The Executive Directorate of the National Competition Defense Commission (Pro-Competencia) initiated an ex officio investigation against four state-supplying companies for the existence of reasonable indications of having engaged in collusion practices in tenders for the school lunch program of the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE).
The action, formalized in resolution RII-DE-AAC-003-2025, originates after an alert sent by INABIE itself and a preliminary analysis of the participation of the companies Ysabel Gourmet, S.R.L., Guizo y Sabor, S.R.L., D’Angel’s Cooking By Sandez, S.R.L. and Crisandez Gourmet, S.R.L., in three purchasing processes for the School Feeding Program (PAE) carried out between 2022 and 2023.
The preliminary investigation by the Executive Directorate detected a systematic and atypical pattern of conduct across the three processes, including corporate links between the bidders, the shared use of the same auditors and notaries, as well as the obtaining of key documents such as surety bonds and health permits with consecutive numbering and on the same dates, which suggests a possible coordination to manipulate the results of the procedures.
The investigated conduct is preliminarily classified in article 5, literal “b” of Law 42-08, which prohibits agreements to coordinate bids.
The Executive Directorate of Pro-Competition clarifies that this resolution initiates the instruction phase. This is a stage in which the facts will be delved into and the right to defense of the investigated companies will be fully guaranteed, which are presumed innocent until a final and firm decision determines otherwise.
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About Pro-Competition
The National Defense of Competition Commission is the autonomous body of the Dominican State in charge of promoting and defending effective competition to increase economic efficiency in the markets of goods and services, for the benefit of consumers and the public interest.
