General Pacific Services files procurement protest, Sanchez build halted
BY SKYLER OBISPO
Journal Staff
The groundbreaking and demolition for the new Simon Sanchez Highschool campus has been delayed following a procurement protest filed by General Pacific Services.
On the evening of Nov. 19, the Department of Public Works confirmed that a protest was filed regarding the Simon Sanchez High School Replacement Project. The filing triggered an automatic stay of procurement, pausing the project’s progress while the concerns raised undergo formal review.
Core Tech International was awarded the contract according to a Nov. 16 statement from the Office of the Governor.
Students of the Simon Sanchez High School have been displaced from its campus for roughly two years. Photo by Skyler Obispo
“For more than a decade, repeated procurement challenges have delayed progress on replacing the Simon Sanchez High School facility. Thousands of students have endured double sessions, overcrowded facilities, and daily disruption to their educational experience. The community has waited far too long for a safe, modern campus,” DPW wrote. “We understand their frustration and share the community’s disappointment that this long-awaited project now faces yet another procedural setback.”
The protest is centered around the timeliness and completeness of the procurement record.
DPW said that it worked closely with the Office of the Attorney General to “ensure strict compliance with procurement requirements, including recordkeeping and transparency” and added that the department is confident in the procurement record. Any questions about specific documents will be addressed through the formal protest review process, DPW said.
Students at Simon Sanchez High School have been displaced from their campus for nearly two years, though calls to rebuild the facility date back much further.
The groundbreaking and demolition were scheduled for Nov. 24, an event the administration described as a “promise to progress” for advancing public education in northern Guam.
The new campus is planned to accommodate up to 2,000 students and feature 87 classrooms across three wings.
The new campus is designed to accommodate up to 2,000 students and will include 87 classrooms across three wings, along with a new administration building, covered walkways, a central courtyard, a full-sized gymnasium, cafeteria, dedicated JROTC classroom, and an auditorium. mbj
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