We successfully represented IQVIA, a leading global provider in the field of life sciences, in two public procurement disputes regarding North Estonia Medical Centre’s (PERH) decision to disqualify and exclude IQVIA.
The cases are notable because, in Estonian public procurement, errors of this kind (concerning who should be regarded as the correct applicant) have not previously led to positive outcomes in dispute proceedings.
Human error with the public procurement portal
PERH launched a public tender to procure a new electronic hospital information system for its hospital group, with an estimated contract value of EUR 10 million. The tender attracted global interest.
Due to an unfortunate human error, IQVIA submitted its application via the procurement portal under the account of the wrong IQVIA group company. As a result, PERH believed that the application was submitted by an unqualified IQVIA group company and disqualified IQVIA.
Our role and client team
We represented IQVIA in the dispute proceedings before the Public Procurement Review Committee, which annulled PERH’s decision of disqualification in July 2024. However, a few months later, PERH issued a second decision of disqualification on essentially the same grounds. Once again, we represented IQVIA and the decision of PERH was again overturned.
Following these proceedings, PERH certified IQVIA to participate in the tender procedure.
These are the first known decisions by the Public Procurement Review Committee confirming that an applicant may be allowed to participate despite this kind of human error. Notably, this outcome was achieved twice.
IQVIA was represented by partner Dr Kadri Härginen and senior associate Mario Sõrm.
