Fed programs owe IT&E $222.39K

Tracy B. Norita

Several federal programs owe telecommunication firm IT&E about $222,389 in total for communication services that, if not settled immediately, could result in them being disconnected.

Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita notified agency heads last Tuesday that several federal programs have been found to have an outstanding balance with Micronesian Telecommunications Corp., which does business as IT&E, for communication services.

Norita stated in her memorandum that these federal programs will be given until May 31, 2023, to clear or dispute these outstanding balances.

“Any remaining account balances will render accounts subject to disconnection,” she said.

The Finance secretary said invoices pertaining to these balances must be cleared and paid immediately.

She urged all federal programs, which are in the list of 70 accounts with outstanding billings, to reconcile accounts and process invoices for payment.

It was not immediately learned why these accounts remain outstanding.

Norita said if the programs have a dispute on any pending balances, they should provide their breakdown of the account, invoice, amount, and drawdown date.

Norita also asked the programs to indicate if any credits were applied to accounts, as this may have been done in the error by the vendor.

“Disputed accounts may need further investigation and resolution with IT&E if payments have been applied incorrectly,” she said.

Norita’s list of federal programs having outstanding billings include the Department of Public Safety with 18 accounts, and Department of Lands and Natural Resources and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs each with 16 accounts.

Also on the list are the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality-Coastal Resources Management and Division of Environmental Quality; Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs; CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities; CNMI Office of Planning and Development; and Criminal Justice Planning Agency.

Other federal programs on the list are the Department of Labor-OSHA Consultation; CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Commonwealth Medicaid Office; Office of Grants Management; Office of the Governor-Public Assistance Office; Workforce Investment Agency; Capital Improvement Projects; and Water Task Force.

Of the 70 accounts, only three are current—two accounts of the DLNR Sea Turtle Program, and one account of the DLNR Division of Fish and Wildlife Administration. The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority account has the highest balance, $65,750, and is over 120 days aging.