Defense reforms the agreement on Armed Forces delegations

The Ministry of National Defense reformed Ministerial Agreement No. 132 of April 02, 2025, which established the delegation regime of the State Portfolio, through Ministerial Agreement No. 327, published in Official Registry No. 368 of Quito, Monday, September 14, 2026. The regulation was signed by the Minister of National Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendón, and comes into effect from its signing.

The reform responds to the need to adapt the distribution of the Ministry’s competencies to current regulations, particularly following the issuance of the Organic Law reforming the Organic Law of the National Public Procurement System (published on October 07, 2025) and the General Regulation of said law, reformed by Executive Decree No. 461 of July 29, 2026. The stated objective is to strengthen administrative decentralization, avoid duplication or overlap of competencies, and ensure that decisions are adopted by the expressly delegated authorities.

New delegations to the Vice Minister of Defense

The Agreement adds an article 1.A that delegates to the Vice Minister of National Defense powers over the real estate of the State Portfolio and the Armed Forces:

Authorize and order procedures for bailment or loan for use, free transfer, donation, auction, purchase and sale, exchange, transfer, and leasing of real estate.
Sign the delivery-receipt acts and the public deeds and legal instruments necessary.
Integrate and preside over the National Maritime Organization System (SOMANA).

Public procurement and teaching staff

Article 23 and Annex I are reformed to update delegations regarding public procurement, including the review, authorization, award, and signing of contracts, as well as the resolution of appeal resources. Additionally, an article 21.A is incorporated, which delegates to the General Director of Human Talent of the Land, Naval, and Air Forces the management and signing of acts relating to the hiring of teaching staff under the regime of the Organic Law of Higher Education.

The reformed Seventh General Provision establishes that, for special regime and foreign procurements exceeding USD 540,945.26, the head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the general commanders may request an express delegation from the minister, following a report from the general coordinator of Strategic Goods Procurement.

Repeal and transitory provisions

The Agreement repeals Ministerial Agreement No. 427 of November 12, 2025, and ratifies the repeal of Ministerial Agreement No. 077 of February 23, 2024. Numerals 8 and 9 of Article 1 of Agreement No. 132 are removed. The transitional provisions specify that pre-contractual procedures initiated prior to the entry into force of the Organic Law of Public Integrity (June 26, 2025) shall be subject to the previous regulations for a maximum period of sixty days, and that processes initiated under previous agreements shall be processed until their completion in accordance with the provisions in force in said instruments.

The reform updates the framework of National Defense delegations to the new public procurement and integrity legislation, with a direct impact on the administrative management of the Armed Forces and on the agility of the procurement processes and administration of State assets.

Source: Official Registry of Ecuador, No. 368, Quito, Monday, September 14, 2026, pp. 1-8 (official reference: Ministerial Agreement No. 327).