108-08

The Respondent Firm (“Respondent”) was a member of a consortium, which participated in a bidding process under the Strategic Public Transportation Systems Program (the “Program”). The Office of Institutional Integrity (“OII”) submitted a Statement of Charges and Evidence against the Respondent and the other parties constituting the consortium for allegedly engaging in a fraudulent practice related to the Program. OII accused the Respondent of submitting false information about the personnel that would carry out the work in order to meet the requirements established in the bidding documents and qualify for the award of a construction contract. Consequently, and in accordance with the Sanctions Procedures, the Sanctions Officer (“SO”) issued a Notice of Administrative Action (“Notice”) to the Respondent. In the Response to the Notice, the Respondent denied the allegations presented by OII.

The SO determined that it was more likely than not that the Respondent engaged in a fraudulent practice. As a result, the SO imposed a sanction of conditional non-debarment for a period of two (2) years, during which time the Respondent may participate or be awarded contracts in projects or activities financed by the Bank Group as long as it demonstrates that it has adjusted its compliance program to a series of conditions. In determining the sanction, the SO took into account as mitigating circumstances the monetary restitution that helped alleviate the damage caused to the Program, and the existence of a compliance program that the Respondent was willing to improve based on the results of this administrative process. 

he Respondent did not appeal the Determination of the SO before the Sanctions Committee and, therefore, in accordance with the Sanctions Procedures, the sanction imposed came into force.