To promote competition in public procurement, the Competition Authority has designed a road show to raise awareness of the harm caused by bid-rigging and to explain the role of the Competition Authority in investigating suspected bid-rigging. 

Public Procurement is the purchase of goods and services by a public authority. To prevent fraud, waste, and corruption the government procurement process is regulated by law, which among other things requires a purchase to be put out to tender if the value of the procurement exceeds a certain amount. Government procurement in the European Union is regulated by community law. (For more information on the tendering process, please contact the National Public Procurement Policy Unit of the Department of Finance.)

Bid-rigging or collusive tendering is a type of illegal activity that may arise during the public procurement process. Bid-rigging is a type of cartel where competitors agree among themselves which of them will win the tender. An agreement of this kind results in the public authority paying more for goods and services. It infringes section 4 of the Competition Act, and is a crime.

Would you like a presentation?

We invite government agencies, local councils and training centres that have an interest in procurement to contact us if they would like to arrange a presentation.

Please contact:
Cormac Keating,
Manager,
Cartels Division,
The Competition Authority.
Tel: 01 804 5453
Email: cwk@tca.ie

Need more information on collusive tendering?

In December 2009, the Competition Authority published a booklet entitled “The Detection and Prevention of Collusive Tendering.”

This booklet provides information to public procurers on the tell-tale signs of bid-rigging and how to report it. In addition, it details steps that can be taken during the tender process to help prevent collusive tendering occurring. Although aimed at procurement officials working in the public sector, this booklet will also be of assistance to all businesses who tender for projects as well as to those those who bid for projects.