Independent experts have developed a tool to search for cartels and collusion in public procurement
Public procurement researchers created the Tenderscope project. This is a database and documentation from the Unified Information System in the field of procurement, which allows you to detect signs of cartels and collusion between customers and participants in procurement procedures.
The tool will be useful for activists and journalists involved in data processing and anti-corruption research.
On May 18 at 18:00 (Moscow time) a free online presentation of the project will take place. The creators of Tenderscope will show how the project works and how to use it to detect corruption schemes.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhmEcMlaxhSnlMsSBeY43IACtQ6jOiYuU4fxxZi7hItZrmrA/viewform
ABOUT THE PROJECT
For many years we have been analyzing state and municipal procurements. To make procurement more transparent, we conduct research and investigations, as well as offer governments options for systemic changes in legislation.
In the digital era, we consider it important to use new tools in the fight against corruption and fraud. At the intersection of understanding the schemes and methods used by unscrupulous customers and contractors, and modern technologies, our Tenderscope service appeared. It helps to identify purchases that have signs of collusion.
TENDER SCOP = CARTEL SCOP + META SCOP
All data contained in the service is downloaded from the official website of the Unified Procurement Information System (UIS), processed and formed into tables. We extract not only information from the documents themselves, but also information about the documents contained in them (metadata).
In other words, the Tenderscope is a “device” for monitoring public procurement, with the help of which it is possible to look for signs of collusion between the participants themselves (Kartelescope) and between participants and customers (Metascope).
Kartelescopecontains data that makes it possible to identify groups among procurement participants that have signs of cartels. One of the most common signs is the coincidence of contact details (email addresses and phone numbers) provided by suppliers when concluding a contract. With the help of the Kartelescope, it was already possible to detect signs of cartels, which were confirmed by the antimonopoly authorities. From January 1, 2022, the procurement legislation has been significantly changed: now only information about the winner of the tender with whom the contract is signed is disclosed in the EIS. For purchases that were made after this date, the service can no longer identify participation in the procedures of a stable group. However, as before, it is possible to identify bidders who provided identical contact details and analyze purchases,
Metascope contains digital traces of possible anti-competitive agreements between customers and winners ー participants in competitive procedures.
We proceed from the hypothesis that in case of vertical collusion, part of the procurement documentation (description of the procurement object, terms of reference, etc.) is prepared not by the customer, but by the person who colluded with him. There is alsopracticedetection of cartels, when the files of organizations allegedly competing with each other at the auction turn out to have the same author.
The metascope is arranged as follows: first, documents that are part of the procurement documentation are unloaded from the EIS, and already from these documents are extractedmetadata. You can view both the metadata of an individual purchase and the alleged relationships between specific customers and contractors.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE RECEIVED DATA
Signs of collusion detected by the Tenderscope may be circumstantial evidence of anti-competitive agreements. Together with other signs of collusion:
– the constant victory of the same participant,
– the victory of the participants in turn,
– no reduction in the initial price of the contract or a minimum reduction during the auction,
– excessive requirements for participants,
– short contract terms
and other signs –
they can serve as the basis for appeals to the control (supervisory) authorities.
