OREANDA-NEWS. December 09, 2009. Due to the absence of antimonopoly violations, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) closed the case against "Akrikhin" Chemical-and-Pharmaceutical Integrated Works" and "R-Pharm" CJSC, opened upon the signs of violating Clause 2 Part 1 Article 1 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (bid-rigging collusion), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

FAS Russia suspected that the companies engaged in collusion in an open auction organized on 15th April 2009 for supplies of TB medicines as part of the "Tuberculosis" Sub-Programme of the Federal Target Programme "Prevention and Control of Socially Important Diseases (2007-2011)".

The FAS Russia's Commission found it impossible to make a decision on the fact of antimonopoly violation without direct evidence of collusion.

Nevertheless, FAS Russia established that initial contract price did not account for the actual cost of aminosalicylic acid, tablets 1.0 gr. No. 500, which is over than 4.5 times less than the contract price, and it resulted in inefficient disbursing of state budget.

According to the adopted decision, FAS will forward the case file to the Ministry of Health Care and Social Development of the Russian Federation and to the Economic Security Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation to make decisions in accordance with their scope of reference.

Reference:
The antimonopoly authorities revealed multiple facts of bid-rigging collusions.

On 6th October 2009, the Altai Regional Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (OFAS Russia) established the fact of collusion between eight bidders for vegetables supply.

On 14th October 2009, the Tyumen OFAS Russia pronounced big-rigging collusion "SibUniversal" Production Commercial Firm" Ltd. and "Atlantis" Ltd. As a result of the actions of the bidders, the auction brought minimum saving to the Tyumen regional budget. The government contracts were signed at the price only 0.5 % below the initial maximum price.

On 2nd November 2009, the Sverdlovsk OFAS Russia pronounced that bribing of the auction bidders by the auction winner constituted collusion and issued a determination to "Agroremstroi" Ltd., "Monoplitstroi" Ltd. and "SPSMU-30" Ltd. to prevent further concerted actions preventing companies participation in competitive bidding.