Shkil's "Avtostrada" may receive UAH 1.44 billion for maintaining roads in Rivne region

Non-competitive procurement for large volumes

The "Avtostrada" group of companies, owned by Maksym Shkil, may receive a contract worth UAH 1.44 billion (excluding VAT) for the operational maintenance of public roads of state importance in Rivne region. The project covers 685.5 km of routes and envisages work until 2028.

The Regional Service for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure is completing the open procurement procedure with specific features. Funds are allocated from the state budget under programme 3111020 "Development of the network and maintenance of public roads". The tender was announced on 15 October 2026, and the deadline for submitting applications expired on 2 November 2026. Currently, the procurement status is "Contract signing". The bid security was UAH 7.2 million, and the sole evaluation criterion was price (100%).

Reasons for lack of competition

A low level of competition in such tenders is a typical phenomenon. Service representatives explain this by several factors:

• A high entry barrier due to the large security amount (over UAH 7 million) and strict requirements for experience, equipment, personnel, and localisation.
• The obligation to ensure localisation of material production: in 2026, this indicator is 30%, with further growth.
• The specificity of the task — long-term maintenance of a large road network, which requires the presence of its own base, equipment, and logistics directly in the region.
• Limited deadlines and the complexity of preparing a full package of documents, including cost estimates.

Usually, in such situations, only one company submits a bid, which is already operating in the region or has the necessary capacities. The electronic procurement system recorded three inquiries from potential participants, to which the customer responded with a refusal to change the terms or a partial clarification.

Customer's clarifications on tender terms

On 29 October, a participant pointed out that the requirement to specify the "category" of the guarantee bank in the details does not correspond to the current version of the Ministry of Economy Order No. 2628, as this requirement was abolished from 03.08.2021. On 30 October, the customer responded that this wording does not contradict the legislation, helps identify the guarantor, and does not limit competition. The guarantee must comply with NBU Resolution No. 639 and Order No. 2628.

Regarding localisation, in response to a question about the admissibility of a guarantee letter from the manufacturer instead of contracts (if the contract has not yet been concluded), the customer responded as follows: a guarantee letter is acceptable as a document "etc.", but it must be detailed. It must contain a clear intention of the manufacturer to supply goods in the required volume and within the deadlines in case of victory, as well as full information about the economic entity.

On 28 October, a participant requested to cancel the requirement to provide a report on the analysis of prices for material resources, citing that the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1512 of 19.11.2025 introduces such an obligation only from 01.01.2027. The customer emphasised that it has the right to establish additional requirements for pricing transparency (Art. 22 of the Law, para. 28 of the Specifics). This requirement applies only to the winner, not to all participants at the bid submission stage, so no changes will be made.

"Avtostrada"'s previous experience in the region

"Avtostrada" is already a key contractor on state roads in Rivne region. In 2025, the company received approximately UAH 925–939 million out of a total volume of approximately UAH 1.2 billion allocated for the maintenance and construction of state roads. Among the main contracts:

• Completion of the Northern bypass of Rivne (contract for an amount of approximately UAH 394 million, concluded in August 2025; "Avtostrada" was the sole participant).
• Long-term agreements on road maintenance, including a contract at the end of 2024 for an amount of approximately UAH 1.9 billion for maintaining 454.6 km of roads in 2025–2027.

Due to strict requirements for experience and technical capabilities, "Avtostrada" often becomes the sole participant in large-scale work tenders of the Rivne Restoration Service. The company has its own production capacities, a fleet of equipment, and experience working in the region. Meanwhile, it is known that Maksym Shkil previously blackmailed the government by threatening to stop work due to alleged lack of financing.