OPD introduces RFI for Community Pillars Program

The CNMI Office of Planning and Development has introduced a Request for Information that will assess the construction and capital improvement conditions of the Northern Mariana Islands leading up to its implementation of Community Pillars programming throughout the islands.

The RFI includes programming background, material that would be used for a prospective RFP, and a list of questions for potentially interested bidders and other parties. A published copy of the Request for Information can be found at: https://opd.gov.mp/rfp-itb.html.

Written responses to the RFI are encouraged, and additionally OPD will hold an RFI Conference on Oct. 26, 2022, from 9:30am to 11:00am, at the DPL conference room of the Joeten Dandan Building for verbal presentations and discussion with the Community Pillars team. Conference room space is limited, and in-person attendance will be reserved for parties that pre-register, and then on a first-come first-served basis. Prospective bidders or other interested parties are advised to contact OPD at (670) 488-1221 or send email to info@opd.gov.mp by Oct. 25, 2022 to pre-register.

According to Peter Dresslar, senior adviser, Broadband and Digital Equity, to the Office of Planning and Development, “The Request for Information process will provide our team with constructive feedback from architecture and engineering firms, construction companies, and the public in advance of the development of our formal Request for Proposal. This will guide us to a more precise RFP and overall procurement strategy for Community Pillars, which should in turn allow us to execute faster and use the federal funds more efficiently.”

Full details are provided in the RFI form, including descriptions of prospective capital improvements and sites. All Community Pillars development will be planned to meet the programmatic requirements of the U.S. Treasury Capital Projects Fund. Guidelines from the U.S. Treasury stipulate that “Projects to construct or improve buildings that are designed to jointly and directly enable work, education, and health monitoring” are a key target of the program. OPD is partnering with more than 10 Community Anchor Institutions from around the CNMI in order to plan for and develop such projects.

For more on OPD initiatives, visit https://opd.gov.mp.

Established in 2017 through Public Law 20-20, the OPD serves to increase the effectiveness of government and private actions, to improve coordination among different agencies and levels of government, and to provide for wise use of resources and future development of the CNMI. (OPD)