The Respondent Firm (“Respondent”) participated in a bidding process under the First Natural Disaster Risk Prevention and Mitigation Project (the “Program”). The Office of Institutional Integrity (“OII”) submitted a Statement of Charges and Evidence against the Respondent for allegedly engaging in fraudulent practices related to the Program. OII accused the Respondent of misrepresenting information in order to meet the requirements established in the bidding documents and qualify for the award of a works contract. The Respondent was also accused of misrepresenting information regarding compliance with the construction work’s technical requirements to obtain the scheduled payments agreed in the contract. 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 practices. As a result, the SO imposed a sanction of debarment for a period of twelve (12) 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 recurrent conduct of the Respondent, as well as the damages and losses caused to the works and the public.

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.