In Costa Rica, a law project proposes to disable construction companies that do not comply with contracts with state entities for a period of five years.
The proposed law is analyzed by the Economic Affairs Committee of the Congress, and according to representatives of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT), if approved, the law would allow sanctioning construction companies that do not complete the works agreed with the State.
In Costa Rica, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic decided to cancel the contracts for two UNOPS road construction projects, after it decided to keep secret the files with the details of these contracts.
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.
Due to a delay and an exaggerated increase in the cost of the project, consideration is being given to termination of the contract for the construction of the new road to San Carlos and reallocation of the pending works through several separate contracts.
The contract to build the 29.7-kilometer stretch of road between Sifón, San Ramón, and La Abundancia, in San Carlos, was awarded more than 9 years ago to the company Sánchez Carvajal, at an initial cost of $61 million.Since then, the cost of the project has increased 250% to $213 million.
In Costa Rica, the National Road Safety Council has signed a confidentiality agreement with the UNOPS to keep information on two publicly funded road construction projects a secret.
In Costa Rica an order has been given to suspend construction of a supervision contract awarded to the state run power company for a road building project, because it is considered outside of its normal tasks.
EDITORIAL
The confluence of interests within the Costa Rican state bureaucratic corporation has allowed for institutional nepotism, by means of direct contracts between state agencies, to be thought of as beneficial to the interests of society. It is in this way that impediments are created to private companies being awarded public works contracts.
In keeping with tradition in Costa Rica, only three companies have been awarded contracts for routine road maintenance for 19 out of the 22 conservation areas, with contracts totalling $24 million.
The three companies that were awarded the contracts are Anamarcala, with 13 contracts, Fresa Fresca, with two contracts in Guanacaste and Also Frutales, with four contracts.
In Costa Rica a contract has been awarded to the company Horizontes to install protective barriers and signs on a stretch of 15 kilometers from the Florencio del Castillo Highway and on Route 252.
The National Highway Council (CONAVI) announced that the beginning of construction is scheduled for November and the works will be completed in 90 days.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport:
In Costa Rica protests are being made against a decision by the Ministry of Public Works to segment road maintenance works into only three contracts, limiting the participation of more companies.
After a meeting with representatives of the sectors who are concerned about the measure, the National Highway Council (CONAVI) announced that it will review the specifications of the tender with the aim of expanding the division of work.
In the tender for road safety equipment to cover for 15 kilometers of road three companies submitted offers between $2.8 and $3.2 million.
The proposals in the tender for protective barriers on a 15 kilometer stretch of road on the Florencio del Castillo Highway were submitted by: Codocsa, with an offer of $3.6 million, Hernan Solis, with $1.05 million and Horizontes de Vías y Señales, with a proposal of $2.3 million.
In Costa Rica changes have been made to the specifications of tenders for road maintenance works, which now include an option for small businesses to bid for works that do not require specialized equipment.
Until October 31st draft documents will be available for public consultation so that interested companies can send comments and suggestions to the Road Safety Council.
An announcement has been made that specifications will be published on September 8 for the tender for lateral and dividing barriers over a stretch of 18 kms from the Florencio del Castillo highway .
The Ministry of Transport and Public Works announced that it will be calling on companies to participate in the tender after the contest published in June was declared unsuccessful.
In the waning days of an administration marked by scandals and inefficiencies in infrastructure, the rush to execute contracts is notorious, and there are even extensions being given out without tenders or bids.
Residents of the capital San Jose seem puzzled over how resurfacing works are to be carried out on streets that are apparently in good condition.
The Board of Directors of Consejo Nacional de Vialidad has not yet authorized the agency to use the electronic procurement system Mer -Link .
Although the National Roads Authority (Conavi) is now ready to use the electronic procurement system Mer -Link , the Board of Directors of the company has not granted permission, as they are still studying the contract.
Spanish, Chinese and Costa Rican companies submitted bids for the expansion to four lanes of a 1.7 kilometer stretch of urban road.
The National Roads Authority (Conavi) received six bids for the proposed expansion and renovation of National Route 3, located from the intersection of the factory in Pozuelo Uruca to Jardines del Recuerdo at the Valencia de Heredia.