The decision had been advanced by Manuel Adorni after the complaints filed by the only bidding company.
The National Government resolved to leave the national and international public tender No. 1/2024, aimed at the modernization, expansion, operation and maintenance of the signaling system and dredging tasks of the Navigable trunk viawhich covers from the confluence of Paraná River to the Natural deep water zone in the Río de la Plata Exterior.
The decision was formalized through the Resolution 7/2025published in the Official Gazetteand responds to the need to guarantee the transparency and competitiveness of the bidding process. In this sense, the National Ports and Navigation Agency (ANPYN)autarkic entity created after the dissolution of the General Ports Administration (AGP SAU) and the elimination of Undersecretariat of Ports and Wayshe instructed the Legal Affairs Management to make a detailed report on the procedure, which will be sent to the National Competition Commission to evaluate the possible existence of anti -competitive practices.
The decision had been advanced by the presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorniwho at a press conference at Casa Rosada said that “the only offer presented was that of Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering NV (Deme)signature that was involved in complaints due to lack of transparency and judicial presentations that ended up discouraging the participation of other competitors. ”
The background of the measure
The tender, which had originally been promoted under the regime of concession of public works by toll according to the Law 17,520sought to guarantee the maintenance and operability of hydrovia, considered strategic for the Argentine economy, since it channels approximately the 80% of the country’s exports and connect to More than 60 port terminals. However, the lack of plurality of bidders and the questions to the process motivated their cancellation.
From the Ministry of Economy they stressed that the measure seeks to “favor a bidding scheme with greater concurrence and competition”, in line with the provisions of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nationwhich argues that public tender is the most appropriate mechanism to obtain favorable conditions for the State and avoid overpricing.
With this decision, the Government must define the next steps to ensure the administration and maintenance of the trunk route in a scheme that guarantees transparency and efficiency, in a context in which the actors of the port and agro -export sector closely follow the evolution of the process .
Key points of the official text
- Canceled tender: The National Ports and Navigation Agency (ANPYN) decides to leave the tender without effect because a single offer was presented, which does not guarantee the necessary competition to obtain the best option for the State.
- Trunk navigable via: The tender was aimed at improving the infrastructure of this river route, which is crucial for Argentina’s foreign trade, since it concentrates much of the country’s port movement.
- Cancellation reasons:
- It is considered that the low concurrence of bidders does not allow to ensure the selection of the most convenient offer for the State.
- It seeks to guarantee a bidding process with greater competition.
- Subsequent actions:
- The Legal Affairs Management is instructed to make a detailed report of the bidding process.
- The documentation is referred to the National Commission for the Defense of Competition to investigate possible anti -competitive behaviors.
Source: Ambito
