Background on the Mexican Railway Project
The current administration launched a public tender for the construction of passenger trains along 100.05 km of the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo route, divided into segments 16 and 17 (Unión San Javier-Arrollo el Sauz). This segment was assigned to ICA for a sum of 14,676.4 million pesos.
The Role of the Social Witness
A social witness, appointed by the Secretary for Anti-Corruption and Good Governance, observed that nearly simultaneous bidding processes for the Querétaro-Irapuato (Pachuca to Querétarto) and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo routes reduced the number of participating companies.
Concerns Raised by the Social Witness
The social witness stated, “I believe that separating these bidding processes by at least a week could have potentially increased the number of participants and offered more options.” He also suggested that more time should have been allocated between the publication of the call and the site visit, allowing interested parties to prepare better and ask for clarifications.
Compliance with Regulations
Despite the concerns, the social witness acknowledged that the international public tender generally adhered to existing regulations.
Emphasis on Transparency and Efficiency
The social witness praised the use of ComprasMX, a new platform that enhanced the efficiency and transparency in state resource allocation.
Evaluation of Proposals
The social witness noted that ICA’s proposal, along with its affiliated companies (also involved in the Tren Maya construction), although not the lowest priced, reflected the best contractual conditions for the state. This proposal demonstrated experience, specialization, and compliance.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the issue with the bidding process? The near-simultaneous bidding for multiple routes limited the number of participating companies, potentially reducing competition and options.
- What recommendations did the social witness provide? The social witness suggested separating bidding processes by at least a week and allocating more time between the call publication and site visits to allow better preparation.
- Did the bidding process comply with regulations? Despite concerns, the social witness acknowledged that the process generally adhered to existing regulations.
- How was transparency ensured in the allocation of state resources? The use of ComprasMX, a new platform, enhanced transparency and efficiency in state resource allocation.
- What made ICA’s proposal stand out? Although not the lowest priced, ICA’s proposal demonstrated experience, specialization, and compliance, making it the best contractual option for the state.
