Closing of investigation No VIZSG/30/2023 – Nagydobsza projects

The Integrity Authority has concluded its investigation into project titled “Energy Modernisation of Joint Municipal Office Buildings in Nagydobsza”, project ID TOP-PLUSZ-2.1.1-21-BA1-2022-00019, as well as into certain tender procedures conducted under the EFOP-1.5.2-16, EFOP-1.5.3-16 (covering three projects under this programme), and TOP-5.3.1-16-BA1 schemes. These seven projects received a total of HUF 1.1 billion in European Union funds.

The Authority revealed that the implementation tasks in the TOP-Plus project, as well as the public procurement procedures for event organisation under the EFOP and TOP projects, were all awarded to the same company. In addition to the successful company being the same in each case, a common feature of the public procurement procedures was that the same individual acted as project manager, chair of the evaluation committee, and point of contact on behalf of the various contracting consortia – an individual who may have had a business relationship with the owner of the winning company.

According to the findings of the investigation, the individual involved may have contributed to the success of the winning company in the public procurement procedures, thereby violating the principle of fair competition and the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

In the case of the EFOP projects, the tender prices submitted in the successful tenders were almost always identical to, or only slightly different from, the estimated values, a pattern which – together with the aforementioned coincidences – suggests potential collusive practices.

In connection with four public procurement procedures conducted under EFOP projects, the Authority also found IT-related evidence raising suspicions about potential violation of fair competition and the rules of public procurement procedures.

Therefore, the Authority initiated remedy proceedings ex officio with the Public Procurement Arbitration Board in order to establish potential infringements in connection with the public procurement procedures conducted under the EFOP projects. The Arbitration Board has found infringements in all remedy proceedings initiated by the Authority, resulting in fines being imposed (Decision No D.222/20/2025., D.238/8/2025., D.243/18/2025. and D.304/23/2025.). These decisions are currently subject to review as part of ongoing administrative proceedings.