On 7 and 8 October 2026, a two-day workshop on combating bid rigging was held at the seat of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). The event was organized in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission, with the participation of representatives from public institutions in Poland, the European Union, and Central and Western European countries. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss methods for identifying signals suggesting illegal coordination of offers, as well as practical strategies for reducing the risk of collusion at the public procurement preparation stage.
International exchange of experience
The event gathered experts from key institutions involved in the public procurement market. Participants included representatives of UOKiK, OECD, the Directorate-General for Competition in the European Commission (DG COMP), and the Public Procurement Office. The special character of the workshops was highlighted by the participation of competition authorities from the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Latvia, and Portugal. Such a diverse group of experts allowed for the analysis of specific cases and the comparison of practices applied in different jurisdictions.
Tools and practice
Participants did not limit themselves to theoretical lectures but actively worked on real-world scenarios. A key element was simulations and group work based on checklists prepared by the OECD. These tools serve to detect warning signals that may indicate the existence of a cartel. Experts analyzed how the preparation of a tender affects the level of competition among contractors and how to design the procedure to minimize the risk of illegal agreements.
Legal issues were also discussed, including the principles for excluding contractors from proceedings and the related risks and challenges. Representatives of UOKiK presented procedures for reporting suspicions of collusion and mechanisms for cooperation with competition authorities. The discussion focused on how contracting authorities and law enforcement agencies can more effectively respond to collusion signals in practice.
Follow-up for case law
Immediately after the conclusion of the main event, on 9 October 2026, additional workshops aimed at judges and adjudicators of the National Appeals Chamber (KIO) were organized. The meeting, titled "Strengthening the effectiveness of judicial review in combating bid rigging," aimed to improve the quality of legal assessment in the context of proceedings before the KIO.
The entire set of activities is part of a broader project titled "Strengthening the detectability of bid rigging and reporting in the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, and Portugal." This initiative is financed by the European Union under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and is implemented in cooperation with the Task Force on Reforms and Investments and the Directorate-General for Competition. The project assumes the exchange of best practices and supports member states in building the resilience of the public procurement system to anti-competitive practices.