Competition Matters

Even the most diligent and astute public purchasing official has little chance of detecting bid-rigging and other forms of collusive agreements because perpetrators can be so adept at concealing them. One weapon to make public purchasers less susceptible is Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Partnership for Competitive Purchasing, a voluntary program for which any public entity in Ohio can register.

Bid-Rigging Scheme Affects Mobile Radio Purchases
 
Gatt Communications Inc., a vendor of commercial land mobile radios, has admitted to participating in a bid-rigging scheme that affected New York state and city agencies from 2005 to 2007.

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ Cooperative Purchasing Program offers Ohio counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, public libraries, regional park districts, and other political subdivisions the benefits and cost-savings of buying goods and services through state contracts.

Bid-rigging, price-fixing, and other antitrust violations by unscrupulous vendors can result in significant overcharges to public entities. With a few simple steps, however, you can help discourage anticompetitive activity and increase your chances of detecting it if it occurs:

We encourage you to suggest a topic or ask a question of the legal staff of the Ohio Attorney General’s Antitrust Section. Questions will be addressed in future issues of Competition Matters. (No individuals’ or organizations’ names will be published.) Please submit your questions or suggested topics to Karen Pierson at Karen.Pierson@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.

You can tailor the topics and timing of email communications from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/EmailUpdates.

Non-collusion affidavits serve some very valuable purposes, and as such, should be an integral part of every bid project file.

As public servants, we are called upon every day to do more with less and to get the most value possible for taxpayers’ dollars. Competition is one of our most effective tools in achieving these goals.