More Dominican government agencies “rush” contracts during transition

Santo Domingo.- Despite raising eyebrows more government agencies have in June opened call for tenders and made two price comparison requests that close Aug. 16, and could already be assigned by the time president elected Danilo Medina takes office on that date.

Of 15 agencies the Public Works Ministry has the most lucrative contracts, totalling more than RD$1.0 billion, and opened three calls for tenders: two for the reconstruction and maintenance of various road spans and one to build the "Intelligent Traffic Control System,"

Tenders for the road spans with an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan was published between June 25 and 27, closed on July 25 and August 9, even though the works begin January.

Public Works is slated to sign the contract on the tender offers to install the transit system in Santo Domingo and Santiago on 8 August, while the bidders had until yesterday to register and to deposit a non-refundable RD$50,000.

The Infrastructure Tourist Zones Committee (Ceiztu) is Also requesting tenders for the reconstruction of the road crossing Macao-Hotel Sirenis prior to July 6.

Another important call for tenders, to close 28 June, is for the Interior and Police Ministry to buy firefighting units and equipment for RD$106.7 million.

The “rush” to ink contracts

Last week San Cristobal senator Tommy Galan challenged the CEO of the State-owned power utility (CDEEE) Celso Marranzini, to explain his “rush” to enter into contracts during the transition period. Galan is a close collaborator of Medina and member of the powerful Senate Energy Commission.