💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved project extensions and cost increases at Dec. 29 meeting
Official document: https://www.viwapa.vi/docs/default-source/news-(docs)/press-release---wapa-governing-board-approves-several-project-extensions.pdf?sfvrsn=74361f82_2
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s governing board approved several contract extensions and cost increases during a meeting on Dec. 29, 2022.
The board approved a $300,288 increase and a 60-day extension through Feb. 28, 2023, for Vivot Construction’s work on the Golden Grove Underground Project, identified as Contract SC-24-20. WAPA said the added cost was tied to higher material prices.
The board also approved a $107,677.04 increase and a 60-day extension through Feb. 28, 2023, for the Container Port Underground Electric Project, Contract SC-22-21. WAPA attributed the added cost to field directives and drawing modifications, and said the extension was tied to supply-chain delays.
For the Midland Underground Electric Project, Contract SC-23-20, the board approved a $27,498 increase and a 60-day extension through Feb. 28, 2023. WAPA said the higher cost was related to additional manhole grounding and a rack proposal, while the extension reflected longer lead times for electrical equipment.
The board also approved a no-cost extension of Contract SC-02-21, covering audits of electric and water financial statements for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 and single audits for those years, from Dec. 31, 2022, to Feb. 28, 2023. WAPA said the extension was intended to allow more time to complete the fiscal 2020 single audit, while the other audits had been completed.
At the meeting, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Andrew Smith said WAPA was incurring about $1.6 million a week in additional fuel costs because of the diesel-propane generation mix compared with operating with a full propane supply.