The Respondent Firm (“Respondent”) acted as an agent for several bidders who submitted offers in multiple bidding processes under the Innovation in School Infrastructure Program in Panama (the “Program”). The Office of Institutional Integrity (“OII”) submitted a Statement of Charges and Evidence against the Respondent for allegedly engaging in fraudulent and corrupt practices related to the Program. OII’s specific allegation was that the Respondent, who was acting as an agent for one of the bidders, presented false financial background information to satisfy the bidding requirements for construction contracts under the Program. OII also alleged that the Respondent engaged in a corrupt practice by soliciting sums of money from two bidders and facilitating payments to government officials involved in adjudicating the contracts. Consequently, and in accordance with the Sanctions Procedures, the Sanctions Officer (“SO”) issued a Notice of Administrative Action (“Notice”) to the Respondent. The Respondent did not submit a Response to the Notice.

The SO determined that it was more likely than not that the Respondent engaged in fraudulent and corrupt practices. As a result, the SO imposed a sanction of debarment for a period of ten (10) years, during which time the Respondent will be ineligible to participate or be awarded contracts for projects or activities financed by the Bank Group. In determining the sanction, the SO took into account, as aggravating factors, the Respondent’s repeated pattern of conduct and the involvement of public officials in the corrupt practice.

In accordance with the Sanctions Procedures, the sanction imposed entered into force immediately, and the Bank provided notice of this declaration of ineligibility to the other Multilateral Development Banks that are a party to the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions