GUIDELINES ON EXPOSING AND PREVENTING BID-RIGGING CARTELS

The Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Institute for the Study of Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with FAS Centre for Education & Methodics have devised the Guidelines for exposing and preventing bid-rigging cartels.

The authors of the scientific work are Deputy Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Mikhail Khamukov, and Head of Digital Unit Department, Fatima Konieva. General editorship - Stats-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS, Andrey Tsarikovskiy, and Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenishev.

According to the authors the Guidance, drafted in line with FAS Research Plan in 2018, summarized 10-year practice of countering bid-rigging cartels in the modern Russia. The book presents the findings of analyzing anticompetitive agreements at tenders and auctions exposed by Russian antimonopoly bodies, describes typical schemes used to implement them. It studies not only cases of suppressing cartel operations but also indicators of a high probability of bid-rigging, exposes elements of various types of such collusions, particularly, with use of digital technologies.

Andrey Tenishev pointed out that earlier, upon a FAS initiative and with an active involvement of FAS staff in the work with the International Competition Network, the Guidance for anti-cartel regulation in public procurement was devised, which is now used successfully all over the world.

“In our opinion, publishing the Guidelines will be a considerable contribution ion developing the tools for competition protection from a modern “cartel” disease in public competitive bidding”, addedAndrey Tenishev.