Via Mar highway bidding suspended by Santa Catarina Court of Accounts

The Court of Accounts of Santa Catarina (TCE/SC) has issued a cautionary suspension of the bidding process for the Via Mar highway project. The tender, valued at R$ 2.18 billion, concerns the implementation of lot 4 of the Northern Coastal Corridor Highway, covering a 24.6-kilometer stretch between Ilhota, Itajaí, and Navegantes.

The suspension targets the qualification and dispute stages of the electronic competition, which aims to contract a company for both engineering design and construction. The court identified weaknesses in the public notice, the budget, and the technical studies. Specifically, the tribunal noted a need for clearer budget justification, consistent engineering studies, and updated feasibility assessments.

Counselor Wilson Wan-Dall, the rapporteur of the process, has granted the State Secretariat of Infrastructure and Mobility 30 days to provide justifications, implement corrective measures, or annul the bidding process. The measure does not constitute a full annulment but prevents the competition from advancing to the document analysis and bidding phases until the issues are addressed.