In a recent letter to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, the Federal Emergency Management Agency determined that nearly $418.5 million in invoices received under PW273 for the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power program, known locally as the Emergency Home Repairs Virgin Islands program, were indeed eligible for payment.
USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. lauded the efforts of all disaster recovery partners for the recent milestone. “Our administration continues to work in close coordination with FEMA on this matter, and it is welcomed news that we are one step closer to making whole the many local and stateside contractors whose work helped to get Virgin Islanders back in their homes after the storms. This announcement is another example of our administration’s management of the recovery effort and our federal partners’ commitment to supporting those efforts.”
FEMA requested additional documentation and time to complete the review of the remaining $111.8 million in invoices billed to PW273, which covers contractor soft costs associated with housing, travel, administration and oversight activities. FEMA committed to a deadline of July 31 to complete its review. The total value of PW273 is $530.3M.
“I am overjoyed that $418.5 million is authorized to pay both local and stateside contractors. I am equally confident that the authority will be able to provide any needed supporting documentation to close out the STEP program that successfully completed temporary repairs on 6,517 homes and permanent roof repairs on 1,516 homes,” said VIHFA Executive Director Daryl Griffith.
The VIHFA will submit the requested information to FEMA so it can honor its July 31 deadline of reviewing all invoices.
Under the STEP program payments are made under two FEMA project worksheets: PW100, which covers direct construction-related costs, and the soft costs, under PW273.
“The Office of Disaster Recovery continues to support the VIHFA in its efforts to ensure the full reimbursement of all eligible EHRVI/STEP costs and thanks FEMA for fulfilling their commitment to making a determination on soft costs,” said Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien. “The territory awaits the findings on the outstanding balances and remains steadfast in its obligation to satisfy all reasonable payments to contractors.”
The total cost for the STEP program is approximately $781 million.
