Longer time for Port contract review sought

Longer time for Port contract review sought

Monday, 21 December 2009 03:37
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff

THIS past Friday the chairman for the Committee on Utilities, Transportation, Public Works and Veterans Affairs, Sen. Tom Ada, introduced a bill he hopes will improve service and reliability at Guam’s only commercial port.

Bill 300 seeks to extend the period of time in which the Port Authority of Guam is to award a performance management contract for the management, and operation and maintenance of port cargo handling equipment and associated facilities.

“Due to newly enacted public laws not requiring the review and approval of Port contracts by the Public Utilities Commission and the involvement of the Attorney General in the procurement oversight and advisement of the award, such an extension is needed,” according to a media release from Ada’s office.

Current public law allows the port authority to award a performance contract subject to the request for proposal, multistep bid or invitation for bid within 120 to 150 days of the date of issuance of such solicitations, provided, submitted proposals are in compliance with the procurement laws of the island.

Ada’s measure would extend the timeline to a period stretching between 150 and 220 days in length.

The senator said “the concept of a performance management contract has worked well for both utility agencies on island, the Guam Power Authority and the Guam Waterworks Authority, resulting in greater service reliability and efficiencies.”

Ada seeks to enable port board of directors to enter into public-private partnerships to “manage the cargo handling operations.”

“With the recent adoption of the Port Master Plan and the impending military buildup, it is critical that the port be prepared for the challenges associated with this growth,” Ada said. “Through a public-private partnership, the port will be able to meet the increase service demands expected and more importantly, to bring world-class standards to its existing port operations.”