The Pittsburgh-based FreeMarkets Inc., a B2B global marketplace and sourcing solutions provider, has subleased space on the 16th floor of Two Allen Center from Regis Houston. The launch site is but 600 sf, Max Scoular, FreeMarkets director and general manager of the Energy and Process Industries sector, tells GlobeSt.com. But, he says, FreeMarkets has chosen Allen Center because of the expansion capability, something it plans to do in short order.

Scoular says the message is that FreeMarkets is fully committed to the energy industry. "Many of the world's leading companies in the energy, chemical and engineering industries are embracing solutions that can bring efficiencies to their sourcing process and deliver fast, measurable savings, and Houston is a hub for such firms," says Scoular.

The firm provides computer applications for bidding services for B2B products. The bidding for such products takes place on the client's Intranet and Scoular says it is typical for the company to facilitate bidding on $30-million to $50-million contracts. The company has come to Houston for clients such as Bayer Corp., DuPont, BP, Bechtel and Exxon Mobil. Internal representatives have negotiated the sublease for FreeMarkets for space in the Trizechahn-owned building.