The Procurement Agency (DGCP) rejected a Ministry of Education proposal for a private company to install satellite internet for 600 rural schools. The initiative would have cost billions yet was for a duration of three years. The tender was revoked on 17 February 2022. The Procurement Agency has rejected multiple bids contracted by the Ministry of Education on the grounds of irregularities. The decision was shared by the DGCP.
Diario Libre reports that the Institute for Telecommunications (Indotel) has a similar plan underway. The Ministry of Education would eventually desist from its plan to provide satellite connectivity for rural and sub-rural schools following the recommendations of the IT division of the Ministry.
The Ministry of Education had proposed to bring satellite internet to schools located in the provinces of Barahona, Bahoruco, San Juan, Azua, Valverde, Monte Cristi, María Trinidad Sánchez and Monte Plata, but the official documents of the bidding process did not register the public schools that would benefit from the proposed satellite internet service. This was one of the reasons the DGCP revoked the tender.
The Ministry of Education project for satellite internet service for the 600 schools was estimated at RD$3,396,556.34 and the contract period was for 36 months.
The Indotel plan will be executed with financing from the Interamerican Development Bank at the cost of US$80 million to reach 26 of the poorest municipalities in the country free of charge in the first phase of the project.
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Diario Libre
28 February 2022