USVI Public Records

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Good Morning, Senator Novelle E. Francis, Chairperson of the 36th Legislature's Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance, other members of the Committee, fellow testifiers and the listening and viewing audience. I am Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR), a subsidiary division of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority (PFA), an independent instrumentality of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony before this body on the status of bundled projects under the Rebuild USVI initiative. With the total federal investment at over $24 billion, the Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) is focused on ensuring that all fixed cost offer projects are completed by 2035. With this goal in mind, Rebuild USVI was launched to facilitate the execution of larger, complex projects that account for $13.7 billion of obligated funds. Under the Rebuild USVI, there are a total of 38 facilities to be reconstructed. To date, 13 contracts were executed, accounting for 32 facilities with 6 projects pending execution. Schools • Charlotte Amalie High School and Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School are moving towards construction with Consigli Benton Joint Venture. Charlotte Amalie High School is expected to begin construction in the first week of April 2026, with completion anticipated in summer 2030, while construction at Bertha C. Boschulte is scheduled to begin in March 2026. The design and construction executed contract values for each school are $334 million and $120 million, respectively. • The St. Croix Central High School is under contract with Consigli Benton Joint Venture with demolition to commence in the second quarter of 2026. Construction completion is projected for summer of 2030. The design and construction executed contract value is $319 million. Office of Disaster Recovery Insert Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance Friday, February 27, 2026 • ODR executed a contract with MCN Build for the renovation and modernization of the St. Croix Educational Complex in January 2026. Construction is expected to begin summer of 2026, with completion in the Fall of 2029. • A progressive design build contract was executed with Suffolk/CBNA Joint Venture in February 2025 for the St. Thomas Education Bundle, which includes the Yvonne Bowsky, Lockhart K-8, E. Benjamin Oliver, and Jane E. Tuitt Elementary Schools, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, and the St. Thomas Administrative Center. Schematic design reviews are in progress for these schools. Anticipated completion for the St. Thomas Education Bundle is Spring 2030. The preconstruction services executed contract value is $42 million. • A progressive-design build contract was executed with Suffolk/CBNA Joint Venture in February 2026 for the St. Croix Educational Bundle which includes Pearl B. Larsen, Alexander Henderson, Alfredo Andrews, Claude O. Markoe schools, and the St. Croix Administrative Center. Construction is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026, with completion by Spring 2030. The preconstruction services executed contract value is $45 million. Healthcare • ODR has executed a contract with Consigli/Benton Joint Venture in April 2025 for the rebuild of the Charles Harwood Medical Complex, renamed the Donna M. Christian Christensen, MD, Health Center. Work is ongoing and completion is scheduled for the end of 2029. The executed contract value for preconstruction services and the first phase of construction is $70.5 million. • A contract for the for the St. Thomas healthcare bundle was executed with Suffolk Construction Company, which includes the Old Mental Health Building, Queen Louise Home for the Aged, John S. Moorehead, and the Knud Hansen Departments of Health and Human Services buildings. The Office of Disaster Recovery Insert Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance Friday, February 27, 2026 demolition of the Old Mental Health Building is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, with the construction of the remaining projects in the bundle scheduled to start towards the end of 2026. The ODR awarded the contract for Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital Project to Suffolk Construction Company. Upon execution, demolition is expected to begin by summer 2032. • The contract for the Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged was awarded to J. Benton Construction, LLC, with construction anticipated to start in the first quarter of 2027 and finish by the fourth quarter of 2028. • The Roy L. Schneider Hospital project solicitation is scheduled to be released on March 6, 2026. Public Buildings and Utilities • In January 2026, a contract was executed with Persons Services Corp. for the Territorial Fire Station Bundle, which includes the Renceliar Gibbs (Cotton Valley) Fire Station on St. Croix, the Estate Fortuna and George P. Scott Fire Stations on St. Thomas, and the Cruz Bay Fire Station on St. John. Construction of the Renceliar Gibbs Fire Station is projected to begin September 2026. The preconstruction services executed contract value is $1.4 million. • The Randolph Harley and Richmond power generation replacement projects, awarded to RG Engineering and Javelin Global Commodities US Holding Inc. Joint Venture is currently in contracting. Infrastructure • In November 2025, ODR executed a contract with Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. for the St. Croix Northcentral horizontal bundle for power, water, wastewater, and road work. This bundle covers 28 square miles or 34% of the island of St. Croix. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion in 2032. The preconstruction services executed contract value is $235 million. Office of Disaster Recovery Insert Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance Friday, February 27, 2026 • A Progressive Design contract was executed in December 2025 with KHVI, A Joint Venture (Kiewit/Haugland) for the St. Thomas East Horizontal Bundle. Construction is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2026 and be completed by the fourth quarter of 2031. This bundle covers 17 square miles or 55% of St. Thomas and the preconstruction services executed contract value is $139 million. • A solicitation for the St. Croix Southwest and St. Thomas West Horizontal Bundles was released on February 12, 2026, and closes on April 30, 2026. St. John Mixed Bundle • In October 2026, a contract was executed with Consigli Benton Joint Venture for the St. John mixed sector bundle, which includes the rebuild of the Morris F. deCastro Clinic, Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, and Julius E. Sprauve PreK–12 School. The construction of all three facilities is scheduled to start in 2026, with Morris deCastro commencing in the beginning of the second quarter. This bundle is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2031. The preconstruction services executed value is $3.3 million. The ODR expects to significantly ramp up expenditures as critical projects enter the construction phase. An estimated $643 million is projected for FY 2026 to include both Rebuild USVI projects and other federally funded recovery projects. To date, over $8.1 million in gross receipt taxes has been collected as a result of recovery work in the territory. Esteemed Senators, I have reached the conclusion of this important testimony. As we persist tirelessly in the pursuit of complete recovery and reconstruction of the Virgin Islands, the ODR reaffirms our dedication to utilizing these funds in an effective, efficient, and transparent manner. Office of Disaster Recovery Insert Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance Friday, February 27, 2026 I would like to extend my gratitude to the diligent men and women of the Office of Disaster Recovery and our partners across the government for their unwavering commitment to this mission. We are steadfast in our commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous territory, and with your continued support, we will persist in our endeavor to “Build a Legacy of Resilience.”