FSM bidding requirement waived in light of imminent need for passport booklets

FSMIS (October 8, 2013): On October 1^st, President Manny Mori waved the bidding requirement for purchases of $50,000 or more to allow the Department of Justice, which is responsible for the supply and issuance of FSM passport, to expedite the procurement of passport booklets.

According to the waiver document, the machine readable passports “involve a highly technical booklet printing and issuance system that is estimated to cost almost $400,000”.

The Financial Management Act requires a competitive public bidding for contract for a purchase of personal property involving $50,000 or more.  

The President has waived the required public bidding only for the specific transaction for the FSM Division of Immigration and Labor to procure the needed passport booklet to the extent such bidding “is required under normal condition”.

According to the Immigration Office, the procurement process is underway in order to obtain the passport booklet supply from Australia through a contract with the Note Printing Australia (NPT).

The world-known NPT is based in Victoria, Australia and has been in the industry of bank notes and passport booklet printing for nearly a century, according to its website.

For more information, call the FSM Immigration and Labor Office at 320-5844 or email fsmpio@mail.fm.