Government presents Eficompras, the first virtual store in the Dominican State
Santo Domingo, DR — The Government of the Dominican Republic launched the Eficompras platform, a new tool integrated into the Electronic Public Procurement System (SECP) that will facilitate purchases below the current purchase threshold of RD$268,111.38.
President Luis Abinader, who led the event, explained that with the presentation of the application, the country can provide advice to other nations in the area on virtual public procurement.
“Today, in terms of purchases and contractions, we can say that we are at the forefront and that instead of them coming to advise us, we will go to provide advice to other countries; we have even done so,” he said.
Abinader also specified that the program will be “very efficient, very useful and very transparent” for the State. In addition, he indicated that he will mainly help hospitals make minor purchases of supplies.
Carlos Pimentel, director of the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP), assured that the application will ensure that public purchases subject to the threshold (RD$268,111.38) are processed within minutes.
Reporters interview Carlos Pimentel, director of the General Directorate of Public Procurement. José Alberto Maldonado.
“This tool seeks greater agility and less time in average hiring. A contraction below the average threshold is between five and eight days, and with this Eficompras tool we were talking about a contraction in minutes,” said Carlos Pimentel, director of the General Directorate of Public Procurement.
Pimentel said it was also designed to prioritize Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
How does Eficompras work?
The development of the program took a total of two years and was tested within a pilot plan that culminated on August 17 of this year and involved the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the National Lottery and seven other public institutions.
The result of the tests left a total of 29 orders placed, 777 products available in the website’s catalog, and more than 89,633 skilled suppliers.
To make a purchase, you only have to enter the catalog, assemble the purchase and deliveries, validate the budget in the Financial Management Information System, confirm, and then wait for it to be activated in order to pay and receive the delivery.
Suppliers will be responsible for common goods (water, coffee, sugar, office supplies, cleaning supplies, packaging, and technical products, among other categories) in their inventory.
Carlos Romero, managing director of DGCP, explained that Eficompras will be fully integrated into the State’s financial systems and controls.
Carlos Romero, director of management of the General Directorate of Public Procurement.José Alberto Maldonado.
He also clarified that Eficompras complements the SECP and is not a tender either, because the prices, goods, and stock (merchandise) are on the portal.
According to Resolution PNP-07-2026, published in July of this year, the use of Eficompras is mandatory for all State bodies and entities subject to Law 47-25. The institutions will have a 90-day adaptation and training period, supported by synchronous and asynchronous training programs through the DGCP Virtual Campus.
