The Audit Service uncovered serious failures by the contracting authority at every stage of a public contract. Officer Marios Petridis stated this during his “Protoselido” appearance. He emphasised that the case, discussed in the House Control Committee, reveals systemic inadequacies. These start from tender document preparation and extend to contract execution – the stage where “all weaknesses from the previous two stages become evident and materialise,” as he noted.
The first tender launched in July 2018. Authorities cancelled it a year later, in July 2019, due to unavailable funds in the contracting authority’s budget. The Audit Service report flags this as particularly problematic. It triggered two years of inactivity until the second tender in June 2021.
Delays and contract termination
Authorities awarded the second tender in September 2021. However, appeals to the Tenders Review Authority delayed contract signing until June 2022.
The project ran for about three years before termination in April 2025. The Audit Service officer explained that termination stemmed from substantial failures in acceptance checks. These led officials to deem the contractor failed to fulfil obligations.
A key report finding concerns the tender documents themselves, as Mr Petridis highlighted. Planners set the project for three phases over three years without specific, binding timelines or deliverables per phase. This gave the contractor full leeway to claim adherence to the overall timeframe, even without substantial progress.
Mr Petridis said clear phases with set dates could have prompted earlier cancellation, perhaps within the first six or twelve months, and prevented greater damage.
Responsibilities and financial impact
The Audit Service officer clarified that the contracting authority bears responsibility. It must possess necessary expertise. Where technical staff falls short, legislation and budgets allow hiring external specialist consultants for tender preparation and monitoring. He noted authorities did not utilise such options here, though the authority holds final responsibility.
The total contract value reached €2.17 million. Post-termination, no payments exceeded the advance. Cyprus Police seized the €497,000 advance guarantee and €82,842 faithful performance guarantee. Mr Petridis called this at least a positive amid the overall negative picture.
Ongoing measures and recommendations
The state remains exposed on project delivery. Cyprus Police notified in September 2025, four months post-termination, that they appointed a committee for further handling. After the Audit Service released its report on 2 December 2025, Police announced additional measures to protect critical Cyprus Republic infrastructure.
Recommendations adoption and corrective actions are positive, Mr Petridis concluded. Yet the findings underscore the need for substantial changes in how officials design, tender, and monitor public contracts.
Also read: The capabilities of Cypriot drones exported to Ukraine
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for the latest updates.
