On June 1-2, in coordination with the Dominican General Directorate for Public Contracting (DGCP), CLDP conducted a workshop on best practices in procurement for citizen security institutions in Santo Domingo. More than 50 representatives from 8 institutions attended the workshop, including contracting officers and high-ranking officials from the National Police and the National 911 Emergency and Security System. The DGCP requested this assistance because these institutions are often unable to obtain the requisite levels of quality and price in their procurements including everything from basic supplies to complex communications systems. These institutions are also tasked with responding to natural disasters and significant challenges in procurement processes have significantly delayed or obstructed the delivery of critical goods and services. During an assessment of these processes in February, CLDP identified major deficiencies in the preparation of technical specifications and in the evaluation of offers, which enabled poor-quality products to monopolize tenders and excluded many U.S. and international manufacturers. CLDP also encountered a general lack of understanding of different types of contracts which may be utilized for disaster preparedness, hindering the government’s ability to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.

To address these deficiencies, CLDP enlisted a GSA attorney, a USAID contracting officer, and a former FEMA contracting officer to lead last week’s workshop. They provided best practices in implementing an effective acquisition life cycle, specifically focusing on drafting technical specifications and evaluation criteria to ensure that the procured goods and services meet the requisite quality standards of the citizen security institutions. The former FEMA contracting officer also provided an overview of contract types and acquisition planning for natural disasters, sharing her experiences in responding to events like Hurricane Sandy in the United States. This workshop is part of CLDP’s two-year project to improve the transparency and efficiency of government procurement practices in the Dominican Republic.