Almoradí cancels the €1.5 million tender for cleaning due to errors in the specifications

The 1.5 million euro contract for cleaning municipal buildings and schools was processed under emergency procedures because the previous contractor failed to fulfil its responsibilities, but the...

January 14, 2026 2 Mins Read

The 1.5 million euro contract for cleaning municipal buildings and schools was processed under emergency procedures because the previous contractor failed to fulfil its responsibilities, but the Almoradí Town Council has withdrawn the tender. The tender notice and specifications posted on the Public Sector Procurement Platform on December 24 are deemed invalid by a mayoral decree dated January 7th, 2026.

The decree states that the city council found a mistake regarding the award criterion in clause 17 of the Special Administrative Conditions. The text specifically cautions that the way the criteria are set up to be susceptible to value judgement may allow for the automatic evaluation of the criteria’s prior knowledge, which would be against Article 157 of the Public Sector Contracts Law.

Advertisements

The City Council also recognises the necessity of “supplementing certain clauses” in the technical specifications, a change that, because of its extent, goes beyond merely fixing typographical errors. According to state legislation on public procurement, this situation legally mandates that the process be resumed before the specifications are approved.

The now-cancelled tender was for a three-year contract to clean all municipal buildings and schools in the municipality, with a budget of €1,501,945.97. Due to the successful bidder’s “culpable breach of contract,” which resulted in the previous contract being terminated and the City Council temporarily taking over the service, the tender was expedited.

In addition to agreeing to the resolution’s publication on the Public Sector Contracting Platform and its communication to the Intervention and the person in charge of the contract, the decree signed by the Mayor also assumes the authority that corresponded to the Local Governing Board in order to speed up the administrative process.

Due to this cancellation, a temporary situation in a service deemed necessary for the functioning of municipal offices and schools will be prolonged, as the City Council will need to revise the tender documents and re-approve the contract file before holding another competition.