CGU sees flaws in firm that listed Bolsonaro’s detractors – 11/29/2023 – Power

The CGU (Comptroller General of the Union) identified a potential loss of R$18 million to public coffers in a contract signed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the provision of corporate communication services for the department.

The document, finalized in October this year, identified problems such as overbilling, overpricing and lack of proof of services in the contract signed with the company BR Mais Comunicação.

The agency was responsible for carrying out, in 2020, a survey of digital influencers and journalists who would be “detractors”, “neutral” and in favor of the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

According to the UOL portal, which revealed the case, the list was created to guide how groups should be treated. At the time, the company stated that the term was a process error and apologized.

In February this year, the Lula government renewed the contract with the company for another year. Questioned by Sheetthe agency’s advisor stated that the renewal was carried out before the preliminary report on the case, sent by the CGU on May 4th to the ministry.

He also stated that he had already taken the measures recommended by the controller and notified the company about the irregularities.

In total, the agency has already received R$53.8 million from the government since 2018, when the contract was signed, according to the CGU. Since then, it has been renewed through additives.

Its services have been used by other government ministries through the so-called TEDs (Decentralized Execution Terms), a tool that allows “pulling” resources from other departments to take advantage of the services.

Among the problems found by auditors in the services provided by the company are the cost of low-complexity texts, which were charged up to R$95 per word.

This was the case of a message made up of 24 words that cost around R$2,300 to the public coffers. The ad said: “Brazil Day Ceremony. This Monday (15/11), in Dubai, President JB participates in the Brazil Day Ceremony. Follow:

The same amount was charged for another short text, released to employees, in which it announced that the building would undergo pest control. The message that notified employees to check their pay slips also cost the same amount.

The CGU also pointed out that the only basis used by the ministry to prepare the contract values ​​was a consultation carried out with four companies. Therefore, they claim that there was no critical analysis of the values, which would have resulted in the preparation of the budget with an overprice.

According to the controller, this allowed the company to charge prices higher than the market, resulting in losses to the treasury.

Items were also paid for amounts above those negotiated between the parties and some without proof of delivery by the contractor, or with inadequate or incomplete documentation, according to the agency.

The report cites, for example, the payment of R$124 thousand for the production of 34 podcasts, with weak proof of the dissemination of the material and only the statement from the contracted company itself.

For the controller, cases of lack of proof of delivery should have been registered by the contract manager, and, consequently, a factor preventing payment. Furthermore, the agency criticized the extension of the contract without the regular provision of services.

As a recommendation, the CGU requested the return of the amounts unduly paid by the company and the determination of responsibility for the facts highlighted. It also asked the ministry to implement internal administrative controls in the conclusion and supervision of this type of contract.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation responded, in a note, that the questions presented by the CGU were notified to the contracted company, without impeding the continued provision of communication services.

“A period was opened for clarifications, in accordance with the rules that govern administrative processes, in particular the constitutional principles of contradictory and broad defense,” he said.

The company stated that, as soon as it was duly notified by the ministry, it prepared documentation and records of all products and services duly provided which, according to the CGU, would lack or lack of justification for proof.

He also said that he will await the analysis of this documentation and that the report, “as required by Brazilian legislation, grants the agency the right to contradictory proceedings and full defense.”

“There is no technical or legal impediment for the agency to continue providing communication services to MCTI or any other public body. The agency emphasizes that it has always followed the terms and conditions set out in the contract.”

Finally, he added that he remains at the disposal of the control bodies and will continue to provide any and all clarifications regarding the services provided throughout his 20 years of existence.