In the midst of the restructuring and modernization process, tender documents for… navigable waterway (VNT). This measure was the result of a consensus between companies, regional governments and the productive sector, after a dialogue process whose purpose was to regulate the concession of the main river route in Argentina.
after United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Analyzing the technical text, they highlighted that the document “meets or mostly complies with the recommendations and best practices” provided by the organization.
In this way, the agreement laid the foundation for the future tender of the navigation and dredging system, the pillars of Argentina’s foreign trade.
Among the main points, UNCTAD proposed to include in the model contract the possibility of adapting contractual terms in the event that “unforeseen actions of public interest” arise in the annexes to the specifications.
According to the document you accessed informationThe proposal proposed establishing a formal mechanism through which the enforcement and oversight body could assess the extent of dredging or other works. This amendment stipulates that, if necessary, the competent authority will conduct a legal and environmental analysis, notify the concessionaire and ultimately submit a request to renegotiate the contract.
In matters Technical requirementsUNCTAD recommended raising the accreditation standards for the technical representative of bidding companies. In this sense, the proposed person will be required to be responsible Civil or port engineerRegistered or in the process of registering with the Civil Engineering Professional Council (CPIC).
In addition, a verifiable background in organizing and directing dredging positions will be required, with a minimum of thirty-six months’ experience on projects started since January 2016. “The bidder will be disqualified if he or she does not meet the experience requirements,” they detailed.
In line with this, the international organization also proposed improvement in Secretariat implementation controls Set forth in Appendix 10 of the specifications. Specifically, they proposed adding an explicit final clause stating that the credit expires when remaining funds are exhausted, not necessarily at the end of the concession period.
regarding Bid evaluation systemUNCTAD noted that Article 30 provides a different methodology from previously recommended best practices. The rule indicated that if the best economic offer exceeds the next offer by more than five percent, the evaluation committee may request a reduction from the first bidder.
If rejected, the offer will be rejected. In this regard, the international authorities clarified that this measure was not included in their recommendations and said: “What this team recommends is that the tender be awarded to the bidder with the highest technical scores, provided that it exceeds 40 points in the technical part of the specifications.”.
On the other hand, UNCTAD considered that Jan de Nul, DEME, Boskalis and Van Ord had the necessary fleet of bulldozers to meet the requirements. Regarding other companies such as Enai Kiara, Roed Nielsen, Great Lakes and DOC, Weeks Marine stated that they were not committed to them separately, but could work together.
Hours after learning of this development, the Superintendent of the General Administration of Ports, Sociedad Anónima Unipersonal, announced, Gaston BenvenutoAuthorized the consolidation of “procedures for notification and administration of collection of outstanding and outgoing dollar bills for tolls on the major waterway.” This procedure became official in Resolution No. 132/2025 Published in Official Gazette.
that way, Directorate of Administration and Finance To notify defaulters who will be identified through weekly surveys. Among the main points, it was specified that the payments will be issued in dollars and will be priced according to the values set by Banco Nación.
“The person obliged to pay will be notified and informed of the said circumstances by means of a payment notice note, so that they can, within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt, regularize their situation,” they noted. The type of form the agency will use to issue subpoenas is also included.