Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The LBJ Tropical Medical Center has put out a solicitation for bids for its “Dietary Cafeteria Renovation”, two months after the Department of Health “deemed [the cafeteria] unsafe and unsanitary.”

In July, the Department of Health Director Motusa Tuileama Nua wrote to hospital Chief Executive Officer, Moefaauo William Emmsley citing a notice for violation under the American Samoa Code Annotate title 25 chapter 01Section 02.

 “The LBJ Tropical Medical Center is found to be in non-compliance with public health requirements for prevention and control of public nuisance.

“As agents of public health and front-liners in the area of promoting sanitary and hygienic conditions, I fully support recommendations provision by our Environmental Health Services Division as evidenced by an inspection report dated July 25, 2022 for case # NF2022-0124,” said Motusa.

 “Due to major violation listed in the report the facility is deemed closed and corrective actions are a must to prevent any food borne illness,” said Motusa. 

But the hospital cafeteria remains open, and Moefaauo said in a statement, the hospital buildings are over 50 years old and are abysmal in terms of facility-plant age when compared to other hospitals serving populations the same size.

The LBJ Hospital CEO indicated that despite encounters of an outdated hospital, and severe staffing shortage of healthcare professionals, safety and quality patient care are the utmost concern for management.

Moefa’auo blames the previous management, noting the current condition of the hospital has been from an accumulation of years of “misguided priorities, insufficient preventative maintenance programs, and delayed expansion and renovations projects.

 “With the new leadership team, a more comprehensive and systemic plan with acute strategic approach are in place for immediate mitigation efforts in multiple areas, but not limited to radiology, ER, cafeteria, electronic health and the EMS building.

“We have put in place targeted daily inspections, and action plans with deadlines to address these challenges.

“These remedies will require time and enormous financial resources.”

According to the solicitation documents, the project is composed of bid packages and that work shall include general construction, site work, concrete work and fine finishing.

The deadline for the bidding process is September 20, 2022, at which time and place the sealed bids will be publicly opened and read by the Chief Procurement Officer Fala Sualevai. 

According to the document, a mandatory pre-bid meeting for the project is scheduled for September 16, 2022 at 9am at the LBJ Engineering Conference Room and that requirements for any construction company is that it must have five years of conducting commercial construction projects. And also the following:

 •          Federal and territory tax clearance certificates;

•           A bid bond or cashier’s check in the amount of 5% of the base bid will be required to accompany all bids;

 •          A power of Attorney authorizing signer of Bid Bond to issue bond. Bidders may receiver-approval of the bid bond from the LBJ Tropical Medical Center at any time before bid opening.

Also the contractor shall provide a performance Bond /Labor and Material’s Payment Bond in the amount of 100% of the total contract sum of 20% retention from the progress payments.

 “Performance Bond/ Labor Materials payment bond shall be on the form provided in the contact documents or similar forms satisfactory to LBJ Tropical Medical Center.”