NO RESPONSE YET TO RFP FOR OFU SOLAR HYBRID PROJECT

The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite qualified firms to submit formal, written proposals for the Ofu Solar Hybrid Project, which is a photo voltaic (PV) solar plant with a battery energy storage system.

In response to Samoa News queries, Utu explained that the purpose of the project is “to provide power using free green energy from sunlight for Ofu and Olosega residents and at the same time, also charge up the energy storage system (batteries) so that power can be provided after daylight.”

Utu said ASPA will still have its diesel generating plant as a back up to the solar hybrid system when it is required.

The deadline for submissions is 2 p.m. local time on Friday, October 10, 2014.

A one-time pre-bid meeting is set for tomorrow, Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. at the Materials Management Office conference room located at ASPA’s Tafuna compound but according to Utu, as of Sunday evening, ASPA had yet to receive any proposals.

The project is funded by a grant from the Dept. of Interior.

ASPA reserves the right to reject any and/or all proposals and to waive any irregularities and/or informalities in the submitted proposals that are not in the best interests of ASPA or the public.

SAMOANA HS AND ECE STUDENTS BEGIN NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Yesterday was the first day of school for the hundreds of students attending Samoana High School and the 1,332 youngsters registered for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program in one of the 23 ECE centers and 43 classrooms in Tutuila, Aunu’u, and Manu’a.

While the rest of the territory’s public school students kicked off the new school year last week Monday, Samoana HS students were told during a school-wide assembly last week that a one-week postponement would be needed in order to get the temporary classrooms in the school’s gymnasium completed and ready to go.

The temporary classrooms had to be constructed as one of the buildings, built over four decades ago, was damaged after part of the ceiling came down after last month’s heavy rains.

‘KEEPING THE WATER CLEAN’ IN US PACIFIC INSULAR AREAS WORKSHOP CONCLUDES

The ‘Keeping the Water Clean’ workshop concluded at noon today at the ASPA Tafuna Compund. The workshop is funded by a US Department of Interior Technical Assistance grant, and was attended by representatives from American Samoa Power Authority, Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, Chuuk Public Utilities Corporation, Yap State Public Services Corporation, Majuro Water and Sewer Company, Kosrae Utility Authority, and the Kwajalein Atoll Joint Utility Resources Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

The training focused on addressing the water quality crisis in the US Pacific insular areas and provided training specific to the technical, financial, and managerial aspects in maintaining water quality standards.

Trainers Gary Byrd, David Craddick, Paul Seitz, and Jim Watts of the Hawai’i Rural Water Association provided instruction on these topics for the day and a half workshop.

Participants of the workshop are now gearing up for the Pacific Water Conference and Expo that begins at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium, today, Tuesday morning, and will run through Thursday afternoon.