Rio de Janeiro audit suspends R$231 million radar contract over cartel suspicions

The Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (TCE‑RJ) halted payments on a R$231 million contract to install 390 electronic speed‑monitoring radars on state highways. The decision, signed by councilor Christiano Lacerda Ghuerren, was based on signs of overpricing and a lack of genuine competition. The awarded firms, Splice Indústria, Comércio e Serviços Ltda. and Perkons S.A., submitted bids that were virtually identical to the estimated budget, with discounts described as negligible and a difference of just one cent between the winning and runner‑up offers. The audit also noted that the state road agency (DER‑RJ) had prior knowledge of similar contracts priced far lower, suggesting possible collusion. TCE‑RJ gave DER‑RJ 15 days to clarify the parameters used in the tender. Perkons has said it has not yet been formally notified of the outcome.