I noticed in the Samoa News Friday edition an interesting Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Office of Procurement seeking qualified firms to submit proposals for the “All Risk Property Insurance for the American Samoa Government’s Facility” project. What is this all about? Is this something new because of the tsunami?
Samoa News answers:
The RFP, issued Nov. 12 and closing no later than 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 2009, covers the period of 18-months commencing on Dec. 9, 2009 and continuing through July 8, 2011, according to the Procurement Office notice.
Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Procurement Office explained that the RFP “is our standard and annual solicitation for an insurer to insure ASG— and the other authorities except for ASPA— properties.
“Our schools, for instance are covered under this policy. Obviously, there were Department of Education properties/buildings that were damaged in the tsunami and there will be insurance claims for damage filed,” Procurement says. “We are required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have property insurance in place.”
Without the policy ASG will have problems with reimbursement of losses from FEMA, said Procurement.
The policy, which Samoa News understands is in excess of $25 million, is with Lloyd’s of London and the broker is Atlas Insurance who bought out Bank of Hawaii Insurance earlier this year (with whom ASG had the original coverage).
Properties covered under the policy include all ASG buildings, equipment and contents as well as ASG buildings in the process of construction and those being repaired, said Procurement.
The semi autonomous agencies covered in the policy are the American Samoa Community College, LBJ hospital and American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority— except for ASTCA transmission lines and poles.
According to the Procurement Office notice, the RFP data will be thoroughly reviewed by a source evaluation board, appointed by the Chief Procurement Officer.
Complete details of this RFP that cover specific information about this policy, are available at the Office of Procurement.
