Since Sep 30, 49 government contracts of $1 million or more with private firms have appeared in the Comptroller’s contract registry.
What stands out
The week’s filings are dominated by energy. Two Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) contracts for solar energy, each at $77,879,250, sit at the top, and four LUMA contracts for grounds and landscaping upkeep follow, running from $48.79 million to $55.66 million. Those six are the biggest items in the registry this week, which makes the electric system the clear center of gravity for large commitments.
The money is concentrated rather than spread out. Eight filings are listed in all, and the largest of them are all well above the $1 million threshold, while the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) leads only in the number of filings. The rest of the large list is varied: licence purchases for Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS) at $30.3 million, and temporary staffing for the Department of Health at $20.47 million.
The largest new contracts
Names and categories are the registry’s own, in Spanish; hover over or tap an underlined one for the English.
| Agency (The public body that signed the contract) | Amount (Amount to be paid, as filed) | Contractor (As named in the registry) | Service (The registry's own service category) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEE (Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)) | $77,879,250 | GUAYAMA SOLAR ENERGY, LLC | energía solar (solar energy) |
| AEE (Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)) | $77,879,250 | CIRO ONE X, LLC | energía solar (solar energy) |
| LUMA (LUMA Energy - Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico — LUMA Energy, operator of the Electric Power Authority's grid) | $55,663,764.23 | CERES ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC | servicios de mantenimiento de áreas verdes (grounds and landscaping upkeep) |
| LUMA (LUMA Energy - Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico — LUMA Energy, operator of the Electric Power Authority's grid) | $51,677,963.83 | WRIGHT TREE SERVICE OF PUERTO RICO, LLC | servicios de mantenimiento de áreas verdes (grounds and landscaping upkeep) |
| LUMA (LUMA Energy - Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico — LUMA Energy, operator of the Electric Power Authority's grid) | $49,066,577.36 | TEKNIEK CONSTRUCTION, INC | servicios de mantenimiento de áreas verdes (grounds and landscaping upkeep) |
| LUMA (LUMA Energy - Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico — LUMA Energy, operator of the Electric Power Authority's grid) | $48,791,694.57 | XPERT'S, LLC | servicios de mantenimiento de áreas verdes (grounds and landscaping upkeep) |
| PRITS (Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS)) | $30,295,809.51 | MICROSOFT CARIBBEAN INC | adquisición de licencias (licence purchases) |
| Salud (Departamento de Salud — Department of Health) | $20,469,440 | MANPOWERGROUP INC. | servicio de empleo temporero (temporary staffing) |
The table lists the 8 largest of the 49; every one is searchable in the Comptroller’s registry.
Between public bodies
Loans, leases and service agreements where both sides are part of government. Large, but money moving inside the public sector rather than out of it.
| Agency (The public body that signed) | Amount (Amount to be paid, as filed) | Counterpart (The other public body) | Service (The registry's own service category) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTOP (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas — Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP)) | $3,517,680 | MAYAGÜEZ (Municipio De Mayagüez — Municipality of Mayagüez) | acuerdos colaborativos (collaboration agreements) |
| DTOP (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas — Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP)) | $3,198,110.24 | CIALES (Municipio De Ciales — Municipality of Ciales) | acuerdos colaborativos (collaboration agreements) |
| DTOP (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas — Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP)) | $3,107,456 | COROZAL (Municipio De Corozal — Municipality of Corozal) | acuerdos colaborativos (collaboration agreements) |
| DTOP (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas — Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP)) | $2,919,057.80 | PONCE (Municipio De Ponce — Municipality of Ponce) | acuerdos colaborativos (collaboration agreements) |
| Administración para el Cuidado y Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez (Administration for Child Care and Development) | $1,824,071 | BAYAMÓN (Municipio De Bayamón — Municipality of Bayamón) | fondos federales (federal funds) |
The table lists the 5 largest of the 12.
Our recent coverage of these agencies
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)
- PREPA Bondholders Lash Out at Oversight Board Over Backing of Power Expectations Contract
- PREPA Asks Federal Court to Force New Fortress Energy to Allow Another Company to Supply Natural Gas
LUMA
- Government Rejects LUMA’s $1.3 Billion Estimate, Says 70% Unrelated to a Transition
- LUMA Anticipates Reduction in Power Outage Minutes for Customers
Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP)
- DTOP Fails to Implement Unique License Plate System After 10 Years
- DTOP Investigating Reports of Up to $2,000 Charges to Register Off-Road Vehicles at CESCO
About this list
This is the 3rd Contract Watch (the previous one is here). Source: Oficina del Contralor de Puerto Rico, Registro de Contratos (https://consultacontratos.ocpr.gov.pr/), contracts on file as of Oct 7.
Agencies file with the Comptroller days or weeks after signing, so recent weeks fill in over time; a contract can also be amended or canceled after it is filed.