The decision by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to hide the details of the contracts for the two road construction projects assigned to it by the National Road Council (Conavo) cost state coffers dearly. 

Nacion.com explains that "... The Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) annulled, on Tuesday, the awards of these two projects, because UNOPS has not allowed the bidding companies to see the complete contract files. This is the second time that the Comptroller's office has invalidated these awards."

See "Public infrastructure works in secret"

"... The Comptroller's resolution responds to appeals by the companies FCC Construcción América S.A. and H. Solís S.A. In the case of the Saprissa bridge, the construction was granted to the consortium composed of the construction companies MECO and Puentes y Calzadas for $22.3 million. Meanwhile the Garantías Sociales viaduct was assigned to MECO for $17 million."

Now, the Conavi must decide, together with UNOPS, if it makes the dossiers public or if it re-adjudicates the works.

Source: Nacion.com

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More on this topic

Setback for $17 million Road Works

April 2018

For the fourth time in three years, the Office of the Comptroller General has found deficiencies in the hiring process being run by the UNOPS and has annulled the award of a viaduct to the construction company MECO.

Through a statement, the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) announced that it has finalised the appeal filed by FCC Construcción América S.A.

Costa Rica: No More Projects with UNOPS

January 2018

The controversy generated by the UNOPS's decision to prevent access to files on the road works for which it is responsible has led the government to refrain from granting new projects in the future.

Possibly as a result of the refusal of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to make public the project files and the subsequent cancellation of contracts by the Comptroller General, the Ministry of Public Works has decided not to continue with the assistance of the international organization in future projects.

Costa Rica: Companies Benefitting From State Inefficiency

October 2015

The National Highway Council will be extending for 12 months road maintenance contracts worth $151 million because of the inability to carry out new tenders.

It is the second consecutive time that the National Roads Authority (COSEVI) has requested authorization from the Comptroller General of the Republic to extend for 12 months highway maintenance contracts.

Costa Rica: Highway Maintenance Contracts Canceled

August 2010

The National Comptroller's Office has annulled the award of 22 road maintenance contracts.

Nine companies had presented a total of 11 appeals against the decision to award contracts to the construction companies Hernán Solís, Meco, Quebradores del Sur and Orosi.

"The reasons include acknowledgement that the Costa Rican Highways Authority (Conavi in Spanish) was unable to state the calculations used in the award as private," reports Nacion.com.