Uruguay government reviews food tender amid irregularities claims

The Uruguayan government faces scrutiny over a tender for food supplies to social programs, with a long-standing supplier alleging irregularities and questioning the process led by the National Food Institute (INDA).

Fedir S.A., also known as Delibest, has lodged complaints with the Presidency and the Ministry of Social Development (Mides). The company claims INDA instructed suppliers to follow a preference order without a proper legal framework, despite no formal award resolution. Fedir argues this action is illegitimate and irregular, particularly for a crucial service.

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Without any resolution issued by a competent authority, INDA began to execute a public tender for US$24 million. It is clearly evident that INDA is acting in a manifestly illegitimate and irregular manner in the contracting of a first-need service, which warrants the present complaint.

According to reports, President Luis Lacalle Pou has decided not to approve the initial preference list from the tender. This decision has sent the expediente back to Mides Minister Gonzalo Civila, halting the tender's conclusion. The episode reportedly exacerbates existing dissatisfaction with INDA's director, Micaela Melgar, within the government's upper echelons.

Fedir, which has supplied the state since 1996, was ranked last in the tender's scoring. The company alleges it was unfairly penalized to favor Indunet S.A., a bidder with no prior experience in fresh food provision. Fedir also reported unusual, exhaustive inspections by INDA following its complaint and claims to have documented delivery shortfalls by other participating companies.

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deliver the food in certain quantities according to a preference order that is not supported by any administrative act, so there is no legal framework to support it.