Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Renovations to the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building (EOB) in Utulei are now projected to be completed by February next year, according to Director of Administrative Services Tanya Maʻo Aab. She told lawmakers that this timeline reflects the 244‑day construction contract awarded to Snow Construction, valued at $18.1 million.

During last week’s budget review for the Department of Administrative Services, lawmakers raised concerns that government departments displaced from the EOB did not include rental payments in their current budgets, even though they are occupying temporary office spaces.

Aab said her office has already notified all affected departments to include rental costs in their FY 2027 budget requests, especially because the deadline to spend ARPA funds is December 31, 2026.

A total of $39.5 million in ARPA funding was awarded for the demolition of the old EOB, the renovation of the building, and rental costs for departments relocated during construction.

Aab explained that when she first applied for funding, $35.5 million was awarded in March 2025 — but at that time, no design plans existed for the EOB renovation.

“There was no design. Nothing was in writing for the EOB building,” she said. “Everything had to be accelerated — getting departments out, assembling a design team, and getting the project moving.”

To secure the full $39.5 million, Aab said she had to itemize projected lease costs for all displaced departments, estimating $4–$5 million for rent. The remaining funds were allocated for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and construction work.

Aab said her office is working closely with Snow Construction to pre‑order all materials and supplies to ensure the project stays ahead of the ARPA deadline. She added that subcontractors will be used to speed up construction.

Lawmakers noted that ARPA Oversight Director James Faumuina previously mentioned a request to extend ARPA spending to April 2027. Aab clarified that she believes this extension applies only to ARPA office closeout activities, not construction deadlines.

For the EOB project, she said she is following the hard deadline set by the U.S. Treasury — that is, all ARPA‑funded projects must be completed by December 31, 2026.

Aab said any remaining funds from the EOB project will be used for parking lot improvements at the EOB, renovations to the former ANZ Bank Building in Tafuna, and the construction of a Department of Administrative Services warehouse at Lions Park in Tafuna.

Senator Magalei Logovii asked whether the EOB renovation could realistically be completed within the $18.1 million contract amount or whether the contractor had underbid. Aab replied that the figures provided were the contractor’s own numbers.

Representative Fagaima Larry Sanitoa suggested that some of the $32 million profit reported by the Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS) for FY 2025 be used to repair the former ANZ Bank Building at Lions Park, allowing ARPA funds to be redirected toward school improvement projects.