Bryan issued statement after Senate hearing on Health-Avera contract negotiations

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. issued a statement on August 5, 2020, after a Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on contract negotiations between the Virgin Islands Department of Health and Avera for COVID-19 contact-tracing services.

The seven-hour hearing on St. Thomas included testimony from Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion, Property and Procurement Commissioner Anthony Thomas, Public Finance Authority Executive Director Nathan Simmonds, DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol, Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien, and Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Daryl Griffith.

According to Government House, senators questioned officials about the Health Department's negotiations with Avera and about an agreement involving the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and The Strategy Group to distribute about $10 million in federal funds to fishers for hurricane-related business losses.

Government House said Oriol repeated earlier testimony that DPNR did not have a contract with The Strategy Group and that the company had been awarded a subcontract by Witt O'Brien's.

Encarnacion testified that the Health Department had issued a request for proposals for a contact-tracing app and that, of three companies that sought applications, only Avera submitted a response. Government House said Avera's proposal was later rejected and that the department had received six responses after the request was reissued.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-thanks-legislature-for-allowing-administration-to-clarify-contract-award-process/