Background on ISSSTE and Its Relevance
The Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) is Mexico’s public social security and healthcare institution, responsible for providing medical care, pensions, and other social services to government employees and their families. With over 18 million beneficiaries, the ISSSTE plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of a significant portion of Mexico’s population.
Recent Changes in ISSSTE Policies
In the midst of ongoing renovations and adjustments, the ISSSTE’s leadership has become a source of concern for the second floor of Mexico’s Fourth Transformation. The eviction from the Buenavista building and the transformation of the Superissste store in Vértiz, which had suffered from neglect and vandalism for a decade, are minor issues compared to the shift in criteria that has already encountered its first obstacles.
Policy decisions, such as changing the retirement age for beneficiaries, have faced strong opposition from the bureaucracy. Similarly, poorly founded administrative decisions are now under review.
One notable change is the ISSSTE’s stance on republican austerity, a hallmark of Morena-led governments. This new position has posed challenges, particularly in maintaining cleanliness across their properties.
Contract for Cleaning Services Under Scrutiny
The ISSSTE awarded a contract for specialized cleaning, hygiene, and disinfection services for its medical units, wellness centers, clinics, laboratories, operating theaters, anatomical dissection rooms, morgues, funeral homes, kitchens, staff dining areas, and general building maintenance to Ocram Seyer in conjunction with Wilk. Despite their proposal of 1,024 million pesos—encompassing direct cost, social expense, indirect costs, and profit—they did not receive the highest technical evaluation rating.
The company with the top technical rating contested the decision. Other participants also filed a complaint with ISSSTE’s Internal Control Organ (OIC), which falls under the Secretariat for Anti-Corruption and Good Governance. Social witness Jorge Javier Jiménez Alcaraz, also affiliated with this department, deemed the bidding process “opaque from start to finish” and biased in favor of Ocram Seyer–Wilk.
OIC’s Decision and Its Implications
Based on the principles of economy, efficiency, effectiveness, impartiality, honesty, and transparency to ensure optimal conditions for the state, the OIC determined that awarding contracts based on non-market prices posed risks to service provision. This decision impacted medical services across the properties covered in this tender.
Janet Citlali Ramírez Estela, head of the OIC’s Responsibilities Area, declared the initial decision null and void. She ordered ISSSTE to issue a new resolution grounded in economic evaluation.
“Presumed administrative irregularities by public servants are suspected, as the unfounded dismissal of the economic proposals from the dissenting parties jeopardizes federal public resources in an illegal contract, affecting both the public resources and servants who awarded the derived contracts, exceeding the authorized budget,” Ramírez Estela stated.
New Decision and Continuing Concerns
ISSSTE followed the OIC’s directive, but the subsequent ruling did not rectify the issues. The four segments awarded in the LA-51-GYN-051GYN005-N-33-2025 tender committed over 2,000 million pesos from the public treasury.
Under segment 3, Ocram Seyer–Wilk can invoice up to 770.9 million pesos, and under segment 4, up to 253.1 million pesos. In total, 1,024 million pesos are at stake.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the ISSSTE, and why is it important? The Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) is Mexico’s public social security and healthcare institution, providing medical care, pensions, and other social services to government employees and their families. With over 18 million beneficiaries, the ISSSTE plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of a significant portion of Mexico’s population.
- What changes has the ISSSTE implemented recently? The ISSSTE has made several policy adjustments, including changing the retirement age for beneficiaries and adopting a stricter stance on republican austerity. These changes have faced criticism and opposition from various sectors.
- Why is the cleaning services contract under scrutiny? The ISSSTE awarded a contract to Ocram Seyer in conjunction with Wilk despite not receiving the highest technical evaluation rating. The decision was contested, and the Internal Control Organ (OIC) found the bidding process opaque and biased.
- What were the OIC’s findings, and what actions followed? The OIC determined that awarding contracts based on non-market prices posed risks to service provision. Janet Citlali Ramírez Estela, head of the OIC’s Responsibilities Area, declared the initial decision null and void and ordered ISSSTE to issue a new resolution grounded in economic evaluation.
- What are the concerns regarding the new decision? Despite following the OIC’s directive, the subsequent ruling did not rectify the issues. The four segments awarded in the tender committed over 2,000 million pesos from the public treasury, raising concerns about potential misuse of public funds.
