ASTCA can now use GSA purchasing power after formal recognition

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At a time when the American Samoa government is facing restraints that have led to many of its departments unable to purchase goods from vendors, off or on island, without paying cash upfront, the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) has announced that it has coordinated with General Services Administration (GSA) authorities to finalize the formal recognition of the authority’s purchasing eligibility. The GSA is a United States federal agency that leverages the federal government's massive buying power to negotiate pre-vetted, high-quality, and cost-effective contracts with vendors. By utilizing GSA schedules, ASTCA can now secure critical telecommunications equipment and infrastructure at "Most Favored Customer" pricing. Discussions took place during ASTCA’s participation at the 2026 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. As a result of these discussions, the GSA confirmed that ASTCA, as an official component of the territorial government, is fully eligible to use GSA Federal Supply Service (FSS) contracts under 48 U.S.C. 1469e. This milestone is vital for ASTCA because it streamlines the procurement process, bypasses lengthy bidding cycles for pre-vetted equipment, and ensures all hardware brought to the islands meets rigorous federal standards for performance and security. Supporting this mission, the ASTCA logistics and procurement team — comprising ASTCA Accountable Officer Faleosina Puletasi, Procurement Officer Usolelei Logoai, and Stock Manager Laitu Obrien-Collins, met with vendors to identify new supply sources and attended various workshops aligned with the authority's mission. Their efforts in Los Angeles, combined with the formal GSA eligibility recognition, provide ASTCA with the tools to build a faster and more reliable network while remaining responsible stewards of the authority's financial resources. OTHER The ASTCA delegation that attended the 2026 OFC was led by Chief of Outside Plant Papali'i Iakopo Ierome, and included a specialized team of technical and operational leaders dedicated to advancing the Territory’s connectivity infrastructure. During the conference, the technical leadership — including Papali'i, Service Delivery Supervisor Farentino Sivia, and Line Crew Supervisor Ulafala McKenzie — completed high-level coursework focused on advanced fiber-optic testing, network design, and maintenance principles. And it was while the technical and logistics teams attended the conference, the ASTCA CEO coordinated with General Services Administration (GSA) authorities to finalize the formal recognition of the authority’s purchasing eligibility. BACKGROUND ASDOE, ASPA and DPS- OMV are the most recent ASG entities that have voiced their concerns about being able to pay for supplies. They have noted that vendors have demanded they pay cash upfront for supply orders. Section: Local News Tags: ASTCA
2026-03-20 17:13:24