The Anti-Corruption Agency is constantly studying information about upcoming public procurements placed by government customers in the electronic public procurement system through a special information portal.

In January 2023, ministries and departments conducted 77,007 public procurements worth 3.05 trillion soums. Of these, 20,969 purchases in the amount of 169.8 billion soums were made through electronic stores, 725 purchases in the amount of 8.41 billion soums through electronic auctions, 932 purchases in the amount of 126.5 billion soums by selecting the best offer, one purchase in the amount of 26. 38 billion soums through a tender, 27,367 purchases worth 1.86 trillion soums from single suppliers, and 27,013 purchases worth 857.57 billion soums through direct contracts.

Studies have revealed cases of violation of the law by some government customers in the implementation of public procurement.

In particular, in January 2023, the Agency sent 12 statutory notices to customers to eliminate the facts of violations of the law for a total of 5.4 billion soums and prevent similar cases in the future, as well as the collected materials were sent to law enforcement agencies for legal assessment.

For example, the study of the information about the selection of the best offer for the purchase of an ultrasound therapy device worth 625 million soums by order of the Samarkand Regional Branch of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Cardiology, revealed a violation of the law, establishing that business entities owned by affiliates participated in the public procurement, one of which won.

Also, when studying the information about the selection of the best offer for the purchase of a ‘modern’ bus in the amount of 950 million soums by order of the Nurobod District Department of the Youth Affairs Agency, it was found that business entities owned by affiliates participated in this public procurement, and one of them became the winner.

When studying the information about the outsourcing service for the delivery of food products in the amount of 150 million soums by order of the Mirzacho’l District Medical Association, it was found that business entities owned by affiliates participated in this public procurement, one of which became the winner.

In all cases, the requirements of Article 23 of the Public Procurement Law and Article 14 of the Competition Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan were violated.

The Agency sent statutory notices and requests to the relevant organizations, following which 9 public procurements were canceled and three administrative cases were initiated.

The Anti-Corruption Agency