ODR, PFA sued over $137M disaster recovery award

A construction firm is suing the Virgin Islands Disaster Recovery Office and Public Finance Authority.

ST. CROIX — A construction firm is suing the Virgin Islands Disaster Recovery Office and Public Finance Authority, alleging that the government violated local and federal procurement laws and had a conflict of interest when it awarded a massive contract last month for management of the territory’s multibillion-dollar recovery effort. Hill International, a global project management firm with offices in more than 40 companies and one of the firms not selected, cried foul in a complaint filed in V.I. Superior Court on Tuesday.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced Rebuild USVI during his State of the Territory address in January as an initiative meant to “supercharge” the territory’s recovery from hurricanes Irma and Maria by grouping high priority recovery projects into billion-dollar procurement bundles. The goals were to attract larger general contractors, cut down on logistical and supply chain issues and consolidate manpower under a “Super Project Management Office.”

The Public Finance Authority approved a three-year, $137 million contract in August between that office and engineering firm CH2M — a subsidiary of Jacobs Solutions — to manage approximately $16.7 billion in recovery construction. An evaluation committee reviewed 10 responses to the Virgin Islands Government’s request for proposals. They disqualified one and shortlisted five before landing on CH2M.