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90-day period for A/E design of Oleai track starts
The 90-day period for developing the architectural and engineering design for the rehabilitation work of the Oleai track and field facility started and the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. and the Northern Marianas Sports Association will have to wait for less than three months before bidding for the project starts.
Only one firm submitted the A/E design for the track oval’s resurfacing two weeks ago. The deadline was on March 13 with NMHC deputy corporate director Zenie P. Mafnas opting not to divulge the name of the contractor.
“The A/E work needs to be completed first before bid for the construction starts. Only one contractor submitted the A/E design,” said Mafnas in a telephone interview with the Saipan Tribune.
“We’re done with the preliminary selection but I can’t divulge their name since the contract is not yet official and we’re still finalizing the details. All I can say is the A/E design work is moving forward. We will have 90 days before bidding for the rehab work starts.”
NMSA vice president Kurt Barnes, in a separate interview, said the 90-day period is where the A/E design will be further developed along with the scope of work. They, however, could not prevent the resurfacing to begin within the rainy season.
“This is how the detailed timeline from start to finish of the track resurfacing. Unfortunately, yes, the resurfacing will run into the rainy season,” said Barnes.
“This can’t be helped as NMSA and NMHC must follow the CNMI procurement procedures. There’s absolutely no way to expedite the whole process.”
NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi, on the other hand, said they wanted to follow the process of resurfacing the track on the same standards set by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
“We want to be sure the design is okay and the whole process of resurfacing the track would be followed to the letter according to its IAAF certification.
NMHC is the funding agency for the track resurfacing after it awarded the money to NMSA through a Community Development Block Grant.
