HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Bill 201-37, the measure that would waive certain procurement requirements to facilitate the maintenance and operation of specific Guam Power Authority diesel units, failed to make the voting file on Wednesday.
Sen. William Parkinson, the measure’s author, asked his colleagues to further the bill to move past procurement protests and avoid potential load shedding by the summer. However, some senators expressed reservations or concerns with removing the procurement requirements, and Bill 201 ultimately failed to receive the eight votes needed to move into the voting file.
Sen. Sabina Perez said the bill would circumvent protests, but it wouldn’t necessarily circumvent judicial action that could take place.
“The reason why we have protest is because there’s a need for it. There’s a need to address any kind of inconsistencies or noncompliance with our procurement law, which protects the ratepayers altogether,” Perez said.
Sen. Telo Taitague said there should be “transparency and accountability first and foremost” and not ways to bypass the procurement process “so that a particular company can be awarded a contract.” GPA also has the opportunity to use emergency procurement, she added.
“Why haven’t they done that?” Taitague asked.
It was Taitague who objected to moving Bill 201 into the voting file. She was joined by Sens. Joanne Brown, Chris Barnett and Perez, and Speaker Therese Terlaje, according to a statement released Thursday by Parkinson’s office.
Sens. Tom Fisher, Frank Blas Jr., Jesse Lujan, Roy Quinata, Dwayne San Nicolas and Parkinson voted to forward Bill 201 on Wednesday. Other senators were not present in the session hall.
In his release, Parkinson stated that he didn’t know why Taitague objected, as there was no technical or procedural reason to object.
“Regardless of how anyone felt about the bill, it moved through the legislative process. This should have been put up for a vote,” Parkinson stated.
Bill 201 specifically would waive certain procurement requirements to facilitate the maintenance and operation of the 40-megawatt Yigo diesel units, the 24-megawatt Tenjo Vista diesels, the six-megawatt Pulantat diesels and the six-megawatt Talo’fo’fo’ diesels.
For the Yigo diesel units, GPA had canceled the procurement for a performance management contract due to procurement protests and appeals. Instead, the utility is seeking approval for a $25 million temporary power contract with Aggreko, which includes the assessment and repair of up to 18 Yigo diesel units.
The utility also is looking to repair or replace 20 Yigo diesel units and relocate them to a lot near the Tenjo Vista Power Plant in Piti.
GPA obtained approval from its governing board, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, regarding the relocation plan and the Aggreko contract, and is seeking final approval from the Public Utilities Commission on the Aggreko contract.
However, Parkinson said Wednesday that GPA continues to ask lawmakers to pass Bill 201.
Bill 201 was one of the last measures addressed Wednesday. Before hearing the bill, lawmakers engaged in extensive debate on two measures competing to set the location of a new public hospital or medical campus.
By the end of session Wednesday, lawmakers chose to recess until Friday, when they are expected to vote on bills.
The Tenjo Vista Power Plant is seen Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Piti.
