Hagåtña, Guam – The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration awarded a $250,000 contract today to procure professional drone services that will enhance emergency response capabilities and create a drone program for the Guam Fire Department (GFD) and GovGuam. Acting Governor Josh Tenorio signed a one-year contract with Tech Center Guam, which will provide GovGuam an augmented drone fleet as GFD builds their drone capacity. As the program develops, GFD will partner with other permitting and regulatory agencies, including the Guam Department of Public Works (DPW), Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA), Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), and Guam Police Department (GPD).
“Beyond enhancing the search and rescue capabilities of our first responders, this investment is providing the framework for a drone program that will expand and increase the quality of public services for the people of Guam,” said Acting Governor Tenorio. “This is a great opportunity for us to maximize our technological capacity and establish a transformative, robust drone program for Guam one year from now. This will build on our efforts to reduce COVID-19 transmission and serve as a valuable resource in our economic revitalization.”
“This project began with the acquisition of CARES Act funding for immediate needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is also being leveraged for investments that will benefit Guam in the future, long after the pandemic has ended,” said Bureau of Statistics and Plans Director Tyrone Taitano. “Our vision is to assist the Guam Fire Department in its vital mission to save lives, as well as set a foundation to modernize a variety of GovGuam operations and services.”
As part of the administration’s investments in long-term solutions, this funding will develop a drone program for the government of Guam, to include pertinent policies and procedures, drone operational training, drone pilot training, and drone services relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency response efforts. Approximately 15 workers from GFD and partnering agencies will undergo training to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and become 6 trainers to stand up a local drone training program for the purpose of expanding drone capabilities across several public and private sector services.
To watch today’s signing ceremony in its entirety, visit https://fb.watch/aPbQ0aqqKn/.
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