George Mason University has selected the Alexandria firm Arkatype Contractors LLC for a contract to perform janitorial services at its campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Manassas.
Arkatype, an engineering firm specializing in general construction, engineering, and facilities management services for government, institutional, and commercial facilities, was selected from a pool of nine competitors for the contract. As a Black-owned business, Arkatype is designated as a Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Mason selection committee chose Arkatype over competitors for several key reasons, including the overall quality of its proposal, competitiveness of its pricing, and its commitment to and treatment of its employees and those of its subcontractors in a manner that closely aligns with Mason’s values of inclusion and fair treatment for all workers.
“Our institutional values do not end with how we treat our own employees and our students,” said Mason President Gregory Washington. “We care equally about those who come to Mason working for private contractors. We believe we have a strong commitment from Arkatype to provide excellent service at a good value to the taxpayers and tuition payers who fund Mason, and who demonstrate our values of decency and inclusion in their work.”
In July, Mason did not renew its contract with LT Services for janitorial services and transitioned to month-to-month while a Request for Proposal (RFP) process was undertaken. In that process, a focus was placed on employee compensation, benefits, and welfare among contractors and subcontractors. Arkatype has committed to making an effort to hire personnel who the prior janitorial provider no longer employs.
“We are pleased to be selected to partner with such a large and renowned university, especially one that shares our same values,” said Arkatype Contractors CEO Justin H. Jackson. “We look forward to bringing our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and client satisfaction to the entire George Mason community.”