The announcement was made on the basis that the two companies have acknowledged having participated in illegal price fixing in the Trøndelag counties, said director of roads Terje Moe Gustavsen. If the companies choose to participate in this year's competitions in Trøndelag, the decision of any rejection will be taken after the offer deadline in late February, he said.
There are seven contracts for maintenance paving of highways and county roads in the areas are out for competition in 2012, with an asphalt volume of about 270,000t.
The legal basis for a possible rejection is a regulation stating that the client may reject suppliers that have been guilty of serious negligence against professional and ethical requirements of the industry.
“We fail to recognise that the basis for such a decision exists, and will therefore contest the decision," said Veidekke senior vice president communication Kai Krüger Henriksen. We will, however, study the content of the notification before making further statements."
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