The Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights announced the results of inspections conducted in the field of public procurement. This was reported by Upl.uz.
During these inspections, illegal activities exceeding 4.3 billion soums were identified. Investigations conducted across the country revealed systemic problems related to violations of the principles of fair competition and transparency.
In the Republic of Karakalpakstan, serious violations were found in a tender organized by the Kung'rat sanatorium, part of the "Uzbekistan Railways" joint-stock company, involving a contract worth 654 million soums. As a result of measures taken by the committee, the contract was canceled and an administrative fine was imposed on the procurement organizer.
In Andijan region, two procurement processes by the local phthisiatric sanatorium were inspected. Violations of legal procedures were found in lots totaling 270 million soums.
An official warning was issued to the customer, and the responsible person’s case was sent to court. In Bukhara region, in a 440 million soums tender for food supply, it was found that the selection commission gave preference to participants who did not fully meet qualification requirements, and a mandatory instruction was issued to the customer.
In Navoi region, the preschool and school education department of Gazgan city put two companies with the same founder into a tender for food procurement worth 41.2 million soums. This constitutes a violation of competition law.
Cases were opened against both companies. Additionally, the city landscaping department was accused of unfairness in the evaluation of equipment procurement worth 63 million soums.
An anti-competitive agreement was identified between BRIGHT LAND company and its competitor, resulting in a substantial financial penalty imposed on BRIGHT LAND. In Kashkadarya region, violations were found in the evaluation criteria of participants’ proposals in four tenders worth 70 million soums conducted by the Kashanskiy district branch of the Uzbekistan Neighborhoods Association.
Documents for administrative liability were sent to court against the responsible person. In Samarkand region, seven tenders worth 2.6 billion soums conducted through the etender.uzex.uz electronic platform revealed participation of two affiliated legal entities, which artificially created an advantage and eliminated genuine competition, leading to financial penalties imposed by the court.
In Syrdarya region, three public procurements of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, totaling 62 million soums, were inspected. As a result, a case was opened, instructions were given to eliminate violations, and materials were submitted to the relevant authorities.
In Tashkent region, it was found that FOROFFICE and FULL-MIX companies submitted bids from the same IP address in a 271 million soums tender conducted by the "Uzbekcoal" joint-stock company, and they were fined.
Committee representatives emphasized that the Law "On Competition" requires strict adherence to the principles of equality and fairness in public procurement.
Manipulating tender results, participation of affiliated persons, or anti-competitive agreements are strictly prohibited. Globally, artificial intelligence-based systems are widely used to combat violations in public procurement.
These systems analyze millions of transactions in real-time, enabling the detection of suspiciously low prices, "one-day" companies, or invisible connections between participants. This serves to ensure transparency and legality in public procurement.
