Cotonou: Four business days late, insurance broker selection resumes

The Cotonou municipality launched the request for proposals for this service on July 6, with the submission and opening of bids scheduled for July 17, 2026. ACAB contested a criterion requiring experience in “health portfolio management,” which it deemed discriminatory in relation to the nature of the contract.

The association contacted the person responsible for public procurement in the municipality on July 15. In the absence of a response, it escalated the matter to the ARMP in a letter dated July 28, which was registered on July 31.

However, the Dispute Resolution Commission did not examine the grievance on its merits. It noted that for disputes raised before the opening of bids in a price solicitation procedure, the prior appeal must be submitted within a timeframe that does not exceed the time remaining before the bid submission deadline.

Given the timeline of the procedure, the ARMP determined that ACAB should have contacted the municipality by July 10 at the latest. The appeal submitted on July 15 was therefore filed four business days late, rendering it inadmissible.

Consequently, the ARMP declared the appeal inadmissible and lifted the suspension of the insurance broker selection process. The Cotonou municipality can now continue the process without a decision having been made regarding the discriminatory nature of the contested criterion.

The decision specifies that the parties may contest it before the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court within one month of its notification.