NAVFAC seeks contractors with appetites for a mega MAC contract for military buildup
A multiple award construction contract “for facilities and infrastructure for U.S. military construction projects primarily in Guam” seeks three awardees who will bid among themselves for $2.5 billion of construction of “miscellaneous buildings” during a five-year contract.
Task orders will typically range between $25 million and $250 million, according to the pre-solicitation. “Task orders may be above this limit; however, contractors are not obligated to accept such task orders under the general terms of the contract. Task orders may require both design and construction services,” the solicitation said.
The contractors will be selected with a Phase 1 elimination process, and a site visit during Phase 2. Phase 2 award factors include small business participation.
Naval Facilities Engineering and Systems Command Pacific posted the solicitation April 7, with responses due by June 10.
In other MilCon news, the U.S. Department of Defense announced April 14 (Washington D.C. time) the award of:
- A $49 million MAC contract for which 81% of the work will be performed in Guam, with two Guam contactors among the five awardees which will compete for task order.
The contract “provides for natural resources management services for fauna surveys, flora surveys, wetlands, habitat restoration and integrated natural resources management plans,” according to the DoD release. Task orders will be primarily funded by the Navy and Marine Corps, plus Government of Japan mamizu money.
Six bids were received for the contract, which has an expected conclusion of April 2027 and was awarded by NAVFAC Pacific.
The awardees are Pacific Federal Management Inc. of Guam; HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction Inc. – which has had a Guam office for a number of years; Hamer Environmental LP – which has won work in Hawaii, to include for NAVFAC Pacific; Sundance-EA Associates II JV – Sundance “is a Native American- and Woman-Owned Small Business and Indian-Owned Economic Enterprise,” according to its website; and Sustainable Resources Group International Inc. of Kailua, Hawaii. Aside from work in Guam, 1% of the contract will be performed in the Northern Mariana Islands and 18% in Hawaii.
- The Gilbane SMCC ECC LCC joint venture was awarded a $35.12 million MACC task order by NAVFAC Pacific for an armory at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz.
The project – for which four bids were received – is due to be completed by August 2024 and is funded by fiscal 2022 Navy funds.
Gilbane “re-established its presence” in Guam with the award of the $990 million MAC contract.
FDA approves COVID breath test
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued April 14 an emergency use authorization for the first COVID-19 diagnostic test that detects chemical compounds in breath samples associated with a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“The test can be performed in environments where the patient specimen is both collected and analyzed, such as doctor’s offices, hospitals and mobile testing sites, using an instrument about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage. The test is performed by a qualified, trained operator under the supervision of a health care provider licensed or authorized by state law to prescribe tests and can provide results in less than three minutes,” the FDA release said.
CPI going nowhere but up
The Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans Guam 2022 1st Quarter CPI of 143.7 shows an increase of 1.7% over 4th quarter 2021, and 5.8% when compared to the same period one year earlier.
The Food Group Index of 169.4 shows an increase of 1.8% over the preceding quarter and 12.0 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier, the Guam report shows. Poultry products show an increase of 7.3% over the preceding quarter and 13.1% when compared to the same period one year earlier. Eggs products show an increase of 7.7% over the preceding quarter and 14.7% when compared to the same period one year earlier. Electricity shows no changes over the preceding quarter and show an increase of 11.3 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier.
The Transportation group index of 123.4 shows an increase of 10.2% over the preceding quarter and 19.1% when compared to the same period one year earlier. Motor Fuel prices show an increase of 10.5% over the preceding quarter and 28.9% when compared to the same period one year earlier. New Car prices show an increase of 11.9% over the preceding quarter and 21.2% when compared to the same period one year earlier.
Find the report here: http://bsp.guam.gov/CPI/
The U.S. Consumer Price Index increased 8.5%, according to an April 12 release. The CPI increased 1.2% in March after rising 0.8% in February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index for airline fares rose 10.7% in March, after rising 5.2 percent in February. “Increases in the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food were the largest contributors to the seasonally adjusted all items increase. The gasoline index rose 18.3% in March and accounted for over half of the all-items monthly increase; other energy component indexes also increased. The food index rose 1.0% and the food at home index rose 1.5%,” the bureau said. “The all-items index continued to accelerate, rising 8.5% for the 12 months ending March, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending December 1981.”
Nearly half of the Taiwan delegation catches COVID in Palau
Of the 30-plus delegates to the 7th Annual Our Oceans conference, 12 tested positive for COVID on their return to Taiwan. This is the first time Taiwan sent an official delegation to the conference, previously participating as an NGO, according to Taiwan media reports.
As of April 15, Palau had 68 new cases, six deaths, and 4,190 cases since August 2021, according to the Palau Ministry of Health.
The Taiwanese 2,000-ton Coast Guard patrol vessel – the Tainan – also visited Palau for the first time and patrolled with Palau patrol vessels during the two-day conference.
In other Palau news, the Ol’au Palau app will allow tourists to offset their carbon footprint by using reef-safe sunscreen, patronizing businesses that reduce their impact on the environment and culture, visiting culturally significant tourism sites, eating sustainably-sourced local food, answering questions about Palau and more. “Rewards” for participating in the program will be exclusive cultural experiences.
In addition, the U.S. National Park Service and Palau signed April 12 a Memorandum of Understanding for an official partnership for sustainable visitor use and tourism planning during at Ngardok Nature Reserve in Melekeok State, home to the largest body of freshwater in the Micronesia region and a variety of species native to Palau. The site will serve as the marine pilot site for sustainable visitor use planning framework, that will then be applied to other sites in Palau, according to an April 19 release.
Election news and predictions:
Michael F.Q. San Nicolas, Guam’s delegate to Congress, picked up his packet for governor at the Guam Election Commission on April 19, with running mate, Sabrina Salas Matanane, former managing director of KUAM.
When announcing their bid to run for governor and lieutenant governor, the pair decided to go as “Mike and Bree.” While they did not discuss particulars of what their platform will be, San Nicolas said, “In the last four months, we’ve had two gubernatorial candidates declare their candidacy, and neither of them have been talking about the people. There’s been no discussion on what’s going to happen for our people, no discussion about what the next four years are going to bring, no discussion about how the lives of our people are going to improve – that is not public service.” San Nicolas approached Matanane to be his running mate, she said.
The Camacho-Ada campaign issued a statement after the announcement. “We welcome the decision by Guam Delegate Michael San Nicolas and Sabrina Salas-Matanane to run for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Guam. Voters will have an option for leadership at Adelup. Please exercise your right to vote. We look forward to the spirited campaign ahead.”
In other election news, Ronald L. McNinch, professor of public administration at the University of Guam shared a presentation given to the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay on April 19.
McNinch said the two main issues for the three Guam gubernatorial teams are COVID and the primary election, scheduled for Aug. 27. For COVID, he said direct and indirect issues will relate to actions during the crisis, and recovery. Economy, education and health will be the main three issues McNinch said.
He predicts the Guam Legislature will retain a Democratic majority and will see little change of senators, with just one to three new names for the 37th Guam Legislature in 2023. And what McNinch calls “women’s issues” will be a factor, he said. As to political status, McNinch said, “Nobody in Guam wants to give up their U.S. passports.” He said the simplest path would be to ask the president to appoint a special representative and “work out a deal.”
As to the Guam delegate, McNinch said former Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo “is being drafted.” Others besides Republican Senator James C. Moylan, may also try, McNinch said.
Guam eases COVID restrictions
From April 19, the outdoor mask mandate and any restrictions on social gatherings were lifted according to an April 18 release from the Office of the Governor.
The indoor mask mandate is due to be lifted May 3, according to the release.
For your diary:
April 20 – Green Night: 50 Years of University of Guam Land-Grant Heritage, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Agriculture & Life Sciences Building Courtyard, featuring local produce and craft sales, plant sales, cycad garden tours, snake wrangling, a petting zoo, food trucks, light walking trails, yoga, a Glow-in-the-Dark Family Fun Run/Walk, and giveaways.
April 22 – UOG Micronesian Culture & Traditions Day, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Calvo Field House/Student Center Parking Lot, featuring food trucks, dance performances, skits on island legends, presentations, and cultural displays.
Aug. 13 – The Electric Island Festival will take place at the Guam International Raceway Track in Yigo on Aug. 13. mbj
