Almost UAH 39 mln to be spent on a shelter in Konotop: journalists count over a million possible overpayment

Konotop Higher Vocational School ordered the reconstruction of a dormitory basement into a shelter for 300 people for UAH 38.9 million. Journalists of "Nashi Groshi", comparing some estimate prices with market prices, estimated potential overpayment on only five items at over UAH 1.1 million.

This is reported by "Nashi Groshi" with reference to Prozorro system data.

The state vocational and technical educational institution "Konotop Higher Vocational School" as a result of a tender ordered LLC "Kosta-Proekt" reconstruction of the dormitory basement at 85а Myru Avenue in Konotop. The contract value is UAH 38.9 million.

The works are financed by the European Union within the Ukraine Facility program. The contract price is firm.

In the basement, a dual-purpose structure with properties of a radiation shelter is to be arranged, designed for 300 people. The project includes strengthening of walls and ceilings, lowering of the floor level, installation of doors and an emergency tunnel.

Also planned are renewal of heating, power supply, ventilation, water supply, sewerage and fire alarm systems, and installation of a lift for people with reduced mobility.

Journalists found more expensive materials in the estimate

"Nashi Groshi" compared prices of individual materials in the estimate with current supplier offers and found a significant difference.

In particular, Defens M fire-retardant mixture was included in the estimate at UAH 797 per kilogram. In open sale journalists found it at about UAH 615-624 per kilogram. On this item alone the possible difference calculated by them is about UAH 633 thousand.

Solid ceramic brick of M75 brand was taken into account at UAH 20.4 per piece, while supplier offers cited by journalists ranged from UAH 8.5 to UAH 14.5. Potential difference on this item "Nashi Groshi" estimated at approximately UAH 206 thousand.

Reinforcement steel bars 12 mm in diameter were priced at UAH 55,999 per ton, while market offers found by journalists were about UAH 40.7-43.6 thousand per ton. The possible difference is about UAH 100 thousand more.

IPE 300 I-beams were accounted at UAH 67,378 per ton with offers available from about UAH 39.2 to 51.1 thousand. Here journalists counted about UAH 83 thousand of potential overpayment.

Moisture-resistant plasterboard in the estimate costs UAH 267 per square meter, while they found it from suppliers at about UAH 145-197. The calculated difference is over UAH 87 thousand.

In total, on these five items alone, "Nashi Groshi" estimated the possible overpayment at UAH 1.109 million.

At the same time, this sum is a calculation by journalists based on comparing the estimate with available market offers and is not a fact of overpayment established by supervisory or law enforcement agencies.

Cheaper proposals were rejected

There were also participants with cheaper proposals in the tender - PE "Pryvatbudservice", LLC "Tirada" and PJSC "Sumbud". The school rejected them due to deficiencies in the tender documentation.

The proposal of "Sumbud", which had previously performed works at this site, was additionally rejected because the company was held liable in June 2026 for anticompetitive concerted actions.

Works were to be completed before the contract signing

Journalists separately drew attention to the terms of the reconstruction.

Even during the bidding, potential participants indicated that the established deadline for completion of works - by August 25, 2026 - looked unrealistic, since proposals were accepted until July 20.

The customer then explained the terms by the requirements of the financing program and allowed the possibility of their revision.

However, in the final contract with "Kosta-Proekt", signed already on September 7, it is stated that the works have to be performed "during August 2026". Thus, formally the period of works specified in the document ended even before concluding the contract itself.

At the same time the financing schedule provides for payment of funds during September-December 2026.

LLC "Kosta-Proekt" is registered in Kyiv in 2007. The company is managed and owned by Valentyn Tsviliuk. According to "Nashi Groshi", since 2016 the firm has received state contracts for approximately UAH 1.05 billion.

Based on materials: "Nashi Groshi"