FAS exposed an anticompetitive agreement between bidders at a close tender for construction works in public defence procurement

The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that the 9 Centre of the project manager-developer, of the interior troops of the Ministry of Interior in the Siberian region, “MASKOM” Far East Specialized Information Security Centre” Ltd. and “RemStroiTorg” Construction Company” Ltd. violated Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” in the part of concluding an anticompetitive agreement for construction and assembly works in Novosibirsk for around 3 billion RUB.

As a result of the tender, “MASKOM” was pronounced the winner: the only organization that met the closed tender requirements. Earlier, however, the company took part in designing the facility, construction of which was the tender subject.

In spite of the closed nature of the tender, the future bidders (“MASKOM”, “RemStroiTorg” Construction Company”) were aware of each other’s intentions to take part in the tender and entered into an agreement on joint works. The content of the agreement indicates that regardless of the outcome of the closed tender the works at the facility should be performed by “MASKOM”.

“FAS carefully watches closed tenders for the capital construction works. If any signs of breaching the antimonopoly law in this field are exposed, we encourage to promptly approach FAS”, pointed out the Head of FAS Department for Control over Infrastructure and Resources’ Provision Programmes in Public Defence Procurement, Iliya Grishin.