The Polish competition authority (UOKiK), along with the OECD and the European Commission, organized a two-day workshop aimed at public procurement officials to address the issue of bid rigging. The event took place on October 7 and 8, focusing on how to design tenders that minimize the risk of collusion among bidders.

Participants analyzed real-life cases and learned to recognize warning signs of collusion, which can undermine competition and lead to higher prices and lower quality offers. The workshop included discussions on the exclusion of contractors from proceedings and the associated risks and challenges.

Experts from UOKiK, OECD, and the European Commission, along with representatives from competition authorities in the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Latvia, and Portugal, shared insights on the various forms of bid rigging and strategies to prevent it. Tools such as checklists were provided to help participants identify potential collusion signals.

Additionally, on October 9, a separate workshop for judges and adjudicators was held to enhance the effectiveness of judicial control in combating bid rigging. This initiative is part of a broader project aimed at improving the detection and reporting of bid rigging across several European countries, funded by the European Union.