Weather-Benin: GROUP SMP reinstated in IT contract evaluation
Excluded for the manner in which it completed its submission letter, GROUP SMP SARL is to be reinstated in the evaluation of an IT contract for Weather-Benin. The ARMP ruled the rejection irregular and ordered the resumption of the bid examination.
GROUP SMP SARL is set to return to the evaluation of an IT contract for the National Meteorological Agency (ANM). By decision No. 2026-091 dated September 1, 2026, published on September 17, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP) deemed its appeal valid and ordered the resumption of the bid examination.
The procedure, referenced F_DSI-118699, concerns the acquisition of IT consumables, antivirus software for servers and computers, Windows 10 and 11 licenses, as well as the Office 2023 suite for the benefit of Weather-Benin’s structures. Seven bidders, including GROUP SMP, participated in this process.
The company was informed of the rejection of its bid on August 19. It filed a preliminary appeal with the person responsible for public procurement at the ANM on August 21. Weather-Benin maintained its position on August 24, before GROUP SMP escalated the matter to the ARMP in a letter dated August 26 and registered on August 27.
The dispute centered on the submission letter. In the section related to the request for information and pricing, GROUP SMP had entered the title of the contract (the acquisition of IT consumables and licenses) where the ANM believed the procedure reference should have been indicated.
Weather-Benin argued that the other candidates had provided the expected reference and that accepting a different presentation from a single bidder would undermine equal treatment. Conversely, GROUP SMP contended that the form requested the name of the notice, not its reference.
The Dispute Resolution Commission upheld the company’s argument. It noted that the title provided allowed for unambiguous identification of the procedure and had no negative impact on the bid. For the ARMP, this mention did not constitute a major deviation that could justify the elimination of GROUP SMP.
The reinstatement does not equate to the award of the contract. The person responsible for public procurement and the opening and evaluation commission of the ANM must resume the analysis of the bids, reintegrating GROUP SMP into the process.
Weather-Benin is required to report to the ARMP on the actions taken within five working days following the notification of the decision. The parties have one month from this notification to appeal to the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court.
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