Lawmakers question DITOP’s selection of single inspection-machine supplier and reported costs to centers

Lawmakers at the House Transportation and Infrastructure commission questioned DITOP officials about how the agency selected a single supplier for new vehicle-inspection equipment and whether the procurement and downstream commercial terms disadvantaged inspection centers.

Marco García said the initial procurement was run as a request for qualifications (RFQ) and that only one company ultimately submitted proposals for the awarded contract. Committee members and testimony from inspection-center representatives described commercial terms that worried members: an upfront payment cited at $6,000, monthly fees reportedly set at $1,500 and later reduced to $1,200, and a five-year rental model that would leave centers paying roughly $96,000 over five years for equipment a witness said could cost about $12,000 at retail in the United States. "Se estableció una cuota de 1500 dólares mensuales y que luego se rebajó a 1200 ... que tenían que dar 6000 dólares de primera instancia para tener la máquina," the chair summarized from the centers’ evidence.

DITOP officials said the initial award was subsequently canceled after centers raised concerns about a single-provider model and about changes that may have occurred between adjudication and contract execution. The agency said it prepared a new solicitation and submitted it to the agency that oversees procurement review (referred to in testimony as ASG/ACG) for evaluation.

Committee members pressed for procurement records, including who participated in the evaluation, the RFQ documents, meeting minutes and any study that supported the choice of technology and specification of equipment. DITOP agreed to provide names of the staff involved in the procurement and any minutes or supporting analysis within five business days.

The commission said it will review the procurement record to decide whether to recommend changes in procurement practice or further oversight.