About Digesett’s whistles: the most scandalous bids in the Dominican Republic

After the embarrassment caused by the bidding process of the General Directorate of Transit Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett) for the acquisition of almost 3,000 whistles for about RD$2,000 each, a process that the entity described as “normal”, the General Directorate of Public Contracting (DGCP) informed this Friday that it ordered the suspension of said procedure.

Contrataciones Públicas explained that the measure is precautionary and its purpose is to make corrections, and that the contracting entity adjusts its process to the current regulations and guarantees the principles of efficiency, transparency, and publicity, thus protecting the rights and interests of the bidders and potential bidders.

The decision came after the process was publicized on social networks, where Digesett was the object of harsh criticism, as many users considered the price of each whistle to be “a mockery ” that would be used by its agents.

However, this tender is not the first nor the most scandalous that the DGCP has handled. Since 2022, at least five processes in the country have been halted due to a common denominator: irregularities, according to the entity under the Ministry of Finance responsible for overseeing public contracting.

Satellite connectivity (Minerd) year 2022

In 2022, the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (Minerd) Contrataciones Públicas cancelled a bidding process for the contracting of an integrated satellite connectivity service for rural and sub-rural schools, which would have an investment of more than RD$2 billion.

The initiative was designed to benefit 600 schools; however, a similar project was carried out by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), targeting 22 municipalities and over 250,000 homes in the southern region.

Traffic light network-Intrant, year 2023

A little more than a year later, the General Directorate of Public Procurement annulled the public bidding procedure conducted by the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT) for the installation of the traffic light network in Greater Santo Domingo.

This is the third decision issued in the case, of which a request for investigation has yet to be decided.

It is recalled that in the first two resolutions, RIC 164-2023 and RIC165-2023, the existence of a diffuse corporate network and the presentation of false documentation to accredit experience on the part of the company awarded the contract, which was unknown to the alleged issuing companies, were proven.

The new resolution RIC-168-2023, issued in response to the hierarchical appeal filed by ESC Group, S.R.L., also evidences serious irregularities in the awarding of the contract.

International Cooperation Office of the Minerd, 2025

Minerd International Cooperation Office, 2025
In February 2025, the DGCP reported the nullity of the public bidding procedure OCI-CCC-LPN-2024-0003 for the “equipment of workshops with related services in educational centers nationwide -second stage-“, carried out by the International Cooperation Office (OCI) of the Minerd.

The DGCP stated that the decision was made after hearing five hierarchical appeals filed in its capacity as the governing body. Serious irregularities were proven in the contracting procedure initially carried out for an amount of RD$945 million and later modified and increased to RD$966,748,624.00, in which the following companies were awarded the contract: A Fuego Lento S.R.L., Suplidores Comerciales & Suministros Tecnomas-LM, S.R.L., Arcaservis, and Riften Investment, S.R.L. were awarded.

Among the non-compliances are the violation of Article 20 of Law 340-06, on Public Contracting, as well as the principles of efficiency, economy, and flexibility, in view of the fact that the bidding documents and their amendment do not contain the necessary information for the preparation and evaluation of the bids.

April, 2025

In April, another process that was annulled was the one carried out by the Dominican Institute for the Prevention and Protection of Labor Risks (Idoppril) for the acquisition of computer equipment, after finding irregularities in the referred process.

According to the resolution Ref. RIC-0059-2025, issued by the governing body after exhausting the due process of instruction, by virtue of the hierarchical appeal filed by the company Cantox Investment, S.R.L., irregularities were evidenced in the national bidding procedure IDOPPRIL-CCC-LPN-2024-0001 that entail the nullity of the process, and consequently of those contracts that, as of the date of this decision, are in execution.

Through a press release, the DGCP revealed that the contracting institution did not comply with the regulations in force by not formalizing the changes made in the bidding documents by means of an amendment approval act, contemplating documents of the technical offer as non-curable, in particular, the presentation of a minimum of “two certifications of satisfactory delivery of similar processes in the last two years”, this being a credential type document.

Inabie, 2025

The most recent and one of those that most monopolized space in the media was that of the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Estudiantil (Inabie) for the acquisition of school clothing and equipment.

In August 2025, Public Procurement issued two resolutions annulling several awards for uniforms, backpacks, and school kits after concluding an investigation process initiated ex officio, during which a series of irregularities was found in the procurement procedures carried out by Inabie.

In the case of the national public bidding procedure No. INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0010, for the preparation and acquisition of backpacks and school kits corresponding to the periods 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, the governing body confirmed multiple irregularities in the technical and economic evaluations, in the award criteria, and in the compliance with the principles of equality, transparency, and free competition.

It is recalled that in July of the same year, President Luis Abinader enacted Law 47-25 on Public Contracting, marking a before and after in the way the Dominican State manages its resources.

With this law, the Government not only modernizes the public procurement system, but also raises the standard of transparency, efficiency, and accountability for every peso invested by the State.

The President assured that with the signing and promulgation of the new Public Procurement Law, a firm and decisive step was taken in the transformation of the Dominican State, which he has promoted since the first day of his administration, convinced that public resources must be administered with integrity, with responsibility, and always at the service of the common good.

“Today is an important day for the Dominican Republic. A day in which we reaffirm, with deeds, and not only with words, the unwavering commitment of this Government to transparency, efficiency, sustainability, and the strengthening of our institutions,” Abinader had said.