Spanish
Santo Domingo. – Following a preliminary report released yesterday by the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP), the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE) announced that it is willing to continue actively collaborating with all investigations related to the bidding processes for the acquisition of school supplies initiated in 2024.
The institution explained that it has promptly responded to each of the requests made by the DGCP and the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Comptroller's Office related to the ongoing investigation and informed that it will do the same with any information that the Attorney General's Office (PGR) may require.
Contract cancellation and disconnections
Upon disclosing the information, the institution reported that it proactively initiated the process to cancel approximately a total of 20 contracts signed with bidders.
In addition, the cancellation of 9 collaborators who participated in the tenders was arranged, including the experts responsible for the technical evaluations.
Other proactive measures
The institution also recalled that it was the INABIE's own Executive Directorate that requested the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP) and ProCompetencia to provide support in investigating possible irregularities preliminarily identified in the processes INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0008, INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0010 and INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0012 related to school supplies.
The INABIE also highlights that so far the evaluations carried out on the processes have not shown any infringement of rights, nor have any type of challenges been received from the bidders either in the institution or in the DGCP itself.
As part of these measures, the suspension of certification of contracts with the companies involved was immediately ordered.
The institution highlighted that no economic disbursement has been made related to the contracts of companies denounced in these processes, in safeguarding public resources.
Since 2022, INABIE has strengthened its internal controls and has implemented various actions aimed at ensuring the integrity of its processes.
Among these are the suspension of more than 50 suppliers due to findings in different tenders, formal requests for disqualification for falsification of documents, as well as the beginning of the installation of a Risk and Compliance Unit, which will allow for the early identification of possible practices contrary to the law.
