Romanian Min: Cos Excessively Contesting Auctions Will Be Downrated At Future Auctions

„It has become customary to challenge auctions. We want companies excessively challenging the ministry’s auctions to be donwrated at future auctions and we shall definitely do that,” said Udrea at the Mediafax Talks about Construction conference.

Udrea also said most auction challenges are meant to help the respective companies get hold of material benefits from auction winners.

Udrea stressed she knows very well that auctions have turned into profitable deals whereby certain companies are willing to drop auction challenges in exchange for money from auction winners.

She added auction challenges lead to „endless extensions” of deadlines for the finalization of projects, which can go down to drain if financed with European Union funds.

In October 2009, Romanian President Traian Basescu said Romania is working on harsh measures to discourage contractors from contesting public procurement auctions they don’t win and thus block public infrastructure works.

In 2009, the Romanian authorities amended the public procurement legislation twice, following talks with European Commission experts, in order to simplify auction proceedings.

Prime Minister Emil Boc has recently said the Romanian government plans to amend public procurement laws again, in order to simplify and make auction proceedings highly transparent.