Fact-Finding Survey on Measures Taken by Procuring Agencies to Prevent Bid Rigging Involving Procurement Officials (FY2026)

April 27, 2026
Japan Fair Trade Commission

Ⅰ. Purpose of the Survey

　Bid rigging is a typical example of unreasonable restraint of trade prohibited by the Antimonopoly Act and is one of the most malicious violations of the Antimonopoly Act. Bid rigging and so-called “bid rigging involving procurement officials,” in which officials of procuring agencies, such as the national government and local governments, are involved in bid rigging, harm the interests of procuring agencies and, by extension, the interests of the public as taxpayers. Such acts must never be tolerated.

　The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has been vigorously pursuing efforts to detect bid rigging and has taken strict action under the Act on Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. and Punishments for Acts by Employees that Harm Fairness of Bidding, etc. (the “Act”), when cases of bid rigging involving procurement officials have been identified. In addition, in order to prevent bid rigging and bid rigging involving procurement officials, the JFTC has held training sessions on the Antimonopoly Act and the Act throughout Japan for officials of procuring agencies. The JFTC has also dispatched its officials to serve as instructors at training sessions organized by procuring agencies and other organizations for their staff. Furthermore, from the viewpoint that organizational measures taken by each procuring agency are extremely important for preventing bid rigging and bid rigging involving procurement officials, the JFTC has been conducting fact-finding surveys on measures taken by procuring agencies to prevent such conduct.
　However, there have been cases in which officials of procuring agencies were identified as having been involved in bid rigging, etc., and the JFTC required the procuring agencies concerned to take corrective measures.
　In addition, cases of obstruction of bidding, etc. by officials, which fall under Article 8 of the Act, continue unabated.
　In light of this situation, as part of its support for compliance initiatives within procuring agencies, the JFTC has conducted, for the first time in eight years since its 2018 survey, a fact-finding survey of the national government and local governments, etc. on prevention of bid rigging involving procurement officials. The JFTC has now compiled a report summarizing the identified challenges and the key points of future measures.

Ⅱ. Results of the Survey

　An English summary of the survey report is available.

Ⅲ. Actions of the JFTC

1. In order to prevent bid rigging involving procurement officials, etc., the JFTC will continue to vigorously pursue the detection of bid rigging, etc., and will take strict actions based on the Act when cases of involvement of procurement officials in bid rigging are identified.

2. To provide practical guidance for procuring agencies in their efforts to prevent bid rigging involving procurement officials, the JFTC has published support materials such as the “Checklist for Preventing Bid Rigging Involving Procurement Officials” and the “List of Measures to Prevent Bid Rigging Involving Procurement Officials” (both in Japanese). Furthermore, the JFTC provides consultations on prevention measures and dispatches instructors to training sessions designed to educate procuring agencies on legal frameworks and preventative knowledge. The JFTC remains committed to actively supporting the compliance initiatives of all procuring agencies.

Fact-Finding Survey on Measures Taken by Procuring Agencies to Prevent Bid Rigging Involving Officials (FY2026) pdfダウンロード (163 KB)

Fact-Finding Survey Report on Measures Taken by Procuring Agencies to Prevent Bid Rigging Involving Officials (FY2026)(Summary) pdfダウンロード (138 KB)