The Governor seems to be rewarding this company and Tennesseans deserve to know why. We agree with Rep. Clemmons that anyone involved in this process should immediately disclose any and all financial interest in JLL.”