PSS: Contractual matters derail $21M Hopwood contract

The Public School System said contractual matters led to the termination of the $21.55-million contract with CJ Innovation Co. Ltd. for the construction of the main building at Admiral Gerbert G. Hopwood Middle School.

“The contract for the Hopwood project that was under CJ Innovation has been terminated, and we are going to rebid the project for another contractor to build it,” Education Commissioner Lawrence F. Camacho told Marianas Press in a telephone interview last Jan. 7.

Camacho added that the rebid announcement will be issued following the publication of procurement procedures.

CJ Innovation was issued a notice of intent to award the main construction contract for the new 40-classroom Hopwood main building on Nov. 15, 2024.

The project, which is financed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was originally expected to be completed by Aug. 6, 2026. The South Korea-based contractor had previously been awarded a separate contract for the installation of modular classrooms at the school site.

Aside from the 40-classroom main building in the village of Chalan Piao, the now-abrogated Hopwood contract also called for the construction of supporting facilities engineered to withstand typhoon winds of up to 218 miles per hour. Construction was scheduled for completion within 365 days, or one year, following the demolition phase.

Demolition of the old school buildings—severely damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018—was completed on Oct. 16, 2025. The demolition work was carried out by FSM Recycling Saipan Inc.