An investigation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) has raised concerns regarding irregularities in the awarding of several public procurement contracts across four cultural institutions funded by the Culture Ministry. The contracts, totaling nearly EUR 5 million, cover renovations and architectural supervision for facilities including the Aleko Konstantinov State Satirical Theatre and the National Educational Complex for Culture (NUKK) in Sofia. ACF legal expert Daniela Peneva reported that an analysis of the tender procedures revealed multiple violations.
The review found that in five of the eight contracts examined, the successful bidders lacked the required recent project experience. Furthermore, procedural flaws were noted, such as an instance where a committee disqualified candidates for non-compliance after price proposals had already been opened. The investigation highlighted significant conflicts of interest among the winning entities, which included Crypto Energy EOOD, Multi Stroi Comers EOOD, and D&D OOD.
Multiple public records established links between these firms, including shared addresses and personnel associated with Petar Dyulgerov. A critical finding involved internal communication concerning the Satirical Theatre contract. ACF noted an email dated May 16, 2024, where an external expert sent sensitive internal contract documentation to the director, project manager, and the eventual contractor, Crypto Energy EOOD, at least six days before the contract was announced.
ACF stated this suggests a violation of the principle of equal treatment
Topics: #public #procurement #contracts
It’s concerning to hear that public funds for cultural institutions might be entangled in procurement irregularities.