While the digitization of government is an issue, whether a situation called "vendor lock-in", in which a specific IT company continues to contract and it becomes difficult for other companies to enter, has led to antitrust problems, the Fair Trade Commission Has begun investigating government agencies.
"Vendor lock-in" is a situation in which, as a result of the information system having its own specifications, only the IT company that introduced it can perform repairs and maintenance, making it difficult for other companies to enter the market.
Vendor lock-in has pointed out the problem that specific companies continue to receive orders in contracts of government agencies that lack specialized human resources, and solving it is a major issue in advancing digitalization. ..
Against this backdrop, the Japan Fair Trade Commission has begun a survey of information system contracts from this month, targeting a total of 1800 government agencies, including central ministries and agencies, all prefectures and municipalities.
In addition to the administrative system and contract status, we will conduct questionnaires and interviews to find out if there are any problems under the Antimonopoly Act, such as whether the company is seeking specifications that only the company can handle.
Regarding this issue, the Board of Audit said last month that 94% of the competitive bidding for system repairs conducted by each ministry and agency in 2018 was "one-party bidding," in which only one company participated. He points out that it is necessary to ensure competitiveness.
Professor Shigeki Kusunoki of the Faculty of Law, Sophia University, who is familiar with public works contracts, said, "In the past, collusion was a big issue, but now in the field of information systems, the concern that a specific company will monopolize is the focus. It is necessary to create a mechanism that allows entry, and it is important to understand technical issues. "