Corruption watchdog flags potential collusion in IC cleaning tender

The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) has found that two companies bidding for a cleaning services contract with the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) had overlapping members in their administrative management bodies, raising the possibility of collusion or coordinated bidding.

The overlap was not detected by either the bid-opening or bid-evaluation committees, according to the CCAC, which uncovered the issue while investigating a complaint.

Although neither of the two companies ultimately won the contract, the CCAC said the IC has a responsibility to promote and ensure fair competition in procurement procedures and prevent collusion among bidders.

The watchdog noted that the Public Procurement Law will take effect on Sept. 1, establishing the principle of fair competition in public procurement. Under the new law, members of a group of candidates or bidders may not participate as independent candidates or bidders in the same procurement procedure, nor may they belong to more than one candidate or bidder group.

Any groups, independent candidates or bidders involved in such violations will not be accepted or will be eliminated from the procurement procedure, the CCAC said.

The anti-graft body stressed that the IC must establish effective monitoring mechanisms to prevent bidders from engaging in improper practices.

Meanwhile, the bureau agreed with the CCAC’s recommendations and has since updated its internal guidelines. Under the revised procedures, bid-opening committee members must review the written commercial registration reports submitted by bidders and examine the composition of their administrative management bodies to determine whether there are signs of collusion.

The watchdog said the measures are intended to strengthen oversight and safeguard fairness and transparency in public procurement.