SAME Industry Forum offers insight into the region's military development projects
BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff
Apart from a few nuggets, local contractors at the Society for American Military Engineers Guam Forum held on Nov. 13 and 14 at the Dusit Thani Guam resort were aware of much of the information shared in slides and presentations, particularly since much of it is freely available from Naval Facility Engineering and System Command sites. Similarly, some of the companies based off-island were aware of detailed plans for various islands or are already doing business in the region.
Nevertheless, the forum attracted several small businesses with products and services which were happy to engage with potential partners.
Businesses told the paper the event was expensive compared to other forums they had attended. If there was one advantage of being at the forum, it was the networking opportunities, many attendees said. Military officials made themselves available after presentations, with many taking the opportunity to greet them and discuss points. Evening events were well attended.
In his remarks to the audience on Nov. 13, Acting Governor and Lt. Governor Joshua F. Tenorio said, “We must ensure that this buildup benefits everyone,” referring to housing and the environment. He called for working closely to build the new hospital in Mangilao.
Addressing housing specifically, Tenorio said, “We know that our dependence on the community to provide housing is not feasible.”
As to the permitting process for businesses, he said, “We’ve been able to reduce processing time across the government, although this work continues.” The permitting process is still a multi-agency and lengthy one in Guam.
The U.S. military was represented at the forum by Sgt. Major Victor L. Milam, senior enlisted leader for Joint Task Force Micronesia; who asked attendees to divine how to inspire young people “to figure out what they want to do with their careers.” He also said that all kinds of work is required and referred to “opportunities for five, 10, 15 and 20 years.”
A morning panel to discuss Department of Defense MilCon projects was comprised of Capt. Brent Paul, vice commander for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Capt. Troy Brown, commander of NAVFAC Marianas, Cpt. Blake Burket, commanding officer of Officer in Charge of Construction Marine Corps Marianas, Col. Emmett McClintock, with the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing, and Vera Topasna, executive director of the Community Defense Liaison Office of the Government of Guam. A slide presented at the SAME Industry Forum 2024 showing active and future DOD projects on Guam. Photo by Maureen Maratita. Paul referred to the 279 projects in the Pacific area, requiring emergent technical engineering needs. “We ‘re struggling with what the right answer is, along with the other services,” he said.
Much was made throughout the conference of the scale of work planned in the region, currently heading for a peak of construction in 2028.
This includes the $15 billion Pacific Deterrence Initiative Multiple Award Construction Contract, which covers projects in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Micronesia, Midway, Wake Island and other areas, and the $15 billion Design Build Multiple Award Construction Contract for design and construction projects primarily in Guam, but which may include other areas.
Expected are future MACCs and future small business MACCs. Paul said, “There’s a lot of work out there that can’t necessarily be handled by small businesses.”
Brown referred to the Navy base housing maintenance contract, currently awarded by held by Core Tech International. We anticipate this year breaking it apart,” he said.
Brown also spoke of a focus on capacity in the past year. “We’ve assessed everything,” he said, mentioning roads, power and water. He also touched on the need to prevent invasive species entering Guam and the need for everyone to understand cybersecurity.
Additional post-typhoon work is still ahead, he said. “There’s some Mawar stuff that looks like it might get funded.” As to MilCon in other islands, Brown said, “That work is a little more challenging.” That results from a lack of infrastructure Guam has, he said. “We’re talking about those things and how do we craft the way forward.”
Burket said Marine Corps Camp Blaz was moving steadily forward. “We are in Phase 1 … we are about 70% along. We’re just starting Phase 2 and 3.” Site visits had begun. “We plan to make the base more robust and [develop] resiliency.”
The base has an $8.7 billion program he said, with 90 projects funded by the Government of Japan which is contributing $3.2 billion. Some 50 projects are in active construction, Burket said.
Topasna said her office is seeing a clear pattern. “We are seeing strategic synergy for both military and civilian construction.” As to funding, she said, “We continue to work on grant awards that support construction and mitigation projects.” Regarding the challenges of architectural and engineering services, Topasna said, “We probably face a lot of the same challenges the DoD is facing in terms of capacity and capability.”
The panel also shared some forward-looking thoughts.
Burket emphasized affordability and agility. “We can’t be too specific in our solicitations.” However, he said, “We want the industry to communicate that to us.”
Brown recognized the frustrations of working with newer NAFAC personnel. “I know sometimes it drives a contractor crazy when we bring people out who don’t have a lot of construction experience.”
Other presentations included one on ports of entry, with information shared by the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam and the Port Authority of Guam. Artemio Hernandez, deputy executive manager, talked of “a planned expansion of the cargo apron.” He said, “Our airport current lacks dedicated parking.”
Hans Sholley, operations manager for Guam and Micronesia for Matson Navigation Co. said, “We want to give you all the service you need,” but the scale and capacity makes that a challenge.
Also presenting were Joseph C. Guerrero, co-owner of Naked Fish Bar & Grill and president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce; and Phillip Mendiola-Long, president of Sherman Consulting in Tinian.
(From left) Joe Guerrero, chairman of the board of directors, Saipan Chamber of Commerce; and Philip Mendiola-Long, president, Sherman Consulting. Photo by Maureen Maratita.
Both shared an update and opportunities in their respective islands, which will include a Base Operating Support Service contract. Struggles in the NMI with the buildup are similar to the islands to the North, they said.
Mendiola-Long said, “The infrastructure on Tinian has literally been left there since 1944. … There’s no sewage system on Tinian and there’s no EPA [approved] landfill.”
He said sometimes information is slim. [Tinian] feels like an afterthought, but I feel it’s improving. There wants to be a little more commitment from DoD.”
Guerrero shared the advantages of doing business in the Northern Mariana Islands due to its tax structure, and available resources for businesses entering the market. mbj
