Procurement
Manipulating tenders, false invoices, conflicts, collusion, bribery, overcharging, and misuse
Procurement is a process where goods and services from external sources are found, negotiated for, acquired, and paid for. The Council uses the procurement process for all sorts of things like regular stationary orders, maintenance contracts, or building services.
Examples of procurement Fraud:
- Influencing the tender process for a personal gain
- Submitting false or duplicated invoices
- Knowingly failing to declare a conflict of interest
- Colluding with others where all agree not to bid competitively for a contract which could ensure the Council overpays for goods and services, or price fixing to secure business and maximise profit margins
- Overcharging or inflating invoices or claims, or making claims for work not done
- Supplying inferior products or service but charging for higher cost products that were actually specified and budgeted for
- Price fixing by contractors
- Employees taking bribes to agree a contract, to influence the tender process, or favour one business, service, person over another
- A business deliberately omitting extra costs on a tender or quotation
- Buying stock or equipment using the Council funds and using them for personal use
