Construction cartel is exposed at auctions in the Samara and Ulyanovsk regions

The cartel worked for three years. The total sum of the government contracts concluded with the minimum price reduction was 101 million RUB

“Avtodorstroi” Ltd., of the one part, and “Volga” PSK Ltd., “Avtodorengineering” Ltd., “Stroimontazhkomplekt” Ltd., of the other part entered into an anticompetitive agreement, which was in force from 4 March 2014 to 23 December 2016.

The investigation established that throughout that period there had been 8 auctions for construction and other works in the Samara and Ulyanovsk regions. “Avtodorstroi” Ltd., and one or two of the following companies: “Volga” PSK Ltd., “Avtodorengineering” Ltd., “Stroimontazhkomplekt” Ltd. took part in procurement.

The price bids at every auction showed absence of competition between the bidders. All auctions ended with the minimum reduction of the initial price.

FAS Commission found that “Avtodorstroi” Ltd., “Volga” PSK Ltd., “Avtodorengineering” Ltd., “Stroimontazhkomplekt” Ltd.concluded and implementedthe anticompetitive agreementthat resulted in maintaining auction prices (Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”).

The decision and case materials will be forwarded to the law enforcement bodies to open a criminal case under Article 178 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.