Recently, the Antitrust Division issued a press release touting the opening of several criminal investigations across the United States involving the government procurement process:
“Over a third of the Antitrust Division’s open investigations relate to conduct affecting public procurement that cheats the American taxpayer out of scarce resources, and the PCSF marks an important effort to better marshal enforcement resources to tackle these cases. Several grand jury investigations across the country have already been opened as a result of the work of the PCSF. The PCSF also remains on high-alert for collusion and other criminal schemes impacting public procurement related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
On June 16, 2020, while addressing the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Competition Committee, which brings together the competition authorities of 38 countries, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Antitrust Division announced, “We hope the Strike Force can serve as a model for other countries looking for innovative ways to more effectively fight bid rigging and other anticompetitive schemes that impact public procurement, and cheat taxpayers, all over the world.”
Clearly, the DOJ is targeting both domestic and foreign commerce to expose illegal collusion between competitors, affecting the price of essential goods for consumers and the awarding of government contracts related to those goods. The PCSF is focusing on price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation, and price gouging in the medical, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and military defense industries.
If you find yourself in the crosshairs of a federal, state, or local government investigation or a victim of anti-competitive conduct, please contact the experienced attorneys at Dysart Willis Houchin & Hubbard, who specialize in the representation of individuals or companies involving antitrust violations around the globe.