The La Laguna Town Hall «reclaims and defends» the actions of the officials involved in the procedure of public tender for the awarding of the public lighting conservation and maintenance service and municipal electrical installations worth 18.7 million euros for a duration of five years. This tender was won by the Temporary Union of Companies (UTE) formed by Imesapi and Eléctrica de Montajes La Estrella.
The La Laguna Municipality states in a communiqué that these officials «have always acted in the execution of their duties and in accordance with the law, as well as adhering to the rigour of public contracting procedures. This public contract, which was awarded on 30 April, was appealed to the Public Contracts Tribunal of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands by Effico, one of the companies that submitted bids along with three others. According to this appeal, a «conflict of interests» may have been decisive in the selection of the winning UTE, of which Imesapi holds an 80% share.
This alleged irregularity stems from the fact that the head of the Department of Environment and Public Services of the La Laguna Town Hall, whose department initially promoted the contracting file for lighting and electrical installations, is the wife of the authorised representative and provincial delegate of Imesapi, winner of the tender, according to the appeal.
The Environment and Public Services Department tendered a minor contract in September 2024 for the College of Industrial Engineers of Santa Cruz de Tenerife —where the official is the secretary on the Board of Governors— to prepare a technical assistance report on the proposals of the four companies that submitted bids for the municipal lighting contract. She stepped down as head of service of that department two months later, in November.
The official who replaced her in charge of the municipal department was another engineer, who assumed the position through a service commission and is the son of the dean of the College of Industrial Engineers.
The corporation highlights that the College of Industrial Engineers «is a public law entity that does not participate in the tender» and therefore «there has been no conflict of interest with employees» of the Municipality. The La Laguna town hall emphasises that it relied on this collegial body to provide specialised technical assistance to assess the proposals of the companies that participated in the public contract, thus «ensuring the support of an external body that offered the utmost guarantees of transparency and impartiality».
“Absolute Rejection”
The Official College of Industrial Engineers of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for its part, has expressed its «absolute rejection» of the unfounded questioning about its participation as a collaborating entity in a public procurement procedure convened by the La Laguna Town Hall.
It explains that it was «contracted, within its functions, to provide independent and non-binding technical assistance in the evaluation of the technical reports submitted by the bidders in said procedure». It clarifies that the task was carried out by qualified technical personnel, without any intervention from the Board of Governors of the College and in strict compliance with the principles of objectivity, confidentiality, and professionalism that govern its activities.
The accusations spread by a non-awarded company «constitute a campaign of discredit devoid of basis, aiming to alter the outcome of the procedure» and to discredit both the professional college and the public employees who operated according to current law.
The College of Industrial Engineers emphasises that «no irregularity has occurred and all actions were carried out according to the applicable regulatory framework and under the ethical and deontological standards that govern collegial work». It adds that «it is particularly serious to attempt to question the impartiality» of this institution with an interested narrative, «supported by insinuations without any proof». In this regard and «in defence of the good name of the College, its professionals and the correct execution of its duties», it announces «the appropriate legal actions will be taken against those who continue to spread false or defamatory statements».
Finally, the College reiterates «its commitment to transparency, legality, and public interest», and will continue collaborating with administrations in the execution of their competencies.
