Direct Procurement Services: Protecting Schedule in Science and Technology Construction

In today’s Science and Technology market, long-lead equipment, especially electrical equipment and air handlers, is one of the biggest threats to project schedules. Waiting until post-bid to begin procurement can add months of risk. 

Messer’s Direct Procurement Services (DPS) changes that model. 

Buying Earlier. Reducing Risk. 

With DPS, Messer can manage equipment procurement in lieu of subcontractors, allowing us to begin purchasing during schematic design instead of after trade award. 

That means we can: 

• Order equipment months earlier 
• Avoid long-lead schedule delays 
• Reduce exposure to cost escalation 
• Provide clearer cost certainty upfront 

If escalation averages 0.5% per month, purchasing six months earlier can prevent roughly 3% in added cost. More importantly, it helps prevent extended project durations that increase GC/GR costs and impact owner operations. 

Owner Control + Competitive Installation 

Unlike traditional early trade packages, DPS keeps the owner involved in vendor selection while preserving competitive bidding for installation. Messer also manages risk through a structured process that transfers care, custody and control to the installing subcontractor. 

Owners gain: 

• Greater control over manufacturers and equipment quality 
• Opportunities for sustainability and supplier diversity 
• Transparent, competitive pricing 
• Improved schedule reliability 

Client Perspective 

Our partners see the impact not just in outcomes, but also in how early procurement shapes smarter design decisions. This is especially critical in Science and Technology environments where equipment drives both schedule and validation. 

With DPS, procurement strategy informs design from the start. Messer works behind the scenes to identify schedule risks and align equipment decisions with procurement timelines. Using tools like the A3 process, the team evaluates both cost and lead time. 

That approach has delivered measurable results: 

• Reduced electrical equipment lead time by 20 weeks on an emergency department project.  
• Cut HVAC lead time by 25 weeks on an outpatient MOB by shifting to packaged systems.  
• Decreased transformer lead time from 85 weeks to 30 weeks on a university project.  
• Maintained schedule on a cGMP facility by prequalifying AHU manufacturers that met both technical and timeline requirements.  
• Accelerated procurement of critical process systems through early sourcing, factory coordination and Factory Acceptance Testing planning. 

In Science and Technology projects, where air handling systems and power and process equipment are tied directly to GMP compliance and validation, these decisions do more than save time. They reduce risk to startup, protect operational readiness, and help ensure critical environments are delivered on schedule. 

“Messer has been a great partner in providing their Direct Procurement Services. They have kept bidders in line with specifications and made it possible to have equipment ordered to prevent any schedule impacts to the project. They made it simple to compare bidders by highlighting exceptions and differences in proposals. As compared to estimates, the Direct Procurement Services sourced all the equipment to be under budget and under-estimate. They’ve been a value add to the project.”
— Jake Trimpe, Manager, Capital Projects and Technology, Catalent 

Why This Matters in Science and Technology 

Laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities rely heavily on electrical and air handling systems as major cost and schedule drivers. Managing FAT and SAT, receipt verification, and other GMP requirements gives Messer greater control to ensure documentation is properly handled and supports a successful validation process. 

Equipment delays are not just inconveniences; they are operational risks. 

Direct Procurement Services gives Science and Technology clients: 

• Earlier equipment procurement 
• Greater schedule reliability 
• Reduced escalation exposure 
• Transparent pricing 
• Direct involvement in vendor selection 
• Competitive installation bidding 

For Messer, DPS is not about margin enhancement. It is about delivering certainty in an uncertain supply chain environment. 

In today’s market, that certainty is one of the greatest values a construction partner can provide. 

If you’re planning a project and want to reduce schedule risk while maintaining control over critical equipment decisions, connect with Alec Carnes, Building Systems Executive, to learn how Direct Procurement Services can support your project from day one.