The General Directorate of Internal Protection (DGPI), Romania’s internal security service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has expanded the budget for the renovation of its C.A. Rosetti headquarters to over 18 million lei, according to public procurement records. The project, funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), was awarded to a firm owned by Ovidiu Ioan Dumitru, the dean of the Faculty of Law at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE).
How the DGPI Renovation Contract Evolved
The DGPI initiated the bidding process for the “Rosetti Green” project in late 2023, seeking design, execution, and technical assistance. On November 6, 2023, the contract was awarded to an association formed by Ovi Construct & Real Estate SRL and Artateliers Project Studio SRL, as reported by Cațavencii. The initial winning bid stood at 15,782,711 lei plus VAT, aligning with the authority’s original estimate.
The project timeline faced significant adjustments. Originally scheduled for a 22-month completion, the contract has undergone ten amendments. As of June 12, 2024, the total value of the contract increased to 18,074,037 lei plus VAT, with the project deadline pushed to July 31, 2024. These modifications included changes to subcontractors and adjustments to the execution timeline.
Who is the Contractor Behind the Project?
Ovi Construct & Real Estate SRL is owned by Ovidiu Ioan Dumitru, who currently serves as the dean of the Faculty of Law at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE). Public records indicate that Dumitru, a former PP-DD deputy who later joined the PNL, has secured multiple state contracts.
Recent reporting by Cațavencii links Dumitru to other public infrastructure projects, including a two-million-euro contract for the renovation of a cultural center in Boteni, Argeș. The pattern of securing government contracts alongside an academic career has drawn scrutiny regarding the transparency of public procurement processes involving high-profile figures in education and politics.
The DGPI, historically known as “Doi și un sfert,” is currently utilizing PNRR funds—the European Union’s recovery mechanism—to modernize its urban infrastructure in central Bucharest.
Transparency Concerns in PNRR Spending
The use of European funds for the Rosetti Green project places the procurement process under stricter oversight criteria. While the DGPI project was the only bid submitted for the initial tender, the subsequent increase in contract value through ten separate addenda highlights the challenges of cost estimation in state-funded construction projects.
Comparing the initial estimation of 16 million lei to the current 18 million lei figure reveals a cost overrun of approximately 12.5%. Such discrepancies in PNRR-funded projects often trigger audits regarding the necessity of scope changes versus administrative inefficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who owns Ovi Construct & Real Estate SRL? The firm is owned by Ovidiu Ioan Dumitru, the dean of the Faculty of Law at ASE.
- What is the purpose of the DGPI contract? The contract covers the design, execution, and technical assistance for the renovation of the DGPI headquarters on C.A. Rosetti Street.
- How much has the contract value changed? The value increased from the initial 15.7 million lei to over 18 million lei following ten contract amendments.
- What is the funding source for this project? The renovation is financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), specifically Component 5—the “wave of renovation.”
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