The Administration of General Services (ASG) has authorized the Department of Family to contract housekeeping services through the correct mechanism. According to ASG Administrator Karla Mercado Rivera, the Department of Family had previously attempted to contract the services directly without proper authorization due to an incorrect categorization of the service. The ASG has approved a direct contract to allow the service to continue while a competitive bidding process is held, ensuring transparency and rigor.
Mercado Rivera explained that housekeeping services are not considered professional services and must be contracted under the corresponding rules. The ASG’s contracting processes are more rigorous but also more agile due to technology, providing transparency and guarantees to suppliers. The swift action ensures that services to elderly adults will continue while guaranteeing the proper use of public funds.
This decision comes after the Corporation of Housekeeping Services (COSALL) suspended its services due to the Department of Family’s failure to renew the contract on time.