by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The Guam Election Commission is working on its fourth draft of the invitation for bid for new election tabulation equipment.

Although it was expected to approve an earlier draft during its Wednesday meeting, GEC executive director Maria Pangelinan says after some discussion along with advisement from of its legal counsel, the commission decided to change the proposed IFB from a multi-step process to a single-step process that will be less time and in a shorter time period.

"Here on Guam with the procurement environment, the way it is, the commission wants to be very careful and cross all the T's and dot all the I's and so I commend them for taking the time to make sure that all this is done," she said.

The changes to the IFB will be made by Monday and then sent to commissioners for review. Pangelinan says she does not believe this latest draft will delay the purchase of new machines adding there is still ample time. Pangelinan has since written a letter to oversight chair Senator Rory Respicio requesting for an appropriation of $450,000 for the purchase and/or lease of election equipment for the 2014 primary and general elections.

The GEC will reconvene its meeting next Thursday January 30 at 5:45pm.