The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has announced the start of a public consultation regarding a draft guidance document designed to assist public buyers in recognizing potential competition law violations, specifically bid-rigging throughout the lifecycle of public procurement procedures.

This guidance aims to provide practical recommendations and best practices to prevent anti-competitive conduct, thereby enhancing the integrity of public procurement processes. The BCA emphasizes the crucial role of public buyers in detecting unusual behaviors that may indicate collusion among bidders.

The draft guide outlines key stages of public procurement and suggests procedures for reporting suspected infringements, as well as options for informal exchanges with the BCA. The consultation is open until February 28, 2026, and contributions can be submitted via a dedicated email address.

This initiative is part of the BCA's broader strategy to raise awareness and foster cooperation with public buyers, who are seen as first-line actors in the fight against anti-competitive practices.