DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Passports Office (DGP) is set to move its main headquarters to the former Teleantillas building on Dr Defillo street in the National District. A first phase lease is being made with the purchase to be made in three years, Diario Libre reports. The agreement, valued at nearly US$6 million or around RD$360 million, was granted through a sole-source procurement process. The monthly rent would be for RD$10 million over the 36-month term. Diario Libre says this procedure raises questions about the selection method.

The move will see the passport agency occupy the renovated structure located at the intersection of John F. Kennedy Avenue and Doctor Defilló in the Los Prados sector. The building, originally constructed in 1982 with two floors and a basement, has undergone significant remodeling, including the addition of a third story built atop a steel beam structure.

As reported, the contract was awarded on 8 July, following a selection process that bypassed competitive...