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Ex-lawmaker questions CHC contract awarding
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Posted on Sep 16 2004
Former congressman Stanley Torres is questioning the awarding of a $378,000 contract by the Department of Health to a private contractor, Solid Builders.
“It’s very suspicious,” said Torres, citing that Solid Builders is owned by businessman Ben Fejeran, “a major campaign donor” to Gov. Juan N. Babauta.
“He [Fejeran] is also a partymate. It’s so disappointing that the government forces other people to follow regulations and here we’re discovering a sweetheart deal. There’s a strong indication that the contract is handpicked,” Torres said.
Sources said DPH received three other proposals from other vendors: Maeda Pacific , RNV, and GPPC.
Maeda Pacific submitted the lowest price of $229,000 but it was disqualified for lack of requirements. GPPC placed the highest bid at $600,000.
Sources said that Solid Builders submitted its proposal last and it was only “$20,000 more than what was submitted by RNV.”
In an Aug. 23, 2004 letter to Procurement and Supply director Herman S. Sablan, DPH Secretary James U. Hofschneider said that the Department of Public Works requested quotations from the vendors “and Solid Builders Inc. is the lowest responsive vendor.”
In an Aug. 27 letter to Hofschneider, Sablan expressed concern over Solid Builder’s ability to obtain payment and performance bond.
“I request that this contractor not be allowed to sign the contract before providing us with a letter of commitment from a bonding company willing to insure this project,” he said.
When reached, Fejeran said that P&S’ concern had been addressed.
“There’s nothing controversial here. We’ve fully complied with the rules. We’re ready to do the project,” said Fejeran.
He lamented that critics seemed to have prejudged him only because he is closely associated with the administration.
The architectural and engineering contract amounting to $378,264 is for the repair of the roof, siding, gutter, and spillway of the MSO and Procurement and Supply building of the Commonwealth Health Center.
The project is fully funded under the Centers for Disease Control and HRSA Bioterrorism cooperative agreement.
