The Middle East subsidiary of UK-based Serco Group has signed a five-year operation and maintenance contract with Jeddah’s Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital.

The 150-bed first construction phase of the hospital is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

The agreement covers 12 service lines including VIP services, maintenance planning and implementation, infection control, cleaning technology and quality assurance, portering and helpdesk.

Serco says it is implementing a computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) system across all service lines.

MEED understands the system automates and streamlines service delivery by scheduling tasks and coordinating staff using global positioning system (GPS)-enabled handheld devices, as well as providing detailed analysis of performance on each service line.

This approach, considered relatively new in the Middle East, will enable continuous review and improvement, Serco says in a statement.

According to Serco, the system could reduce reactive maintenance by 30 per cent and improve asset availability in the facility by 20 per cent.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond; Sanjay Shah, executive vice-president, DSFH; and Ahmad El Houri, general manager, Serco Middle East, formally signed the contract in Jeddah.

Last year, Serco pulled out of two major tenders, one with Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Metro and and another with Qatar's Doha Metro, claiming the tendering process took longer than anticipated.