PR gov’t takes a first step in its AI transformation

Karla Mercado, head of the General Services Administration and chief government procurement officer

By The Star Staff

With the aim of advancing the digital transformation of the Puerto Rico government, the General Services Administration (GSA) opened the formal request for information (RFI) process on Wednesday to receive proposals for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into government applications and processes.

“The world has changed, and the government must be at the forefront,” GSA Administrator and Chief Government Procurement Officer Karla Mercado said. “The goal of this call is to hear directly from experts in the technology sector to identify artificial intelligence solutions that drive operational efficiency, citizen access, and data-driven decision-making.”

The call is aimed at suppliers with proven experience and capacity to implement modern technological solutions in agencies, public institutions and municipalities. The objective of the initiative is to explore alternatives that improve efficiency, interoperability and access to government services.

Mercado said the process seeks to identify companies that offer services ranging from virtual assistants for citizen guidance to predictive models, process automation, intelligent data analysis and computer vision solutions that can be integrated into current government platforms.

“Artificial intelligence is not a passing trend; it’s a real tool that can help us simplify processes, prevent errors, and better utilize public resources,” the official said. “We want to identify viable, safe, and ethical alternatives aligned with the government’s transparency and efficiency standards. This way, we will be prepared and informed to execute the upcoming competitive processes and procurement processes.”

Mercado emphasized that the current exercise does not constitute a formal contracting process, but rather a critical exploratory phase in which to define possible paths and work plans for future bidding processes.

“We are interested in learning about what the private sector can offer, including new technologies, sustainable architectures, previous experiences, and even pilot proposals,” the GSA administrator said.