World Bank debars units of French water treatment company
The World Bank
Wednesday debarred two subsidiaries of Paris-based Veolia Water Technologies for “fraudulent and collusive practices” involving a project in Colombia.
France’s OTV
was debarred for two years
Veolia Water Technologies Brasil Ltda
was debarred for one year.
Both are ineligible to participate in World Bank-financed projects during the debarments.
OTV
engaged in fraudulent practices by failing to disclose fees paid to commercial agents during the tender prequalification and bidding processes, and the agents assisted the company in obtaining confidential information, the World Bank said.
OTV and VWT Brasil
also worked with one of the agents and attempted to “improperly influence the tendering requirements” and engage in collusive practices that are prohibited by the World Bank’s procurement guidelines.
The $410 million
Río Bogotá Environmental Recuperation and Flood Control Project in Colombia
was designed to improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and create multi-functional areas along the river.
The FCPA Blog
French and Brazilian subsidiaries of Veolia Water Technologies debarred from World Bank projects