Relevant evidence of conflicts of interest and possible acts of collusion among bidders was identified.
SANTO DOMINGO - The Anti-Fraud Unit of the Comptroller General of the Republic, in coordination with the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP ), presented this Wednesday a comprehensive report on violations of the regulations in three public bidding processes of the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE) during the year 2024.
The detailed analysis of the INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0008, INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0010 and INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0012 processes, intended for the acquisition of school supplies, included interviews with 29 people, document review and requests for information to various state entities.
The findings reveal serious violations of Law 10-07 on Internal Control and Law 340-06 on Public Purchases and Contracts.
In a press release, they reported that, given the seriousness of these findings , the complete file has been sent to the Attorney General's Office for the corresponding legal purposes.
Among the main violations identified are the undue relaxation of evaluation criteria, the omission of mandatory signatures and documents, and the application of exceptional measures that allowed the participation of companies initially disqualified or not qualified .
worrying lack of uniformity in the timetable deadlines and a deficient composition of the Purchasing and Contracting Committee were detected
During the course of the investigation, relevant evidence was identified that points to the existence of conflicts of interest and possible anti-competitive practices, specifically acts of collusion between bidders.
According to the statement, these indications arise from the analysis of corporate and personal links between legal representatives of different participating companies, which suggests prior coordination aimed at unduly influencing the results of the contracting process.
They indicated that these actions compromise the principles of fairness, free competition and transparency that should govern public procurement, and constitute an infringement of current regulations, which is why these findings will also be referred to the competent authorities for specialized investigation, including the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (ProCompetencia).
It is worth noting that the Directorate General of Public Procurement recommended suspending the registration and processing of hundreds of contracts, as well as the execution of payments related to them, until the ongoing investigations are completed. These recommendations aim to protect public funds from potential misuse.
The investigation by the Anti-Fraud Unit and the DGCP also revealed evidence of a possible conspiracy between INABIE officials and certain suppliers, evidenced by patterns of behavior that suggest prior coordination to benefit specific companies during the bidding processes.
Among the practices observed are the relaxation of evaluation criteria, the deliberate omission of documentary controls , and the direct or indirect participation of public officials in the manipulation of technical and administrative decisions. Added to this is the irregular and suspicious behavior of several expert evaluators , as well as the coordinators responsible for directing and validating their work, who allegedly allowed the issuance of reports lacking guarantees of technical rigor or adequate verification, and of altered reports.
The investigation identified significant inconsistencies between the preliminary and final reports, with no documentation to justify the discrepancies. Furthermore, it uncovered evidence of unauthorized modifications, substitutions, or possible falsifications of expert reports, seriously compromising the legality of the process and revealing a pattern of conduct that may have intentionally favored certain bidders, undermining the transparency and fairness of the procurement procedure.
The DGCP (General Directorate of Public Procurement) reiterated that it remains under investigation for three ex officio proceedings regarding the legality of National Public Bidding processes INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0008 (polo shirts and pants), INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0010 (backpacks), and INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0012 (shoes). To date, administrative acts have been issued with the preliminary results of procedures INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0010 (backpacks) and INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0012 (shoes), indicating irregularities that invalidate the awarding of 98 contracts for shoes and 103 contracts for backpacks. The preliminary results for the polo shirt and pants procurement process, as well as the final decisions on all three procurement procedures, are still pending.
The Directorate General of Public Procurement and the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Comptroller General's Office reaffirm their commitment to transparency, legality, and the protection of public assets. Consequently, they will continue to actively collaborate with the relevant authorities, including the Attorney General's Office, to clarify the facts and take appropriate legal action.
“These actions are part of the Dominican State’s ongoing effort to strengthen control mechanisms, prevent corruption, and ensure that public procurement processes are carried out in accordance with the principles of integrity, fairness, and accountability,” they emphasized.
