Daily procurement news · 24 September 2026 · Episode 3

Latvia makes bid rigging a crime, and Romania tenders an €80m hospital

Four signals: Latvia makes cartel formation in public procurement a criminal offence, Romania tenders an €80m hospital in Buftea, Lithuania shows both ends of the spectrum with social criteria and a small-value loophole, and Kenya faces questions over an opaque 26 billion shilling maize tender.

In this episode

1. Latvia makes cartel formation in public procurement a criminal offence

   The Saeima adopted amendments making cartel formation in public procurement a criminal offence. Bid rigging moves from the competition authority to the prosecutors.

   • LSM: Apstiprināti likuma grozījumi par kriminālatbildību par karteļiem publiskajos iepirkumos

2. Romania tenders an €80m obstetrics and gynaecology hospital in Buftea

   An €80m contract for the construction of a new obstetrics and gynaecology hospital in Buftea, near Bucharest, is out to tender.

   • Economedia: Contract de 80 milioane euro pentru noul Spital de Obstetrică-Ginecologie Buftea

3. Lithuania: social criteria praised, and 249 contracts signed through a loophole

   The Open Contracting Partnership published how Lithuania integrated social criteria into procurement. The same day, one company was reported to have signed at least 249 small-value contracts without declaring a conviction.

   • Open Contracting Partnership: How Lithuania integrated social criteria into public procurement
   • 15min: Nedeklaravusi teistumo „MG grupė“ sudarė mažiausiai 249 sutartis

4. Kenya: questions over an opaque 26 billion shilling maize import tender

   Questions over an opaque import tender for maize worth 26 billion shillings after a private firm secured a state food contract with little public information.

   • The Standard: Sh26 billion maize mystery

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