bid rigging
noun[U]
LAWukusillegalbehaviourbycompaniesthat arecompetingforworkin which they make asecretagreement, forexampletoincreasetheirpricesor tosharethework, inorderthat they bothgainfinancially:
TheOfficeof Fair Trading has todayformallyaccused112constructionfirmsinEnglandofparticipatinginbidrigging.
illegalbehaviourby two or morepeopleat anauction(=publicsale)in which theyagreenot tobidagainst each other