Antitrust watchdog head Bogdan Chiritoiu said two of the three inquiries were set off following information by the National Authority Regulating and Monitoring Public Procurement regarding the way documents were submitted and participation offers were elaborated. As regards the third inquiry, Chiritoiu said all clues were tracked within the market survey carried out by the watchdog on the road and highway construction works market.
The first inquiry targets a potential conspiracy between 14 companies to rig bids, either individually or in association, at two auctions organized by Teleorman County Council between 2009 and 2010 to award contracts for road upgrade works. Tel Drum SA won the two auctions, with the total value of contracts amounting to RON137.6 million, VAT not included, (some EUR32 million).
The second inquiry targets a potential conspiracy between seven companies to rig bids at three auctions organized by Ilfov County Council between 2009 and 2010 to award contracts for road upgrade works. Tehnologica Radion won two auctions and Apolodor Comimpex won the third auction, with the total value of contracts amounting to RON183.5 million, VAT not included, (EUR42.6 million).
As regards the third inquiry, the watchdog has information according to which ten companies had colluded to rig bids at auctions organized in 2008 by the Craiova branch of Romania’s road authority CNADNR to award the frame agreement for multi-annual maintenance works between 2008 and 2011. According to the watchdog, the companies had used the bid rotation system to win contracts. Thus, the three auctions were won by Colas Drumuri, Gecor and General Trust Arges, respectively, with the total value of contracts amounting to RON499.1 million (EUR114.2 million).
The watchdog said the companies in question will be fined up to 10% of turnover if found quilty of breaching antitrust rules.
Mid-February this year, the antitrust body said it was looking into allegations that 11 construction companies had rigged bids for public works contracts on roads in capital Bucharest. Antitrust authorities made surprise check-ups targeting 11 companies that submitted bids for road maintenance and repair contracts awarded by the Bucharest City Hall. The companies in question are Tehnologica Radion, Euro Construct Trading 98, Straco Grup, Delta Antrepriza de Constructii si Montaj 93 (Delta A.C.M. 93), Pro Cons XXI, RCV Global Group, Swietelsky Constructii Feroviare, Strabag, Eurovia-Construct Internațional, Global Service Proiect, and Drum Concept.