Trading standards body will announce action on construction bid-rigging enquiry in third quarter of 2009

The Office of Fair Trading has delayed its decision on what action to take over its bid-rigging enquiry until as late as September.

It had previously indicated it would make an announcement of any fines over its investigation into cover-pricing and bid-rigging in June.

A spokesman for the organisation said: 鈥淲e can confirm the OFT now expects to issue a final decision on the enquiry in the third quarter of 2009.鈥�

The spokesman declined to explain why the decision had been delayed, saying it was a 鈥渃omplex, ongoing investigation.鈥�

Last April the OFT accused 112 construction companies of being involved in various bid-rigging activities, primarily cover pricing, where companies put up a fake bid for work they don't want to win in order to please potential clients. Nine firms were accused of making 鈥渃ompensation payments鈥� to unsuccessful tenderers.

Under UK law the OFT can fine firms up to 10% of their annual turnover for breaches of the 1998 Competition Act.

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