Public procurement

London Mayor Blocks £50M Palantir Met Police Deal Over Procurement Rules

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked a £50 million deal between the Metropolitan Police and US tech company Palantir, citing a serious breach of procurement rules. City Hall stated that the Met had exclusively engaged with Palantir, risking technological lock-in and failing to demonstrate value for money. The decision comes amidst growing public and political unease over Palantir’s expanding contracts with UK public services, with concerns also raised about the company’s ethics. Despite this blockage, a new procurement process is anticipated, allowing Palantir to bid again.

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Ontario Bans US Firms from Public Contracts

In response to protectionist measures, Ontario is implementing a ban on US firms bidding on public sector contracts. This action will exclude American companies from approximately $139.7 billion in infrastructure projects. The ban specifically targets American contractors, engineers, and consultants within the province. This decision reflects a shift toward prioritizing domestic businesses in Ontario’s public procurement.

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