Vista, Archibus build on property management needs

Vista Technology Services Inc. and Archibus Inc. are working as partners to develop a market in federal real property management services. Vista has more than 20 years of experience providing property management services and solutions to agencies. Archibus, based in Boston, is a major player in property management technologies in the commercial sector, but is relatively new to the federal government.

Property has historically been a cost for government agencies that was poorly documented and managed, said Ray Summerell, vice president of corporate development at Vista, based in Herndon, Va. A 2004 executive order calling for agencies to rectify that situation through planning and systematic management is changing the way agencies approach property, and opening a market opportunity for companies like his.

"You can figure out in about an hour what it costs to occupy your house," he said. "The federal government has 3.6 billion square feet" of property. "What the federal government is spending to occupy buildings is a phenomenal number. It's mind-boggling."

Archibus's software is as suitable for agencies as for commercial applications, Summerell said, but the company is developing new ways to account for the government's unique regulations and reporting requirements. Vista is helping with that process, he said.

The new partnership, in place since the beginning of May, is still taking shape. Summerell said he has seen a lot of recent solicitations for companies that can gather real property data, suggesting that Vista and Archibus will need to be alert for the second phase.

"The market for raw data is exploding. On the heels of that the market will say 'I have all this data, how do I keep it, what do I do next?'" he said. "That's where Archibus will come in."