The Comptroller of Puerto Rico publishes the result of an investigation into alleged irregularities with the acquisition of the licensing and implementation of a platform for the development of a distance education program at the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina.
The investigation revealed that the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina paid $254,881 for the acquisition of a platform to offer distance education that was not implemented. Pursuant to the contract formalized on December 20, 2019, the platform would have allowed the creation of virtual classrooms, access to the institutional portal and participation from multiple electronic devices.
However, the platform was not being used, no evidence of the work plan for its implementation was found, and no needs and feasibility study was performed. This situation is attributed to the personnel changes in the offices of the Deanship of Academic Affairs and of the Rector at the UPR in Carolina that affected the services, the dates and the development of this project.
In this regard, on December 9, 2022, the rector of the UPR in Carolina notified the contractor of the termination of the contract.
In conclusion, the UPR in Carolina invested resources in a project that had no usefulness nor resulted in a benefit to the university, nor to the public interest.
The Report recommends to the rector of Carolina, among others, that for future investments the contracting be adequately planned as established by Policy ATI-013 of Circular Letter 140-16, General Rules on the Implementation of Systems, Purchase of Equipment and Use of Information Technology for Government Agencies, of 2016.
Investigation Report OC-24-09 can be obtained on our Internet page: www.ocpr.gov.pr.
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