In a high-profile launch event in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic has unveiled Eficompras, a cutting-edge digital procurement tool designed to accelerate small-scale public sector purchasing, integrated directly into the country’s existing Electronic Public Procurement System (SECP). The new platform is tailored for all public purchases valued below the established threshold of RD$268,111.38, addressing long-standing delays in low-value procurement that have slowed public sector operations for years.
President Luis Abinader, who headlined the official launch ceremony, emphasized that the development of Eficompras positions the Dominican Republic as a regional leader in digital public procurement. Rather than relying on guidance from more established international counterparts, Abinader noted the country is now prepared to share its expertise and offer advisory support to other nations seeking to modernize their own public purchasing systems, a milestone he called a point of national pride in public sector innovation. The president highlighted that the platform delivers three core benefits for the Dominican state: enhanced operational efficiency, greater public utility, and full transaction transparency, with a particular focus on streamlining routine minor supply purchases for public hospitals across the country.
Carlos Pimentel, director of the Dominican General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP), detailed the transformative impact Eficompras will have on procurement timelines. Previously, small-scale purchases falling under the RD$268,111.38 threshold took between five and eight full business days to complete. With the new digital tool, Pimentel confirmed these entire transactions can now be processed in a matter of minutes, a dramatic reduction that will free up public administration staff to focus on higher-priority tasks. Beyond speed, the platform was intentionally designed to prioritize access for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), opening new revenue streams for domestic small businesses that have historically faced barriers to entering public sector supply chains.
The journey to launch took two years of iterative development, ending with a successful pilot program that concluded on August 17, 2026. The pilot involved 10 participating public institutions, including the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the National Lottery. Trial results demonstrated the platform’s reliability: during testing, 29 completed purchase orders were processed successfully, the platform’s public catalog grew to include 777 distinct products, and more than 89,600 pre-vetted suppliers registered to participate.
The purchasing process is intentionally simplified for public sector buyers: users only need to browse the centralized product catalog, compile their order and delivery details, validate available budget through the integrated Financial Management Information System, confirm the purchase, and await final activation before payment and delivery. Registered suppliers are responsible for maintaining inventory of all common goods listed on the platform, which span a wide range of categories including potable water, office supplies, coffee, sugar, cleaning products, packaging materials, and small technical equipment.
Carlos Romero, managing director of the DGCP, clarified that Eficompras operates as a complement to the existing SECP system, not a replacement or a full competitive tender. All product pricing, availability, and stock information is displayed directly on the public portal, removing layers of administrative complexity from small purchasing transactions. Romero added that the platform is fully integrated with the Dominican government’s existing financial management systems and internal controls, ensuring full compliance with public finance regulations.
Per Resolution PNP-07-2026, published in July 2026, use of Eficompras is mandatory for all state bodies and entities covered under Dominican Law 47-25. To support a smooth transition, all affected public institutions will receive a 90-day adaptation and training period, with both synchronous and asynchronous learning resources available through the DGCP Virtual Campus to help staff master the new platform.