To ensure that the new multi-million dollar passenger/cargo vessel for Manu'a is built in accordance with required specifications, the Department of Port Administration is recruiting a construction manager for the project, which has been awarded to U.S. based Nichols Brothers Boat Builder Inc.

On behalf of the Port Administration, the Procurement Office issued Mar. 9 a request for proposal (RFP) for the “Project Management Services/Owner’s Representative for New Manu’a Passenger/Cargo vessel Construction.” Closing date for the RFP is no later than 2p.m. (local time) Mar. 19.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele said project management for the Manu’a vessel is long overdue, adding that in “every construction project, especially with a boat that is being built in the mainland, we need to have a construction manager, or marine architect to oversee the construction.”

“This is to make sure the vessel is being built according to specifications. This person will be our eyes at the shipyard and will provide progress reports/pictures on the completion of each phase,” she said yesterday. “This person reports to the Port.”

Taimalelagi said Port Administration has a construction manager for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) construction at the Ofu Airport fire station as well as the fence project at Fitiuta. Both projects are funded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

“We forward our reports to the FAA on the progress of the $3.7 million [Ofu] fire station and the $1.3 million fence,” she said, and noted that Port Administration also had a construction manager for the Satala Shipyard repairs. (Port Administration oversees the Satala repairs, which was funded with federal monies)

“Most of the time it is a requirement for any project over $100,000 to have a certified engineer to oversee the project,” Taimalelagi said. “For the Segaula boat, we had the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle that assisted with this project. They visited the Armstrong shipyard and inspected the construction of our boat to ensure that it met the specifications.”

“Upon completion of the construction work they certified the boat,” she said.

BACKGROUND

Last November, U.S. Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs released $8.6 million in Capital Improvement Project for the design and building of the new Manu’a passenger/cargo  “multi-purpose” vessel to operate within territorial waters.

Nicholas Brothers Boat Builders announced in January this year that construction of the vessel will begin in the spring of this year with delivery in April 2016.  Additionally, the vessel will also be certified to travel to Tonga and Fiji to support the economic development of American Samoa.