Bibob investigation

Are you applying for a grant or permit? Or are you participating in a municipal tender? If so, the municipality may conduct a Bibob investigation. A Bibob investigation is an integrity investigation that the municipality carries out to check whether someone has integrity and is not involved (or has not been involved) in criminal activities. In this way the municipality wants to prevent unknowingly facilitating criminal activities and wants to protect the competitive position of well-intentioned entrepreneurs.

A Bibob investigation takes place within the framework of the Promotion of Integrity Assessment by Public Administration Act. A Bibob investigation can take place in the case of:

  • designated permits;
  • grants;
  • certain categories of public contracts;
  • real estate transactions in which the government is a party;
  • on the instruction of (own) official information, National Bibob Office, RIEC or the Public Prosecutor's Office;
  • other relevant signals;

Bibob questionnaire

When a Bibob investigation takes place, you will receive a questionnaire that you submit to the municipality, including attachments. You will be sent the questionnaire upon request. The municipality will review the completed Bibob questionnaire, the attached attachments and open sources such as the Key Register of Persons or the Land Registry. This gives the municipality insight into the company and the persons involved. This gives the municipality a picture of the circumstances of the activities and which persons control the company. Through this complete picture of the situation, the municipality can make an assessment about the integrity of the company and/or persons involved. 

If you do not provide the requested information, the Bibob investigation stops and thus the application procedure also stops. A Bibob investigation may also take place if a subsidy or permit has already been issued. In that case, too, you must supply the requested information. If this is not provided, the permit, grant, assignment or real estate transaction may be revoked or refused. The duration of the Bibob investigation may take 8 to 12 weeks. 

National Bibob Bureau

Does the municipality still have doubts after its own investigation? Then we can ask the National Bibob Bureau to issue an opinion. The Landelijk Bureau Bibob falls under the Ministry of Justice. The bureau advises on the degree of danger of abuse of permits, subsidies, tenders and real estate transactions.

Do we request advice from the Landelijk Bureau Bibob? Then you will be notified of this. The term of the Bibob investigation will then be extended by another 8 to 12 weeks. 

Outcome of Bibob investigation

If the Bibob investigation reveals that the company or person involved does not have integrity, the municipality may refuse an application or attach Requirements to the permit, subsidy, assignment or real estate transaction. A current permit, subsidy, assignment or real estate transaction may also be withdrawn if it is subsequently found that the person in question lacks integrity.