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Guide to Combating Corruption & Fraud in Infrastructure Development Projects

  • Detection
    • Complaints
      • General initial interview questions
      • How to Generate Complaints and Reports
      • List of fraud reporting sites for Multilateral Development Banks
    • Red Flags
      • Red Flags Listed by Project Cycle
      • “Visible red flags” of Implementation Fraud
      • Proactive Fraud Detection Tests
    • Due Diligence
      • “Top Five” Due Diligence Background Checks
      • Free and Subscription Internet Sites
      • Local and On-Site Due Diligence Checks
      • Due Diligence Service Providers
  • Proof
    • Proving Common Schemes
      • Corruption Schemes
      • Bid Rigging Schemes
      • Collusive Bidding Schemes
      • Fraud Schemes
      • The Basic Steps of a Complex Fraud and Corruption Investigation
    • Elements of Proof for Sanctionable Offenses
      • Elements of Proof of Corrupt Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Obstructive Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Coercive Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Collusive Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Fraudulent Practices
  • Evidence
    • The Basics of Evidence for Investigators
  • Prevention
    • Anti-fraud Resources
Home » Detection » Red Flags of Corruption, Bid Rigging and Other Schemes » Red Flag: Short or Inadequate Notice to Bidders

Red Flag: Short or Inadequate Notice to Bidders

Project officials deliberately can fail to provide adequate notice for companies to prepare bids or proposals in order to benefit a favored bidder, often as the result of corruption.  In such cases the favored bidder is given advance notice of the procurement and adequate time and information to prepare its bid.

Inadequate notice can include:

  • Publishing the notice during a holiday period, limiting the time available to prepare bids;
  • Refusing to grant reasonable requests for extension of time to prepare bids or proposals;
  • Limiting the notice to small, local publications or other publications of   limited circulation;
  • Providing insufficient information in the published notices, e.g., failing to state the time and place to submit bids;
  • Holding pre-bid conferences too close to the bid due date to permit modifications to bids;
  • Failing to provide notice of changes to the bid specifications to all bidders;
  • Failing to provide any notice at all, and preparing fictitious ad copy to conceal the scheme.

This red flag can indicate the following schemes:

  • Excluding qualified bidders
  • Corruption

Click on the schemes listed above to see more information on each scheme, a more complete listing of their red flags and steps to determine if the schemes are actually present.

Category: Red Flags of Corruption, Bid Rigging and Other Schemes

International Anti-Corruption
Resource Center

Washington, DC
info@iacrc.org

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