Guam's business sector urges governor to convene procurement advisory panel
- Admin
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Guam’s business community has urged Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero to empanel and convene the Procurement Advisory Council to guide and oversee government procurements and ensure all agencies comply with related laws.
The council’s activation was among the recommendations listed by business leaders based on the findings from the Summit on Government Procurement held on June 12 at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
The summit, organized by the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Guam Contractors Association and the Guam Travel & Tourism Association, identified the system’s weaknesses, which often result in protests, cause project delays and lead to waste of public resources.
“The consensus was clear: now is the time to move forward from past challenges and work collectively to create a procurement framework that delivers efficiency, increases competition, and secures better value for the people of Guam,” the groups said in a joint press statement issued today.
At the June 12 summit, Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz brought up an existing law—which he authored in 2011 when he was a senator—establishing the Procurement Advisory Council tasked with reviewing Guam's procurement system.
“The council is authorized to conduct studies, research and analysis on all matters relating to the effectiveness, responsiveness and timeliness of government procurement and to critically examine the substantive and procedural aspects of the Guam procurement law,” Cruz said at the summit.
While the law mandates the council to meet annually, nothing came of it. The council only exists on paper.
The summit brought together government agencies, private-sector partners, and procurement professionals for a day of collaborative dialogue aimed at identifying constructive solutions and building consensus for a more effective procurement system.
Key outcomes and recommendations are as follows:
Urgent need for legislative action: Participants overwhelmingly called for legislative reforms to clarify contracting authority, specifically addressing conflicting laws to enable trained chief procurement officers to execute contracts efficiently.
Modernization of statutes: Stakeholders recommended updating outdated procurement statutes to align with current practices and to remove procedural bottlenecks impeding progress.
Investment in professional training: The summit underscored the importance of authorizing and funding online procurement training and certification through nationally recognized institutions, with mandatory refresher courses every three years to ensure up-to-date expertise.
Strengthen operational capacity: Calls were made for improved staffing, in-house legal support, and empowered procurement leadership to foster a more robust operational environment.
Transparency and accountability: Participants agreed to reset expectations and reaffirm a shared commitment to building a transparent and accountable procurement process. Adherence to standard operating procedures and prompt posting of all solicitations—including RFPs, IFBs, and other notices—on the GSA website was strongly recommended to broaden access and competition.
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