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ARTICLE · 03 DECEMBER 2012

Public Works Canada Bans Convicted Bid-Riggers From Future Bids (Even If They Were Leniency Recipients)

A recent change in the integrity policy of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (Public Works) has resulted in a prominent consulting firm being effectively banned from making future bids for services to the department.

CanadaAntitrust/Competition Law

A recent change in the integrity policy of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (Public Works) has resulted in a prominent consulting firm being effectively banned from making future bids for services to the department.

On July 30, 2012, Corporate Research Group Ltd. (CRG) pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of bid-rigging for real estate advisory services contracts with the federal government. It was fined $125,000. According to the Competition Bureau news release at the time, CRG and Louis Facchini, who ran First Porter Consultancy, had submitted coordinated bids under an agreement not disclosed to Public Works.

Under a "leniency exemption," Public Works had permitted firms operating under leniency programs, such as the Bureau's Leniency Program, to continue to act as suppliers. That has now changed.

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