Biotech Facilities Are Facing a Triple Threat Pt.2

In Part 1, we unpacked the triple threat facing biotech facilities: tightening venture capital, tariff-driven material cost volatility, and workforce instability in the skilled trades supporting lab environments.

The takeaway? Lab operations are vulnerable in new, disruptive ways, and most FM teams weren’t built to handle them reactively.

Here’s how forward-thinking lab facility leaders are responding while preserving uptime, protecting budgets, and reducing reliance on increasingly unstable variables.

Extend the life of critical lab assets

When funding becomes more selective and capital budgets tighten, equipment replacement timelines stretch. Strategic asset preservation must replace reactive break/fix cycles.

Maximizing asset life reduces emergency expenses, preserves operational uptime, and signals to investors that the physical lab is managed by a disciplined team.

To extend the lifespan of critical lab assets and maintain operational efficiency amid tighter budgets, consider the following best practices:

• Establish enhanced preventive maintenance programs for air handling units, freezers, biosafety cabinets, and power systems (Lab Manager, 2022; Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, n.d.).
• Track usage, wear, and service intervals precisely using a CMMS or an Asset Management system (Excedr, n.d.)
• Prioritize high-risk items/equipment that are difficult or expensive to replace under current trade conditions.

This approach helps avoid the $4,000 fume hood filter failure that escalates to a $40,000 disruption when system downtime compromises cleanroom integrity.

Preempt tariff surprises with smarter procurement

Don’t wait for cost spikes to impact your next maintenance cycle. Instead:

• Audit supplier dependencies to map tariff-sensitive consumables.
• Consider bulk purchases of essential maintenance items (filters, belts, gaskets, lighting components) as a hedge against cost increases (Labguru, 2020; Hello Bio, 2019).
• Work with an FM Partner who has procurement scale and leverage.

Proactive supply management keeps labs operational and protects against the optics of “fire drill” spending that could concern funders.

Make labor more agile, not just cheaper

Adding headcount may not be possible, but creating agility within the facilities team may be. Here are a few ways to become more agile:

• Cross-train existing team members to handle multiple roles across lab support, cleanroom service, and basic technical maintenance (Rippling, 2024; 360Learning, n.d.).

• Shift from “fully staffed” to “fully capable” using real-time scheduling, occupancy data, and task trends.

• Consolidate vendors to reduce supervision complexity, fill performance gaps, and reduce points of failure.

Flexible labor strategies control cost without sacrificing readiness, critical when funding cycles tighten.

Align FM with Scientific Risk Management

Facilities maintenance is often siloed from the lab’s strategic priorities, but in today’s climate, alignment is a competitive advantage that can stand out to funders.

To position facilities maintenance as a strategic enabler of scientific progress and funding success, try taking these steps:

• Map mission-critical systems like HVAC, water purification, freezer backup, and cleanroom airflow to R&D milestones.
• Integrate preventive maintenance and facilities reporting into executive dashboards and research project updates.
• Align service level agreements (SLAs) with scientific urgency, not general commercial building timelines (JLL, 2022).

Keeping research environments compliant, consistent, and science-ready, even under budget pressure, is visible proof that your organization runs tight, accountable lab operations that investors can trust.

Flagship lab services

Flagship is built for operational resilience. In an environment where uncertainty is the only constant, we provide the infrastructure and expertise to keep your science moving forward by:

• Maintaining agile, skilled labor through centralized recruiting and cross-training programs.
• Using Asset Management systems to oversee equipment lifecycles in real-world lab and facility conditions.
• Deploying preventive maintenance programs tailored to the demands of GMP, cleanroom, and research environments.
• Leveraging procurement scale to protect you from volatile supplier pricing.

We don’t just manage lab facilities. We help protect scientific momentum—no matter what the market throws your way.