RFP for track resurfacing out Dec. 1

Northern Marianas Housing Corp. will put out a request for proposal for the planned resurfacing of the Oleai Sports Complex’s track oval on Dec. 1.

Northern Marianas Athletics coach Elias Rangamar, left, supervises a training session with several young runners at the Oleai track oval. CNMI athletes and the public can again use the decade-long track facility without the threat of getting injured once resurfacing is done next year. (Jon Perez)

The project, delayed for a few months due to various reasons particularly after several typhoons hit the island, now moves forward with the Northern Marianas Sports Association hoping that resurfacing begins in early 2016 to avoid the rainy season that could again stall the project.

In March this year, NMHC published an RFP for interested contractors to submit the architectural and engineering designs for the track resurfacing.

NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi told Saipan Tribune yesterday that they met with NMHC officials last Monday where they were updated on the project.

Once the RFP is out, where it needs to be published on newspapers or announced to the public, interested contractors are given one month to submit their bids.

“We need at least three contractors to submit their bids. We will then carefully study their bids before we decide on which contractor to hire for the resurfacing of the track,” said Rogolifoi.

He added that NMSA’s only concern is that if the winning contractor could return the track surface to its original form.

“Our only concern is that if all the contractors here are capable and have knowledge of working on a track resurfacing project,” said Rogolifoi.

He added that a German expert in installing rubber track surfaces supervised the project when the Oleai track and field stadium was constructed in early 2000.

Rogolifoi, in an earlier interview by the Saipan Tribune, said that they are hoping that the winning contractor would bring in an expert to oversee the track’s resurfacing.

He added, in the interview, that NMSA wants to make sure the entire process—from removing the old surface, putting the adhesive, and laying the new track—is done correctly to guarantee the longevity of the facility.

The track oval opened in 2002 and has hosted several international athletics events including the 2006 Micronesian Games.

NMSA is in the process of getting the track oval back to its Level II certification given by the International Association of Athletics Federations in time for the 2021 Pacific Mini Games, which Saipan would be hosting for the first time.

The Oleai track and field stadium is the only eight-lane, IAAF Level II certified track in the Micronesian region.

NMHC is the funding agency that is helping NMSA for the resurfacing after the CNMI sports body applied for a Community Development Block Grant. The grant is $965,000 where $772,000 would be used for the resurfacing, while the remaining $192,000 is for administrative work.

NMSA will announce to the public that they would be closing the track and field facility once the resurfacing begins.