Over half of tenders conducted this year were found to have anti-competitive actions

In the period from January to June 2024, an analysis conducted on 9,322 tenders with an initial value of 6.065 trillion soums, carried out by state purchasers in the fields of goods, works, services, and construction, revealed 6,611 anti-competitive actions in 5,153 (55.2%) of the tender processes. This was reported by the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights.

It was stated that the following anti-competitive actions were identified during this period:

• In 7,670 tenders conducted by purchasers for the procurement of goods and material assets, 5,287 anti-competitive actions were found.
• In 194 tenders in the construction sector, 125 anti-competitive actions were identified.
• In nearly 1,500 tenders conducted by purchasers for works and services, 1,199 anti-competitive actions were found.

The committee identified violations in a total of 5,153 procurements, of which 3,423 were referred to law enforcement agencies for appropriate measures. Violations in 157 procurements were voluntarily rectified by the purchasers.

Additionally, 562 cases were initiated regarding 1,573 procurements, and appropriate measures were taken. A total of 535 officials responsible for violations in state procurements were held administratively accountable.

During this period, the committee received 317 complaints and applications from legal and natural persons in this field. Of these, 293 complaints were investigated by the committee, and 24 were forwarded to relevant organizations for consideration within their jurisdiction.

Upon investigation of the complaints, it was found that the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Competition" were violated.

For example, on February 7, 2024, the Business Development Bank JSC announced a tender for the supply of information devices with an initial value of 7.8 billion soums. This tender was found to have violated legal requirements, and a relevant decision and directive were issued by the committee.

Similarly, tenders were announced on February 7, 2024, by the regional branches of the "Hududiy Electric Networks" JSC, including the Tashkent city branch for transformer repair services with an initial value of 6.4 billion soums, and the Jizzakh regional branch for a tender with an initial value of 1.575 billion soums, were also found to have violated legal requirements. The committee issued directives to cancel the results of these tenders.

Furthermore, a tender announced on February 6, 2024, by the Center for Phthisiology and Pulmonology for outsourcing services to prepare dietary meals for hospital patients with a value of over 1 billion soums was also found to have violations, and the committee issued a directive to cancel this tender as well.

The committee continues its systematic work to prevent actions that may lead to or are likely to lead to restrictions on competition in state procurements.