The public tender for the urban renewal of the 5 de Mayo area, with a reference price of $7 million, has entered a dispute phase after one of the bidders challenged the recommendation for award. The process, proposed by the Municipality of Panama, faces a formal complaint that has been admitted, questioning both the technical evaluation and the economic analysis of the act. The commission had recommended awarding the contract to the Gana-Oti Consortium, which offered just over $6 million, as it presented the 'lowest price' and 'met all mandatory minimum requirements and other requirements in the terms of reference'. However, the Vértice Consortium, with a slightly higher bid by only $36,000, argued that this conclusion is based on a 'wrong, mistaken, and inexcusable' analysis and that the recommended bid contains 'non-curable errors' that alter the outcome of the process. The complainant argued that the Gana-Oti Consortium did not have the most advantageous economic offer, as its bid was invalidated. It was also stated that Gana-Oti omitted the mandatory suitability numbers of the professionals, and that the architect's experience certifications were directed to the Ministry of Education and not to the Municipality of Panama, and some did not accredit the minimum required area of 15,000 square meters. Additionally, the consortium reported an error in the price breakdown and ITBMS, with a subtotal of $5.7 million, but declared $330,680 in tax. According to the complaint, the correct calculation of 7% ITBMS is $400,680.64, which would raise the real total of the proposal to $6,124,689.85 and not the $6,054,689.85 presented.
