Patria SA de Seguros y Reaseguros filed a lawsuit against the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) before the Court of Accounts, this for alleged irregularities in the call for tender 403,929 called “Recruitment of various insurances”.
The call was carried out by the National Development Bank (BNF) and culminated in mid-May with the award to three insurance companies, Yacyretá, El Productor SA and Rumbos SA de Seguros.
Patria SA authorities gave their version of this case. They state that in the bidding for their insurance, the National Development Bank excluded them because it was linked to a banking entity (Banco Continental).
They point out that this condition, which is irregularly required in its Bidding Terms and Conditions (PBC), is unfounded and without any technical or economic support, and flagrantly violates the principles of equality and free competition, enshrined in the Public Procurement Law.
“It is evident that the requirement of not having direct business links with banking entities was aimed at excluding our participation, because what would affect the BNF if an insurer with direct links to a banking entity protects the coverage of assets? It is illogical that after several years of being insurers of the aforementioned banking institution, they limit our participation, when we have always fully complied with the execution of all our contracts with the convener, “said spokesmen for the firm.
This situation motivated Patria SA to resort to the corresponding legal instances, initiating the action before the National Directorate of Public Procurement, to subsequently resort to the Court of Accounts.
“These superior instances that, ensuring security and the rule of law, granted a precautionary measure in defense of the rights of our insurance company, for all the reasons mentioned above,” they said.
Finally, they hope to be able to satisfactorily resolve this injustice and that public contracting will allow for fair and transparent competition.
“Patria SA de Seguros is a company with 54 years of experience in the insurance market and with ample economic, financial and asset solvency and with an AA+ rating, with the backing of prestigious and recognized top-level international reinsurers, in addition to having a extensive experience insuring different assets of various state institutions”, they concluded.
Just for precision, the lots of the call for bids are the following; Aseguradora Yacyretá SA de Seguros was benefited with a batch of G. 13,030 million for the granting of comprehensive bank policies. The Producer SA de Seguros kept a batch of G. 1,315 million for the delivery of vehicle insurance, fire insurance, civil liability insurance, personal accident insurance and personal property insurance. And Rumbos SA de Seguros was left with a batch of G. 1,521 million for the delivery of fire insurance.
