In the Court of Accounts of the province of Mendoza, a complaint was made that caused a political scandal in Guaymallén, revealing serious irregularities in the purchase of software for managing bidding and fines. What initially seemed like progress towards transparency in public procurement has turned into a tangled web of accusations involving high-ranking officials and a new company in the market.
Public Tender No 1142/24, EE-15408-2024, aimed at contracting a management system for bidding, purchases, and a unique supplier registry, along with a fines management system, raised suspicions from the beginning. The approval of the purchase was granted by the current Secretary of Finance, Alicia Zárate, and the Director of Procurement, Cecilia E. Abate, for an outrageous amount of $24.6 billion. What was so special about this software?
According to the complaint, the technical requirements were custom-designed to favor a single supplier: the company Kiltex SAS. The condition that the system be developed in specific programming languages (such as .NET and React) restricted competition and paved the way for this company.
The accusations also suggest that Kiltex offered a "turnkey" system without any prior experience or verifiable references in municipal or governmental systems. It is even rumored that the Municipality already had a similar system, developed by Cesar Luzzi during Marcelino Iglesias' administration. Why spend millions on something that was already implemented?
On its part, the Procurement Directorate, responsible for evaluating the software, was conspicuously absent throughout the process. The lack of implementation reports and technical evaluations contrasts with the quick approval given by Ignacio Conte, a key official, to a system that is currently not in use. The residents of Guaymallén are demanding answers and a thorough investigation to determine possible crimes and those responsible for them. This case raises questions about the true commitment of the authorities to combating corruption and promoting the rule of law. Will this web be clarified, or will it remain buried under the mantle of impunity?
