Bill waives procurement of cranes for PAG

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Senator Tom Ada introduced legislation to allow the Port authority of Guam to waive the GovGuam procurement act, and enter into direct negotiations for the acquisition of the POLA Gantry cranes. Matson Navigation and Horizon Lines, Inc currently own the cranes. Bill 336 would assist the port in acquiring the cranes by December 2012. Ada states, "The Port attempted to purchase cranes seven (7) times; none were successfully concluded. The bids were either subsequently cancelled by GSA (3x), by the Administration (2x), or protested (2x). The latest bid attempt in 2009 was protested, and is still in litigation."

The measure would also require the port engage in services of a crane expert to determine the current condition, how much of an investment needed, estimated service life of the cranes and a range of fair and reasonable book value.