WASHINGTON, May 14, 2024 — The World Bank Group today announced the 30-month debarment of Marseille for Engineering & Trading S.A.L. Offshore, a Jordan-based company that provides engineering and consulting services, in connection with a sanctionable practice as part of the Emergency Operation for Development Project in the Republic of Iraq.
The debarment makes Marseille for Engineering & Trading S.A.L. Offshore ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group. It is part of a settlement agreement under which the company acknowledges responsibility for the underlying misconduct and agrees to meet specified corporate compliance conditions as a condition for release from debarment.
The project was designed to support Iraq in the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and the restoration of public services delivery in targeted municipal areas. According to the facts of the case, Marseille for Engineering & Trading S.A.L. Offshore offered payments to improperly influence a bid evaluation process in its favor and solicited its joint venture partner’s contribution to such payments, which is a sanctionable practice under the World Bank 2011 Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits.
The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of the company’s voluntary remedial actions. As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, the company commits to developing an integrity compliance program consistent with the principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines. The company also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.
The debarment of Marseille for Engineering & Trading S.A.L. Offshore qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks (MDBs) under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.
