Collusion among contractors to fix which contractor will be awarded a contract is called what?

Collusion among contractors to determine which contractor will be awarded a contract is referred to as bid rigging. This practice involves an agreement between multiple contractors to manipulate the bidding process to eliminate competition and control the outcome of the contract award. Typically, in a bid rigging scenario, contractors might agree to rotate winning bids, submit artificially high proposals to ensure one contractor wins, or simply agree not to compete for certain contracts. These actions distort the competitive nature of bidding and can lead to higher costs for the project owner, as the bids do not reflect true market conditions.

Understanding bid rigging is crucial in the context of the construction industry because it not only violates ethical standards but also legal regulations. Entities engaged in such practices can face serious penalties, including fines and criminal charges, as they undermine fair competition and can damage the integrity of the entire bidding process.