Versar to expand management services

With plans to push its construction programme management and project management services in growing markets such as the UAE, the US-based Versar has opened up an office in Abu Dhabi, said its CEO in an interview with Emirates Business.

Versar is overseeing more than 100 reconstruction projects in Iraq and has won several base realignment and closure-related contracts for construction and engineering in the United States.

Dr Ted Prociv, President and CEO of Versar, said: "Last year, Versar decided to open an office in Abu Dhabi. Versar has now expanded its services to include construction programme management and project management services, which we are seeking to perform in growing areas of the world such as the UAE.

"In the United States, Versar seeks to provide these services in the major programme to close and realign United States military facilities around the world and is pursuing a large number of opportunities at this time.

"In the past four years, Versar has increased its international presence with its construction quality assurance and quality control services, particularly for our largest client, the US Department of Defence, in support of the infrastructure reconstruction programmes in Iraq and Afghanistan."

For the year ending 2007, the Programme Management Group, which includes the work in Iraq and Afghanistan, reported gross revenues of $58.7 million (Dh215.4m) and operating income of $7m.

"Our numbers for FY 2008 (year ended June 27, 2008) will be released in late September 2008," said Dr Prociv. "This office and all our international operations will be a major contributor to Versar's continued growth in the coming years."

Operating through a limited liability company called VIAP Middle East Engineering Project Management, Versar plans to provide its successful programme management and quality assurance services to a host of construction projects in the Emirates and other GCC countries.