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href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Puerto-Rico-FEMAs-Novice-Contractor-Fails-to-Deliver-Tarps-20171129-0015.html">https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Puerto-Rico-FEMAs-Novice-Contractor-Fails-to-Deliver-Tarps-20171129-0015.html</a></font>
<h1 id="reader-title">Puerto Rico: FEMA's Novice Contractor
Fails to Deliver Tarps<br>
</h1>
<div id="meta-data" class="meta-data">
<div id="reader-estimated-time">29 November 2017 </div>
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<p>The United States has dropped the ball again as
thousands of Puerto Ricans were left homeless after a
novice contractor failed to deliver an order of
emergency tarps and plastic sheeting repairs, the
Associated Press reported.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>RELATED:<br>
<a
href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Poverty-for-Post-Maria-Puerto-Rico-Up-By-8-20171128-0023.html">Poverty
for Post-Maria Puerto Rico Up By 8%</a></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>A small, new Florida company won the bidding war for
the US$30 million contract from FEMA to transport the
sorely needed supplies to the hurricane-torn island
nation.</p>
<p>Bronze Star LLC said they were unable to complete the
order due to shortages in Texas following Harvey. While
government officials said they do not consider a
company’s experience when hiring contractors.</p>
<p>"The Bronze Star LLC contract was awarded in accordance
with existing federal acquisition regulations," said
FEMA's acting press secretary, Jenny Burke.</p>
<p>"Regulation requires the government to neither prefer,
nor hold against a company its 'newness' to federal
contracts, and requires that the lowest price,
technically acceptable bid be selected," she added.</p>
<p>FEMA awarded the company two contracts to provide
500,000 tarps and 60,000 rolls of plastic sheeting to
Puerto Rico on Oct. 10. Ron Roth, FEMA spokesperson said
that although the process was “somewhat expedited,” the
department did perform its duty.</p>
<p>"FEMA's initial technical evaluation determined Bronze
Star could do the jobs based on their proposals, which
confirmed that they could meet the product
specifications and delivery dates," Roth said.</p>
<p>"In every circumstance, regardless of the award,
whether it's $400 to the local stationery company for
envelopes, or it's $400 million for a construction
contract, the contracting officer is required to make a
responsibility determination," said attorney and a
former federal adviser for government contracts, Alan
Miller.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>RELATED:</strong><br>
<a
href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Puerto-Ricans-Demand-Justice-Disaster-Relief-in-Washington-20171120-0008.html">Puerto
Ricans Demand Justice, Disaster Relief in Washington</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>"Does this company have the infrastructure; do they
have the inventory processes, the production processes,
the financial capability, for performing the work?" he
asked.</p>
<p>Company owners said after Texan suppliers were unable
to provide the raw materials, a waiver requesting
purchases from Chinese manufacturers and later for a
time extension were both denied by FEMA, according to
the Associated Press.</p>
<p>The contract was finally terminated by FEMA on Nov. 4
to restart the process.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, islanders continue to wait for basic
necessities months after Hurricane Maria. Roth told AP
that over 93,000 tarps have since been sent to Puerto
Rican distribution centers, while another 11,000 were
sent and installed by the Army Corps of Engineers “Blue
Roof” program.</p>
<p>The country is still short approximately 60,000 blue
roofs, FEMA’s Puerto Rican coordination officer Michael
Byrne said, adding that an average 350 roofs are being
installed daily, though, this number is expected to
increase.</p>
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