The Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA) will soon have a new office building in Samoa.

This was confirmed by SIFA’s Chief Executive Officer, To’otoooleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono-Le Tagaloa, in response to questions from the Sunday Samoan.

But questions about the details of the project such as how much the Authority is planning to spend and where it is likely be built were not answered.

“All decisions concerning the SIFA Building, as with all Government Buildings, are ultimately made and handled by Cabinet,” To’otoooleaava said.

“Your queries about the proposed SIFA Building will therefore be best addressed by the Honourable Prime Minister and Cabinet.”

Tuilaepa was not immediately available for a comment.

But SIFA has published a letter of invitation inviting companies to submit bids for the design and construction supervision of the project.

“The Samoa International Finance Authority acting by and through the Chairman and Board of Directors (client) has available funds toward the cost of consulting services for the design and construction supervision for a new office building,” the letter reads.

“The client intends to apply a portion of the funds to payments under the contract for which this request for proposal is issued.”

“The Samoa International Finance Authority now invites proposals to provide the following consulting services: Consulting Services for the design and construction supervision for the new office building.”

The notice says the winner will be selected under the open competitive bidding and procedures, in accordance with Treasury Instructions and the Tenders Board guidelines for the procurement and contracting.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 11am on 29 April 2019.

Queried on their list of priorities, between the new building and getting Samoa off the European Union’s anti-money laundering blacklist, the CEO said: “All queries regarding the EU Listing - AML/CFT are being referred to and handled by the relevant Competent Authority -  the Money Laundering Prevention Authority, which is housed in the Central Bank of Samoa, the head of which is the Governor of the Central Bank.”