Hired an expert in procurement - then the municipality broke the procurement rules

The tours around school buses and transport services in Älmhult municipality have been long and the tone high.

Several courts have rejected the municipality's procurements because they did not go right.

In 2018, Älmhult municipality therefore enlisted the help of a consulting company - which will be experts in procurement - but SVT's review shows that the use of procurement consultants has also violated the procurement rules.

Cost more than allowed

The procurement consultants Colligio were hired in April 2018 through a so-called direct procurement, which a municipality may use at smaller costs.

At that time, the cost ceiling was SEK 586,907.

- The regulations exist to ensure that our common money is used as responsibly as possible, says Erika Hanses, lawyer at the Procurement Authority.

But the bus procurement was appealed, rejected in court and had to be redone.

Despite the fact that the agreement with the consultants only applied for 2018, and the schedule had to be exceeded by ten percent, the municipality continued to use the consultants throughout 2019 and 2020.

In addition, the municipality has paid out SEK 667,618 - almost SEK 100,000 more than the rules allowed.

Who made the decision?

Most of the invoices in 2019 and 2020 are certified by planning manager Paul Robertsson.

He also approved the invoices that went over the statutory ceiling.

- We focused on solving the business issue.

That is the number one priority.

But of course we will try to stay within the raw marks for laws and regulations, and it is unfortunate that we did not do it in this case, says Paul Robertsson to SVT.

When SVT points out that the agreement with the consultants only applied until 2018, Paul Robertsson refers to a wording in the contract - that they should be

in appeals.

But they redo the whole procurement?

- We made the assessment that it was the faster way.

But was it allowed?

- I can not answer that question honestly.

That was the interpretation I made.

Right or wrong is up to others to decide, he says.

SVT has for a week tried to get an interview with the municipal board chairman Elizabeth Peltola (C) about her views on the matter, but she has chosen not to stand for an interview.

Soon, the Supreme Administrative Court will decide whether the procurement of travel services and school buses must be redone from the beginning - again.

In August, Älmhult's politicians will decide whether to give up the attempts to procure school transport themselves - and instead participate in the region's joint procurement, according to Smålandsposten.