by Krystal Paco

Guam - Ten new 84-passenger school buses are hitting the streets despite a protest filed at the OPA earlier this month.

DPW director Carl Dominguez says the buses were sent to bus satellites on Tuesday.

He contends the buses became property of GovGuam when he signed off, received the keys, and began plating the vehicles earlier this month.

As we've been reporting, Morrico Enterprises won the bid to purchase the buses but upon arrival, competing bidder Triple J Enterprises noted Morrico failed to comply with vehicle specifications relative to side emergency door exits and anti-corrosive rivets on all body parts.

In his notice to appeal, Triple J president Jeff Jones requests the awarding of the contract be reversed. This follows Triple J's protest filed with GSA.

An OPA hearing date has yet to be scheduled.