2026 election tender awarded: What will the Temporary Union, which includes Thomas Greg & Sons, be responsible for?
Unión Temporal, which includes the firm Thomas Greg & Sons, will be in charge of logistics for the 2026 elections after winning the 2.1 billion peso contract from the Registry Office.
The decision comes after President Gustavo Petro stated that he "doesn't trust" the transparency of the upcoming electoral process, given the possibility that the current passport supplier, Thomas Greg & Sons, could win a bid.
On the afternoon of July 9, 2025, the National Civil Registry confirmed that it "awarded the call for proposals to provide a comprehensive logistical, technological, IT, and service solution for the organization and conduct of the 2025 and 2026 elections for Municipal and Local Youth Councils, Congress, and President and Vice President of the Republic, to the 2026 Electoral Logistics Integration Temporary Union (UT ILE 2026)."
The National Registrar, Hernán Penagos. Photo: Registry Office
According to the entity, UT ILE 2026 is made up of Thomas Greg & Sons Limited (Guernsey) SA, Thomas Greg & Sons de Colombia SA, Thomas Processing & Systems SAS, Securid SAS, Thomas Greg Express SA, Colombian Security Company Transbank LTDA., Data Systematization Consulting Group (ASD Group SAS), Operating Company Opesa SAS and Colombia Telecommunications SA ESP BIC.
What will the Temporary Union be responsible for? According to EL TIEMPO's Investigative Unit, Unión Temporal will be in charge of:
- Design of the electoral kits
- Printing of the election kits
- National and international transportation of the kits, meaning it is responsible for delivering these items to all voting tables in the country and to the 180 countries where Colombia has consulates or diplomatic representation so that Colombians can vote abroad.
- Custody of electoral kits and telecommunications.
Unión Temporal will be responsible for designing the election kits. Photo: Vanexa Romero/El Tiempo
It is important to highlight that " the contract just awarded to UT ILE 2026 does not include vote counting or the handling of Colombian data ."
Rejection of statements by President Gustavo Petro Despite the president's accusations, Thomas Greg & Sons has handled Colombia's elections in recent years, which have run smoothly.
"It's the same company with which Petro won the presidential elections, it's the same company with which Petro won the Bogotá mayoralty," said Senate President Efraín Cepeda, a conservative.
President Gustavo Petro said he distrusts the transparency of the elections. Photo: Presidency of the Republic
In turn, the National Trade Council, which represents more than 30 business associations , expressed its "concern and rejection" of the president's remarks.
"Sowing early doubt about the legitimacy of the electoral process, without presenting any evidence, constitutes a message that is detrimental to democracy," the union warned in a statement.
Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia. Photo: Joel Gonzalez. Presidency
In this regard, the Trade Council supported the work of the National Civil Registry and the National Electoral Council , and noted that "any report of irregularities must be supported by evidence and channeled through the appropriate institutional channels."
Finally, he called for "an early warning" to be issued so that oversight bodies and civil society can accompany and support a "legitimate, transparent, and trustworthy" electoral process.
*Last section with information from EFE
Efraín Cepeda addresses the president's criticisms. Photo:
GERALDINE BAJONERO VASQUEZ
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