At issue is Public Law 30-228, which refers to the “Hotel Occupancy Tax Bonds Projects” for 27 projects including the Guam Museum.
During the summer, the projects were turned over to the Guam Economic Development Authority after the agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the governor’s office.
Larry Toves, real property division manager for GEDA, said the agency was tasked to be the entity to manage the projects.
In order to get things rolling on the Guam Museum, he said GEDA hired off-island management consultant RW Armstrong to assist with the museum, in addition to the other projects. The cost for hiring the consultant is $2,777,500.
With the consultant now on board, Toves said they’ve started with the design of the Guam Museum, which was awarded to architects Laguana and Cristobal more than a year ago.
“We’re taking it from there,” he said, adding the consultant company has also met with the Guam Preservation Trust and the Guam Visitors Bureau.
It should be noted that approximately $68.5 million was appropriated for the 27 projects. Toves said some $27 million is set aside just for the museum and it is on top of the list.
However, there seems to be a shortfall from the construction proceeds available under the HOT Bonds Projects. According to Toves, this is among the issues the consultant will need to resolve.
“One of the task items required by the consultant is to prepare a Basis of Design for the HOT Bond Projects which include preparing rough orders of magnitude costs for projects. This document will provide the technical guidance to the designer(s) and construction management contractors.
Availability of additional funding will be factored into the priority recommendations upon completion of this task,” he said.
RW Armstrong has an office in Tamuning but is based out of Indianapolis. Among the individuals employed with the company is former acting Secretary of the Navy B.J. Penn. Other members of the RW Armstrong team for Guam are Ken Baki, Melody Park, Rick Potosnak, and Zig Resiak.
The company has provided program management and consulting services since 1961. They offer single-source solutions from planning through construction. They also have the expertise and resources to manage small projects for complex, multi-phase, multi-billion dollar programs.
