ARM ordered to pay penalty for bid rigging

The Federal Court has today ordered ARM Architecture to pay $900,000 and its former managing director, Anthony Allen, to pay a penalty of $75,000, for their attempts to rig bids for a building project tender at Darwin’s Charles Darwin University.

Mr Allen also agreed to say, as part of an educative notice:

“I made a very serious mistake by attempting to induce the other firms to engage in bid-rigging, and this has had serious consequences for me. I have lost my position, my reputation, and my involvement in a profession that I love. Do not do what I did. Learn from my mistakes. Whatever pressure you may be under, and whatever motivation you may have, do not attempt to induce others to engage in cartel conduct.”

Both ARM and Mr Allen admitted to attempting to induce other firms to engage in bid rigging.

View ACCC media release.