(Construction of a water supply system. PHOTO: restoration.gov.ua)
In Odesa region, two tenders for the construction of water pipelines worth more than UAH 4 billion have encountered problems. One project was canceled due to violations, and the other - after considering a complaint to the AMCU - is moving forward with the auction.
This was reported by Intent with reference to the Prozorro procurement system.
At the end of October 2025, the Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service in Odesa Oblast announced two tenders for the construction of group water pipelines for agricultural water supply in the region. The first one concerned the construction of the Suvorov group water pipeline, which was estimated at UAH 2.679 billion. The second was for the construction of the Bolhrad water supply system, valued at UAH 1.578 billion . Both projects were to be completed by September 2, 2027.
SCREENSHOT: Prozorro
The contractor was to carry out construction and installation work in stages, and payment was to be made for the actual volumes completed in accordance with the KB-2 and KB-3 acts. A bank guarantee in the amount of 1% of the contract value was also required.
The tender documentation provided for the construction of new pipelines, surface leveling and a range of engineering works necessary to ensure a stable water supply to agricultural farms in the region. The deadline for submitting bids for both procedures was November 11, 2025, and the auctions were scheduled for November 12.
However, the procurement for the Suvorov water pipeline was canceled. Prozorro states that the client was unable to eliminate violations of the law identified during the procurement procedure, which is why the tender had to be canceled.
Problems also arose with the second tender - for the construction of the Bolhrad water supply system. The only bidder who submitted a proposal and expressed a desire to compete for the UAH 1.578 billion contract was Avtomagistral-Pivden. On November 7, 2025, the company filed a complaint with the Antimonopoly Committee, claiming discriminatory requirements in the tender documents.
SCREENSHOT: Prozorro
In the complaint, the contractor stated that on November 1, 2025, it had asked the client to eliminate the requirements that make it impossible for companies to participate in the bidding. In particular, Avtomagistral-Pivden asked to remove the requirement to provide a certificate of readiness for a similar facility for operation. The company explained that obtaining such a document depends on the previous customer, and the warranty periods of contracts usually last at least five years after the facility is put into operation. Instead, the contractor offered to confirm the experience with feedback on the proper performance of work.
The complainant also emphasized that instead of simplifying the conditions, the client added another requirement - to provide a scanned copy of the feedback on the full implementation of the contract and 100% readiness of the facility for operation.
In response, the client stated that the absence of a certificate did not indicate that the bidder had performed similar work, but only confirmed that the facility had not been completed and put into operation. In addition, the Restoration Service noted that the complainant himself had recognized the need to put the facility into operation, and therefore, his claims were groundless. The customer also noted that after filing the complaint, the company added additional files that were not contained in the original complaint.
SCREENSHOT: Prozorro
The Antimonopoly Committee reviewed the complaint of Avtomagistrali-Pivden and decided to dismiss it. The agency noted that the company has the right to appeal this decision in court.
Despite the filed complaint, the auction for the construction of the Bolhrad Group Water Supply System was not canceled. The auction is scheduled to take place on November 27, 2025. After that, it will become known who will receive the contract worth UAH 1.578 billion.
Also, as part of the modernization of the city's drainage system and protection of areas from flooding during heavy rains, the capital construction department of Odesa City Council is continuing to overhaul the main Novoarkadiyskyi collector. The estimated cost of the work exceeds UAH 222 million.
Анна Літман