by Michele Catahay

Guam - A conference is scheduled on Wednesday for interested vendors wanting to take on third-party fiduciary responsibilities for the Department of Education. Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Administrative Services Taling Taitano says the conference is scheduled for companies or individuals to ask questions regarding the position.

She says mainland vendors will also participate as well, telling KUAM News, "I believe the proposals are due at the end of the month and we have a committee that will be looking through the proposals. It's imperative we have the third-party on board as quickly as possible. Our 2009 consolidated grant monies, which pay for a number of important programs, we have the spending authority but we don't have the cash behind it."

Taitano says it's important for the third-party to be in place - as it stands, DOE cannot drawdown federal dollars just yet until one is put in place.