The city council, which is governed by the PP, has declined to award a contract for the implementation of universal drug and other addiction prevention programmes in Torrevieja’s schools and institutes. Despite the fact that bids have already been submitted, the decision renders the tendering process null and void prior to the award of the contract. The administrative process, which commenced in March 2025 and was intended to comply with the Municipal Plan on Drug and Other Addictions, which was approved in 2022, has now concluded.
The programme, which was the first of its kind in Torrevieja in terms of scope and budget, was intended to be implemented over a four-year period and was valued at €133,394. It was intended to benefit 22 schools in Torrevieja, including 17 primary and infant schools and 7 secondary and high schools, as well as the sole private school in the town. It concentrated on the 148 courses in the 5th and 6th grades of primary school and the 1st and 2nd years of secondary school, with an emphasis on adolescents aged 12 to 14. A total of over 2,000 students.
Inconsistencies
According to the technical experts, the withdrawal is due to the identification of discrepancies in the administrative terms and conditions, specifically in the sections pertaining to the estimated value, base budget for the tender, and contract price. The financial section of the terms and conditions contains a divergence between the amount expressed in words and in numbers, as well as a potential ambiguity in the financial offer template regarding the annual nature of the offered amount. The administration is concerned that these discrepancies could potentially influence the prospective companies’ ability to accurately formulate their financial proposals.
Based on the Public Sector Contracts Law, the resolution permits withdrawal in the event of “an irremediable breach of the rules governing contract preparation or the award procedure,” as specified in the public contract resolution. The agreement specifies that the measure “does not constitute a waiver of the service provision, but rather a necessity to ensure the legal certainty of the process and prevent documentary errors from tarnishing the bidding.”
Minor error, but withdrawal
The severity of the errors is elucidated by a technical report from the municipal psychologist. The document suggests that the correct amount was consistently stated in multiple annexes and that the discrepancy in the written amount was the result of “human error.” The civil servants’ contracting committee and the governing board, despite this evaluation, maintained their proposal to withdraw the tender as a preventative measure. Additionally, they recommend that a new tendering process be initiated immediately to address the deficiencies that have been identified.
Imagina Esencia Cooperativa Valenciana, Filias Innovación Social SL, Fundación Noray Proyecto Hombre Alicante de la Comunidad Valenciana, and Sararte SL submitted offers.
Sessions
The service is primarily concerned with the coordination of technical aspects with the municipal Addictive Behaviours Unit and the delivery of the sessions by a specialised professional from Group A1—a psychologist, social educator, or social worker. The service is comprised of one-hour sessions that take place during school hours. These sessions are designed to cultivate practical skills, as outlined in the tender documents. These skills include the ability to decline peer pressure, the identification and regulation of emotions, the assessment of the potential repercussions before taking action, the resolution of everyday conflicts, the cultivation of critical thinking skills in relation to messages about substance use, and the enhancement of self-esteem and assertiveness.
Faculty
This is supplemented by two training sessions per centre for instructors, which allow them to continue the content in the classroom. All teaching materials are included in the price per session, and the programs must be endorsed by the General Directorate of Mental Health and Addictions of the Generalitat or have scientific evidence.
