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Emergency policy for water panel extended
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Posted on Jul 25 2005
Emergency regulations granting expedited procurement authority to the CNMI Water Task Force will remain effective for another 120 days.
Initially adopted in February 2005, the regulations were re-published in the latest issue of the Commonwealth Register. The extension took effect on June 27, when it was submitted by Finance Secretary Fermin Atalig and approved by Gov. Juan N. Babauta.
The regulations will be effective for 120 days, unless sooner adopted as a permanent policy.
Pursuant to the regulations, the CNMI Water Task Force may purchase goods and obtain services without soliciting bids or proposals. Rather, the task force only has to solicit at least three quotations from qualified vendors.
Currently, the expedited procurement process applies only to vehicles or equipment specifically designed for chemical, biological, nuclear exposure and bomb detection, and critically needed medical supplies as described by the Office of Domestic Preparedness.
“The Secretary of Finance finds that the existing Procurement Regulations do not provide the framework necessary for the [CNMI] to procure the equipment and services necessary to implement a 24-hour safe water supply in an expeditious fashion,” Atalig said in a public notice. “The adoption of these amendments will provide a modified competitive procurement process in certain circumstances.”
The regulations set $25,000 as the maximum amount of goods or service that may be obtained under the expedited procurement process.
Furthermore, the rules require the procurement director, upon determining that a request for expedited procurement is justified, to process the necessary documents and assist in procuring the required goods and services.
The director is also required to promptly notify the requesting agency if a request has been disapproved.
