Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The ASG Procurement Office will no longer “turn a blind eye” on transactions that circumvent the procurement process — all “after the fact” requisitions will no longer be accepted, says Chief Procurement Officer, Dr. Oreta M. Crichton in a July 24 letter to executive branch directors.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga in March 2015, had informed vendors doing business with ASG that: “Goods or services issued and delivered to the purchasing [ASG] agencies without having in your possession the fully executed purchase order will not be paid as it is in violation of ‘After-the-fact-Purchase’ Policy, which has been issued to all agencies of the American Samoa Government.”

The governor has emphasized and stressed this same issue in past cabinet meetings, for directors not to secure goods from vendors and later seek approval from the Procurement Office, as this is violation of the law. Crichton even spoke at times about it during cabinet meetings, but the problem persists.

In the July 24 letter, Crichton informed directors that the Procurement Office continues to receive purchase requisitions for services already rendered and goods already received, despite the governor’s memo send out in March 2015 “suspending all” after-the-fact purchases.

“The practice of soliciting vendors to supply goods or perform services without an approved purchase order or contract not only defies the Governor’s [2015] directive but is in direct violation of [ASG] Procurement Rules and Regulations,” she wrote.

While the Procurement Office is aware of each ASG agencies’ responsibility to ensure effective operation of those agencies, “we can no longer turn a blind eye to transactions that circumvent the procurement process,” she points out.

And as the “sole acquisition agency” for the government, all purchase requisitions are subject to review by the Procurement Office, which is “fully equipped” to service the individual procurement needs of each ASG department and agency, she explained.

Crichton reminds directors that procurement regulations are in place to solicit goods and services for respective departments and agencies; as well as established protocols to expedite emergency procurements to ensure the continuity of government operations.

“In order to fully comply with the Governor’s directive and maintain the integrity of our rules and regulations, ‘effective immediately’, ATF (after-the-fact) requisitions will no longer be approved and processed — all ATF requisitions will be returned, without consideration, to the initiating department and will be the financial responsibility of that department,” Crichton said.

She explained that after-the-fact purchases could be averted by involving the Procurement Office, whose staff can assist and advise on the rules and regulations that govern acquisitions and expenditures.

“Through our commitment and collaborative efforts, we can meet the goals and objectives set forth by our executive leaders,” she concluded.