The Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management, ODAPM, has received official confirmation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), of the $1.2 million reimbursement for the Department of Health Vaccination Project.
The reimbursement request, which covers cost overruns in the Department of Health Covid-19 vaccine distribution, had been under FEMA review for nearly two years. (The reimbursement grant was announced earlier by Congresswoman Uifaatali and the Governor’s Office issued a press release to explain ODAPM’s involvement in securing the funds).
The cost overrun resulted from additional contract expenses associated with a change in the Scope of Work (SOW), which expanded vaccination services to additional villages and individuals across the territory.
ODAPM Director Lologa Olo said, “This has been a long and detailed process, and we are grateful to FEMA for their partnership and final approval. I want to acknowledge the hard work of our Public Assistance team, especially Mrs. Tracie Sataraka, who has been steadfast in managing the coordination and documentation required for this project”.
He added that the reimbursement reflects the “commitment of our agencies to ensure that American Samoa receives every dollar it is entitled to under federal disaster programs.”
The director also thanked Governor Pula’alii Nikolao Pula and Lt. Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. for consistently advocating for this reimbursement during their meetings in Washington, D.C.
“Their leadership and persistence were instrumental in moving this long-pending request forward”.
All projects under COVID-19 are funded at a 100% federal cost share, and the approved reimbursement will be deposited directly into the General Fund.
