By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Public School System is now ready to bid out the construction of Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School after receiving a 100% completed architectural and engineering design.
CJ Innovation, the company contracted to demolish the old school building and complete the A&E design of the future campus, submitted the stamped 100% complete plan to PSS on Jan. 30, 2026, ahead of the original deadline.
The company was initially required to submit the design by Jan. 31, 2026. PSS decided to issue a change order and rebid the construction portion after CJ Innovation failed to secure a T-listed surety performance bond. The change order removes the construction phase from the FEMA-funded design-build project.
On Jan. 30, CJ Innovation executives met with Acting Commissioner of Education Donna Flores and other PSS officials to personally hand over the stamped design plan. Also present were SP Dancoe & Associates, LLC President Sonya Dancoe, PE; the governor’s authorized representative Patrick Guerrero of the Public Assistance Office; and Special Advisor for Policy and Program Kimo Rosario.
PSS and SP Dancoe & Associates will review the plan before final payment is made to CJ Innovation. Of the $21.5 million allocated for the project, roughly $2 million went to the design and demolition phases, with approximately $400,000 of that going to demolition subcontracted to FSM Recycling Saipan, Inc.
In a WhatsApp interview, Rosario said the change order modified the original contract to remove the construction component. CJ Innovation is now responsible only for submitting the stamped 100% A&E plan and closing out its amended contract with PSS.
Once the pre-qualification process for contractors is complete, PSS will put the Hopwood construction project out to bid. Rosario said the pre-qualification step is needed to create a qualified pool of contractors prior to publishing the invitation to bid.
After the bid process begins, the governor’s authorized representative will transmit an electronic copy of the stamped A&E plan to FEMA’s Region IX.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
