The Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) has opened disciplinary proceedings against eleven engineering consultancies for allegedly manipulating public tenders. According to the regulatory body, the firms involved allegedly did so through agreements and the exchange of sensitive commercial information. The CNMC considers these practices contrary to Article 1 of Law 15/2007, of July 3, on the Defense of Competition. The companies under investigation by the agency chaired by Cani Fernández are Alauda Ingeniería, SA, Applus Norcontrol, SLU, Ciesm-Intevia SAU, Estudios y Servicios de Movilidad y Gestión de Infraestructuras, SL, Heymo Ingeniería, SA, Incope Consultores, SL, Ingeniería y Sistemas, SA, Tema Ingeniería, SA, and TPF Getinsa Euroestudios, SL. These companies allegedly divided up engineering consulting and technical assistance contracts issued by various state, regional, and local public bodies. In short, according to the CNMC, they "allegedly submitted fictitious bids in a concerted manner." Analysis of various tenders

The Competition Directorate of the CNMC (National Markets and Competition Commission) has initiated this sanctioning procedure after analyzing several tenders issued by the Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility for engineering consulting and technical assistance services. The CNMC inspected the offices of AECOM Spain DCS, SL, Alauda, ​​Prointec, SGS Tecnos, SA, and Getinsa between January 30 and February 2, 2024; and of Esmovilidad, Heymo, imesAPI, SA, and Tema between November 25 and 28, 2024. The initiation of the procedure does not presuppose the final outcome of the investigation. A maximum period of 24 months is now open for its resolution.

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Mathematics and physics, aerospace and computer engineering, and medical degrees continue to lead the ranking of the highest university entrance exams in Catalonia for another year. The highest grade of all was once again that of the simultaneous degree in mathematics and physics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), which rose to 13.370 points out of a total of 14. The same degree, from the University of Barcelona (UB), followed closely behind, with a entrance exam grade of 13.170 points. These degrees offer very few places (20 at two different universities, 40 in total), which is why access to them is so difficult.

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