Nove Attorney Veikko Puolakainen has successfully represented Estonian bus company AS SEBE in a lawsuit related to the procurement of public buses in Harju County, Estonia, by MTU Pohja-Eesti Uhistranspordikeskus.
According to Nove, during the procurement procedure, "the Contracting Authority announced an additional tender for the award of a direct contract for the eastern bus service of Harju County, as the main procurement had become entangled in various court disputes and there was a risk of interruption of the regular service. The current carrier AS SEBE won the tender and was declared the successful bidder. The second best bidder, OU ATKO Liinid, contested the results of the competition."
According to the firm, "the Public Procurement Appeals Committee rejected the appeal due to the lack of a right of appeal. The appellant filed an appeal with the Tallinn Administrative Court, which terminated the proceedings due to the abandonment of the later appeal, as the direct agreement had already been concluded at the time the court was seised. The conclusion of the direct contract ensured the uninterrupted continuation of passenger transport in the eastern part of Harju County even in a situation where various disputes continued in the main procurement."