A BBC investigation has shone a light on the awarding of a ferry contract by the Scottish Government, which may have been rigged.
The investigation comes after the ferries were delayed by 5 years, and the final cost was significantly higher than the initial budget projected. In addition, an Audit Scotland report earlier this year found that the contract was given without the usual financial safeguards in place. The investigation found that during the bidding process, the firm which eventually won the contract was allowed to change the specificities of its bid during the process to make it more competitive. In addition, the winning bidder was the only firm allowed an in-person meeting with the Government-owned ferry agency, during the process.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said:
“The SNP must answer these shocking revelations. A leaked dossier suggests the disastrous ferry contract was rigged. Let’s hear it Nicola Sturgeon – who rigged this dodgy deal”
The investigation's findings will open up questions surrounding how fair the contracting process for Scottish Government projects is. A government that prioritises favourable political moves risks sacrificing wise economic decisions, and harms the quality of the final product – both of which should be prioritised when reviewing bids for projects. Unfair bidding processes can also stifle growth by limiting the willingness of governments to support new businesses seeking to gain contracts. The turbulent process of building the ferries themselves suggests that a lack of proper scrutiny during the bidding process allowed the ferry contract to be given to a company that was unprepared for the job at hand, which could have been avoided.
Overall, it is vital that the ferry contract scandal be appropriately investigated – if unfair bidding processes continue, it can create a culture where political decisions become influenced by contacts or stereotypes.