London, January 29, 2026 — The UK authority has expanded its investigation into suspected bid-rigging in the supply of roofing and other construction services, updating the scope of an ongoing case and adding additional parties under investigation.
The probe, opened in December 2024, concerns alleged anti-competitive arrangements relating to contracts for roofing and construction services supplied to schools and other public and private sector bodies. The investigation initially focused on projects linked to schools eligible for funding under the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).
In January 2026, the authority broadened the scope of the investigation beyond CIF-funded projects to cover roofing and construction services supplied more generally to schools, as well as to other public and private sector customers.
Alleged bid-rigging conduct
According to the authority, it has reason to suspect that several companies — including building contractors and technical advisers — may have colluded to rig bids, particularly in relation to roofing contracts. The alleged conduct includes coordination between suppliers designed to suppress or distort competitive tendering outcomes.
As part of the investigation, the authority has carried out unannounced inspections at multiple business premises to gather physical and digital evidence. It has also worked closely with the Department for Education in connection with the case.
The authority stressed that no conclusions have been reached and that no assumption should be made at this stage that the law has been infringed.
Enforcement context
The CIF allocates substantial public funding each year to improve the condition and safety of school buildings, including projects addressing structural integrity, health and safety and regulatory compliance. The authority said public procurement is particularly vulnerable to anti-competitive behaviour and remains a key enforcement focus.
Probe Timeline
The authority has allocated till end of 2026 to conduct further investigation, including additional evidence gathering, analysis and review. The CMA said further updates will be published on its case page as the investigation progresses.
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