The Ministry of Public Works (MOP), presented its defenses before the Administrative Court of Public Procurement as part of the process of challenging the tender and award of the project for the construction and financing of an interchange at the entrance of La Cabima, district of Alcalde Díaz , in northern Panama.
In the “Conduct Report”, Minister Rafael Sabonge assured that, during the bidding process for best value, the current public contracting regulations were adjusted and the MOP “has not committed any illegal or arbitrary action or omission.”
In addition, he pointed out that the Evaluation Commission of the tender “acted in accordance” with what was stipulated in the list of charges.
We consider that the appellant [Meco] He is not right regarding the facts invoked, since they are unfounded and have been counteracted with the evidence that lies in the file, ”said the minister in the report of February 2, 2022.
The Cabima Consortium —made up of Constructora Meco, SA and Constructora Meco Panamá, SA— appealed to the Administrative Court of Public Procurement and filed an appeal against a resolution of the MOP, which authorized the award of the millionaire project in favor of the C&T La Consortium. Cabima, made up of the companies Constructora Urbana, SA (Cusa) and Toronto Holdings, SA
The Administrative Court admitted the appeal and ordered the process to be suspended until the appeal is resolved. The rapporteur magistrate in this case is Martín Wilson.
The reference price of the project is $20.8 million. The Cabima Consortium offered $21.7 million and the C&T La Cabima Consortium submitted its proposal for $22.5 million.
This project contemplates the design and construction of a trumpet-type road interchange at the entrance to La Cabima and a return to unevenness, “horseshoe type”, near the entrance to Ciudad Bolívar.
This is not the only public works project that the Costa Rican construction company Meco does not want to give up. The company filed an appeal before the Administrative Court of Public Procurement (TACP) after the award of the contract for the construction of the vehicular bridge over the Bayano River —at the height of the port of Coquira— to the company Ingeniería y Tecnología Especializada, SA (Itecpa).
On appeal, Meco asks the Court to reverse the award order issued by the MOP; that the report of the evaluation commission be annulled, in which Itecpa obtained the best rating, and that the contract be awarded to the Bayano consortium, that is, to its local subsidiary.
The bridge over the Bayano River is part of the infrastructure works package that the MOP is tendering under the ‘turnkey’ figure, and the work was awarded to Itecpa for $22.8 million.
