The Sarajevo-based company PPG has requested an independent review of the tender process for selecting the consultant for the second section of the highway. One day before the contract signing, two of the three consortium members, which included PPG, withdrew their bids. The general director of one of those companies joined a competing consortium, and a current director at Monteput previously served as executive director of the company that ultimately won the contract. These facts raise suspicions, prompting PPG to call for a thorough investigation.
Monteput recently signed a consultancy contract for the second section of the highway from Mateševo to Andrijevica with the consortium Safege, which was the second-ranked bidder under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) procurement rules. This happened after two companies from the initially first-ranked consortium—Roughton International Ltd. (UK) and Roughton ECA d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina)—withdrew their offers just before contract signing. PPG remained the only company from that original consortium still standing by its offer.
During the tender process, the general director of Roughton was hired by one of the companies in the winning Safege consortium, which includes Safege Belgrade, SUEZ Consulting France, and SBCC Cetinje. Additionally, a current Monteput director was previously executive director at SBCC Cetinje about three and a half years ago. PPG considers these circumstances suspicious and believes they warrant investigation, while Monteput insists the procedure complied with all legal regulations.
PPG stated that their offer was fully prepared according to EBRD procurement rules and that they did not withdraw. They hold Roughton International solely responsible for the withdrawal, which occurred unilaterally and without consultation or valid reason, despite a signed Joint Venture Agreement obliging the consortium partners to jointly proceed and sign if selected. PPG confirmed they met all tender and contractual obligations and remained ready to sign with Monteput.
The government had approved signing an agreement with the British-Bosnian consortium for 2.27 million euros shortly before the contract was signed. The contract with Safege is valued at 2.4 million euros. PPG also highlighted information suggesting the general director of Roughton was hired by a company now part of the selected consortium.
