STJ overturns automatic suspension of bus bidding The Superior Court of Justice (STJ) responded to an appeal from the City of Curitiba and overturned the six-month suspension imposed on public transport bidding. However, the notice has not yet been released. Now, the Court of Justice of Paraná (TJ-PR) will define a new deadline, which should be shorter, to complete the technical studies. The objective is to check whether it is possible to renew contracts with companies that already operate the service in the capital of Paraná or whether a new tender will be opened. Previously, an injunction had determined a period of 180 days for the city hall to resume technical studies and for the administrative measures necessary to formally end negotiations with the companies to be adopted. ? Follow the g1 PR channel on WhatsApp In a statement, Curitiba City Hall said it will take the necessary measures to modernize the system. The Bus Companies Union (Setransp) assessed the decision as positive and reinforced that the future of transport must be based on studies. See the full notes below. In the decision, the rapporteur, Minister Luis Felipe Salomão, considered that the studies are relevant and should continue to be carried out, but the current contracts guarantee the provision of the service only until December 31, 2026. Therefore, in the minister's opinion, preventing the bidding for 180 days creates a risk to the continuity of public transport, as it would leave little time for the completion of the bidding and the transition to a new service operator. STJ reversed 6-month suspension of public transport tender in Curitiba City Hall of Curitiba Understand The tender was suspended on June 25th, hours after Curitiba City Hall published the notice. The preliminary decision was made following a request from companies that have had the current contract to provide the service since 2010. The contract was initially valid for 15 years, but was extended for 24 months. Given the proximity of the end of the concession contracts, the City of Curitiba initiated negotiations with the concessionaires to check if there is any pending imbalance in the contract and analyze the best way to continue the service – whether to renew or bid again. A working group was created and a foundation was hired to subsidize the studies, preparing reports and technical opinions aimed at the economic-financial, operational and legal evaluation of the system. However, according to the companies, even without the completion of the studies, the City of Curitiba and Urbanização de Curitiba (Urbs) "unilaterally interrupted the work" and started the new bidding process. In the preliminary injunction, the Court understood that, despite the existence of the working group and the hiring of the foundation, the City of Curitiba is not obliged to extend or renegotiate current contracts. However, it would not be appropriate to interrupt studies that have already begun. Read also: AUDIO: pilot reports 'chill' to flight controller after seeing lights Mega-Sena: two bets from Paraná match 5 numbers MP found irregularities: Court orders intervention in Santa Casa de Londrina What does the city hall say? "Curitiba City Hall and URBS received the decision from the Superior Court of Justice and will adopt all appropriate measures to ensure the continuity of the process of modernizing public transport in the capital. City Hall reaffirms that the new tender is the way to put more new buses on the streets, expand the electric fleet, improve the quality of public transport and offer more comfort, safety and efficiency for the thousands of Curitiba residents who use the system every day", said the municipality in a statement. What does the union say? In a statement, Setransp said that it is not opposed to a new tender, but defends the process to be carried out in a transparent manner and based on studies. Read below: "The Union of Bus Companies of Curitiba (Setransp) considers the decision of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) to be positive, which maintained the determination to complete advantage studies before publishing the notice for the new public transport concession in Curitiba. For lawyer Caio Figueiro, representative of Setransp and the concessionaires, the decision consolidates the understanding that the choice between a new tender or the renegotiation of current contracts must be preceded of a comparative technical analysis, with bidding not necessarily being the most advantageous alternative for the Public Administration. According to the lawyer, the decision also strengthens legal certainty for States and Municipalities to evaluate all alternatives provided for by law in the management of concessions, always focusing on the best use of public resources and the quality of services provided to the population. Setransp reiterates that it is not contrary to holding a new bidding process. transparent, substantiated and based on the conclusions of advantage studies." VIDEOS: Most watched on g1 Paraná