FAS opened a case against a bid-rigging cartel tenders on construction and repair of federal highways

The potential cartel is the largest one in road construction. The total contract sum concluded with its participants exceeded 12 million RUB

The respondents to the case are: “Tekhnostroi” Ltd., “No.908 SU” and “Avtogor” Ltd. FAS suspects that the companies entered into an anticompetitive agreement to maintain prices at federal construction tenders.

Taking part in open tenders, the companies created a veneer of competition. At the same time, the winner was determined by the participants on advance. The winners were determined by the agreement participants in advance. As a result, original maximum contract price reduced by no more than 1%.

In 2016-2017 the geography of anticompetitive agreements has expanded considerably in the field of construction in Russia, which indicated cartelization of economic activity: such crimes were exposed in 63 RF subjects.

States-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS said: “High-quality transport infrastructure is one of the most important sectors in the modern economy, and economic development of every country depends on its state. Cartelization of the sector reduced its rates”.

“FAS continuously undertakes system-wide work to expose anticompetitive agreements in the field of construction and highway repair, the result of which is opening similar cases and holding the violators administratively liable”, added Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenishev.