'Price Collusion' PC Amgeoblock Manufacturer, Bid Participation Restriction Imposed

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Manufacturers of prefabricated reinforced concrete culvert blocks (PC culvert blocks) who colluded on prices to participate in public competitive bidding have been sanctioned with restrictions on bidding eligibility.

According to the Public Procurement Service on the 16th, five companies were caught, and these companies were found to have unfairly restricted competition by agreeing in advance on the winning bidder and bid prices during the two-stage competitive bidding of multiple supplier contracts from 2016 to 2018.

This issue was confirmed through an investigation by the Fair Trade Commission, and two companies will be barred from participating in public bids issued by national agencies and local governments for 12 months, while three companies will be barred for 3 months.

The PC culvert blocks that the companies participated in competitive bidding for are reinforced concrete blocks used as road culvert drainage channels or passages for vehicles and pedestrians, as well as for joint ducts, power ducts, and communication ducts.

Kim Eung-geol, Director of the Purchasing Business Bureau at the Public Procurement Service, stated, “We will continue to strictly respond to collusive acts that undermine fair competitive bidding in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.”

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