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Senate panel presses ATM, DTOP on 20-year HMS Feries deal amid cost and service concerns
Summary
At a Senate commission hearing, officials defended a long-term public–private contract to operate ferry service to Vieques and Culebra while senators questioned whether the deal shifts risk, raises costs and will prioritize tourists over island residents.
A Senate commission examined the public–private contract awarded to HMS Feries Inc. to operate maritime service linking Vieques, Culebra and mainland terminals, pressing transport officials on costs, contract risks and missing procurement records.
Presiding Senator opened the hearing and asked Aylin M. Vélez, secretary of the Department of Transportación y Obras Públicas, and Jorge Dros Yapur, executive director of the Autoridad de Transporte Marítimo (ATM), to explain the award and related documents. Vélez said the session responds to Senate Resolution 31, which orders an investigation into the contract and requested the contract, RFPs, proposals, evaluations and related legal and advisory records.
The secretary summarized the procurement timeline: a draft request for qualifications issued in October 2017, a desirability study in April 2018 recommending private operation, and an RFQ/RFP process in 2018. Five firms initially sought to qualify; two submitted final proposals (HMS Feries Inc. and Puerto Rico Fast Feries LLC), and a…
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