Procurement Violations Left €22.5 Million Worth of Procedures in Limbo

Five public procurement procedures with a combined value of €22.5 million were marred by numerous violations. These irregularities were detailed by Democracy Plus (D+) in a report titled “The Cost of Unfinished Procedures: Repeated Re-evaluations and the Absence of Contracts.”

The report’s data were obtained by monitoring procedures conducted by the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation (MINTI), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MPB) and the Ministry of Health (MSh). According to the document, the practices identified led to prolonged procedures, their cancellation or failure to conclude contracts.

A statement said that one of the main problems identified was the improper appointment of members to evaluation committees. In addition, new grounds for excluding economic operators were presented only at the review stage, while operators offering abnormally low prices were recommended for contracts without a complete and documented analysis. The findings also include the unjustified shortening of statutory deadlines for submitting bids.

The document also highlights procurement procedures that remained blocked for more than two years, despite repeated decisions by the Procurement Review Body (OShP). As a result, the implementation of contracts was delayed, negatively affecting the efficiency of public spending.

Based on these findings, D+ is calling on contracting authorities to appoint evaluation committees in accordance with the law and to apply the principle of legal certainty when handling requests for review. The organization also recommends the proper assessment of abnormally low bids, ensuring transparency and proportionality in procurement, and completing procedures within statutory deadlines through the effective implementation of OShP decisions.