A significant infrastructure development in the Dominican Republic has encountered procedural hurdles as engineering firm PyT Infraestructura formally requested a deadline extension from national road agency RD Vial. The extension pertains to the submission of terms of reference for the ambitious highway project connecting the Santiago Northern Ring Road with the Puerto Plata–Sosúa Amber Highway.
Amín Ricardo García Acuña, General Manager of PyT Infraestructura, clarified that the current bidding framework presents an unusual challenge. Contractors are being asked to propose highway designs without a predetermined ‘zero line’ or established route alignment. This omission necessitates comprehensive preliminary technical studies, which the firm argues should be completed before establishing the definitive road axis.
García Acuña highlighted substantial financial and intellectual considerations, noting that industry standards indicate developing a preliminary design with reliable construction budgeting requires an investment between US$2 million and US$3 million. He further pointed out that the current bidding documentation lacks clear provisions addressing the intellectual property rights associated with such preliminary designs.
The engineering executive proposed an alternative approach, suggesting that if RD Vial, the Ministry of Public Works, or another government entity possesses relevant technical studies from previous initiatives—particularly the complete design developed under the public-private partnership (APP) framework—these documents should be made publicly available. This transparency would enable all bidders to work from a common baseline and submit genuinely comparable technical proposals.
García Acuña emphasized that standard international practice in public works contracting typically involves the contracting authority providing a base design, allowing competing firms to submit enhancements or alternative proposals rather than creating entirely original designs from undefined parameters.