The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals recently dismissed an appeal from Conduent Business Solutions of Puerto Rico, Inc. The court ruled that Conduent's appeal was premature, as it was filed before the necessary legal procedures were completed. This decision affects Conduent and the larger context of government contracting in Puerto Rico.

The case, Conduent Business Solutions of Puerto Rico, Inc. v. Junta De Subastas De La Administración De Servicios Generales, Junta Revisora De Subastas De La Administración De Servicios Generales (docket number TA2026RA00161), centers on a dispute regarding a contract for processing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) programs for the Puerto Rican government. The court's ruling is significant as it clarifies procedural requirements for appeals in administrative decisions.

Conduent and Evertec Group, LLC were the primary parties involved in this case. The conflict arose after the Junta de Subastas (Bidding Board) of the Administration of General Services awarded the contract to Evertec on December 9, 2025. Conduent, unhappy with this decision, filed a Request for Review of Administrative Decision with the Junta Revisora on December 22, 2025. Evertec opposed this request, leading to further administrative proceedings.

On January 13, 2026, the Junta de Subastas issued another Award Resolution regarding the same contract. This prompted Conduent to file another request for review. The administrative process continued, with the Junta Revisora extending the time to resolve the matter. However, Conduent's legal troubles began when it filed its appeal with the Court of Appeals on April 8, 2026, before the previous case was fully resolved.

The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear Conduent's appeal, stating, "the resource of the heading is premature." The judges on the panel included Judge Rodríguez Casillas, Judge Barresi Ramos, and Judge Santiago Calderón. The court emphasized that jurisdiction is crucial and that any appeal filed before the completion of necessary procedures is invalid.

The ruling highlighted that the Court of Appeals could only act on cases once the lower court had issued a mandate. The court explained, "the forum of origin does not regain jurisdiction to continue with the procedures and execute the rulings of the judgment until it receives the mandate from the reviewing court." This underscores the importance of following procedural rules in legal disputes.

The impact of this ruling is significant for both Conduent and the broader landscape of government contracting in Puerto Rico. It reinforces the need for companies to adhere to procedural timelines when contesting government contract awards. The decision may deter premature appeals in similar cases, ensuring that administrative bodies have the opportunity to resolve disputes before they escalate to higher courts.

Going forward, Conduent may still pursue its claims once the necessary administrative processes are completed. The court's decision does not prevent Conduent from re-filing its appeal after the proper procedures are followed. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of jurisdiction and procedural compliance in legal matters, particularly in the context of government contracts.