SOFIA, April 1, 2026 — Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has carried out on-site inspections at company offices as part of an investigation into a suspected cartel linked to public tenders for IT equipment.
The inspections form part of a probe into potential collusion in contracts for the supply, installation and maintenance of IT equipment. The searches were conducted with assistance from officers of the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria’s specialised police units and were authorised by the Administrative Court of Sofia Region.
According to the authority, the investigation concerns possible violations of national competition law and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, relating to prohibited agreements intended to manipulate public procurement procedures.
The suspected conduct involves bid-rigging, a form of cartel behaviour in which participants coordinate their bidding strategies to predetermine the outcome of tenders. Such practices can result in the misuse of public funds and reduced competition in procurement processes.
The case was launched following a complaint from the head of the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, which acts as a contracting authority in public procurement.
Before initiating the investigation, the competition authority conducted a preliminary review examining tenders between 2024 and 2026 in which the companies involved competed. The review uncovered indications that the companies may have coordinated their actions and influenced the selection of the winning bidder.
During the inspections, CPC officials have the authority to access and seize documents and records related to the companies’ activities, regardless of the storage format. Investigators are also using specialised forensic technology to recover and analyse digital evidence.
The authority said the material gathered during the inspections will be combined with existing evidence as part of the ongoing proceedings. A final decision will be issued once the investigation is completed.
Source: https://www.cpc.bg/news-490
