Activities of the EDS during the week ending June 6, 2008 include:

Since the last CMTF meeting, the Economic Development Subcommittee has continued to encourage the military to provide local and small businesses maximum opportunity to participate in contracts that will be let in support of the Guam buildup program. The Subcommittee has worked with the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration in preparing a federal assistance application to establish a Procurement Technical Assistance Center in Guam which will provide training and counseling services to Guam businesses. The application has been submitted and we hope that the Center will be up and running next fiscal year.

The subcommittee has also espoused the position that the establishment of Joint Base Guam was a Base Realignment and Closure Act decision that must comply with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations. These regulations give local and small businesses preference in the award of federal contracts associated with the establishment of Joint Base Guam. The Subcommittee has just received Navy's decision supporting our position. Navy recently announced that it is looking for companies to renovate the former ComNavMar headquarters building at Nimitz Hill to create the Joint Region Marianas headquarters costing $10 to $15 Million. Based upon Navy's decision supporting our position, this project should be awarded to a local business if local capability exists. We will be requesting Navy to provide estimates of the amount and type of work that will be contracted to implement the Joint Base Guam concept in order for local businesses to be prepared for such work.