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Lund University found in breach of regulations in checks on purchasing

The Swedish Competition Authority demands that Lund University pays a total of SEK 400,000 in procurement fines for four separate illegal direct awards of contract.

The Swedish Competition Authority has carried out an in-depth procurement review regarding Lund University. As a result of the investigation, the Swedish Competition Authority has today submitted four applications to the Administrative Court in Malmö with demands for procurement fines regarding illegal direct award of contracts.

In addition to these four illegal direct awards, the Swedish Competition Authority has also noted a large number of direct award of contracts made by different representatives in the organisation and that the university has not had overall control of its purchasing. The Swedish Competition Authority has also noted that many purchases have been made through verbal agreements, in spite of the law's requirements for documentation.

“It is important to follow the rules on procurement. When public purchasing is done without proper controls or without documentation, it is difficult to know whether the purchasing corresponds to the organisation's needs or to check the suppliers which are being used. It also increases the risk of corruption,” the Swedish Competition Authority Director General Rikard Jermsten says.

“The purpose of an in-depth procurement review of this type is to identify any breaches of regulations and to avoid future infringements. We also wish to explain to other contracting authorities how they can avoid being in breach of the rules.”

The Swedish Competition Authority has filed its applications to the Administrative Court in Malmö with the demand that Lund University is ordered to pay a total of SEK 400,000 in procurement fines regarding the purchase of messenger services (contract value approximately SEK three million), travel (SEK 637,000), building products (SEK 613,000) and conference services (SEK 954,000).

According to the Swedish Competition Authority, aggravating circumstance are at hand since several illegal direct awards were concluded during a limited period.

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Last updated: 2021-05-25

Press release30 august 2018