Government: Public procurement news in Portugal

State transparency is at risk

Architects question costs, timescales and quality of 1.º Direito homes

Less complexity, more innovation in public (and private) procurement

The new Public Procurement Code is heading in the right direction. It simplifies processes, holds those who need to be held accountable responsible, and thereby promotes a culture of greater risk tolerance. Opinion by Paulo Calçada.

PSD councillor justifies stripping the Amadora mayor of powers due to a "breach of trust"

At issue is the revocation of the delegation of powers that allowed Vítor Ferreira (PS) to authorise public procurement expenditure of up to 748,000 euros.

Portugal includes carbon emissions in public procurement criteria

The Portuguese government has integrated carbon emission standards into the requirements for public purchasing processes.

SAPO6 Oct

Public procurement: the Government did well to trust us

The Government decided to place its trust in companies and its own public managers. The question that must be asked is whether it did the right thing.

ESG in public procurement: from intention to action

Sustainability is not exhausted by the introduction of an environmental reference in the tender specifications

President of Recuperar Portugal advocates for more agile public procurement while maintaining control

The head of the organisation responsible for managing the Recovery and Resilience Plan calls for streamlined public contracting processes without compromising oversight.

Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência16 Sept

Government says public procurement reform anticipates Brussels' priorities

Brussels' proposal also provides for the consolidation of the current legislative framework into a single, directly applicable regulation.

Portuguese public procurement reform anticipates priorities now proposed by Brussels

The reform of public procurement in Portugal aligns with and precedes the new policy priorities recently put forward by the European Commission.

XXV Governo Constitucional10 Sept

12 questions and answers to understand the new public procurement rules

A guide explaining the updated regulations governing public sector contracting.

Public procurement: The State wants to hire faster, but the real test will be on the ground

To simplify, reduce bureaucracy, and accelerate. This is the central objective of the reform of the Public Contracts Code (CCP), which introduces significant changes to how the State contracts, oversees, and executes public works and acquires goods and services. The new rules were published this Friday in the Diário da República and enter into force on the 1st.

New public procurement law comes into force in October

Among the main changes published this Friday are the increase in value thresholds for simplified procurement and the elimination of the prior review of the execution project.

Frigate contract excludes helicopters and includes maintenance until 2035

The three new frigates that Portugal is acquiring from the Italian company Fincantieri for approximately 3.9 billion euros will arrive without helicopters in the acquisition package, as the Navy has modernised its fleet of five Lynx Mk95 aircraft and extended their service life until 2035. The programme does, however, include...

Government bets on new entity to accelerate resolution of conflicts in public tenders

The Government wants to create a Public Procurement Dispute Resolution Chamber, a new independent administrative authority specialised in conflicts related to public tenders and contracts. The central idea of the bill, submitted on Monday to the Assembly of the Republic, is to remove a portion of conflicts related to public procurement from the administrative courts and...

Ministry of Defence denies mediation in Italian frigates deal

The Ministry of Defence has denied any involvement in the mediation process regarding the acquisition of Italian frigates.

Contracts under special rules: 1.451 billion since 2021

A report indicates that public contracts carried out under the Special Public Procurement Measures, from June 2021 to the second half of 2025, reached 1.451 billion euros.

MAI defends legality of 4.5 million tender for SIRESP and dismisses suspicions of favouritism

The Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), led by Luís Neves, rejected suspicions regarding the awarding of a 4.5 million euro contract for satellite communications for the SIRESP network. The ministry stated that the process followed all legal requirements, including the 15-day submission window, and denied any political interference or favouritism towards the winning consortium, which includes the Braga-based group DST. The government highlighted that no other bidders filed complaints and that the selection was based on technical and price criteria.

Army opens 16.5 million tender for the purchase of over 180 vehicles

The Portuguese Army has opened an international tender for the purchase of “at least” 186 motor vehicles, with a base bidding price of over 16.5 million euros. Ambulances, heavy goods and passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and passenger vans are some of the motor vehicles covered by this tender. Proposals must be submitted by...

Court of Auditors detected irregularities in the financial management of the PJ during Luís Neves' tenure

The information comes from the newspaper Observador, which reports that the audit report from the Court detected infringements in contracts that did not comply with public procurement rules.

Court of Auditors detected irregularities in PJ's financial management but waived sanctions for Luís Neves

The audit report mentions infractions related to public procurement and other administrative procedures, especially in contracts signed for fuel supply and travel acquisition.

Reform in sight: the changes that will transform Public Procurement

The reform of the Public Contracts Code (CCP) and the Court of Auditors Law aims primarily at simplifying and reducing bureaucracy in public procurement procedures. In our view, greater administrative efficiency is not incompatible with maintaining effective control and oversight mechanisms. It should be noted that excessive proceduralisation...

New Single Social Benefit: what changes with its approval?

The Single Social Benefit has been approved in Parliament and promises to provide assistance. At the same time, the Government wants to simplify public procurement so that construction projects can proceed with less bureaucracy.

Mayor of Amadora named as a formal suspect in Operation Imergente

The mayor, elected by the PS, is suspected of failing to comply with public procurement rules by using a direct award to Duarte Moral for the drafting of a speech for the 25th of April celebrations.

Press review: Abandoned French brothers removed from grandmother's care and the PSU that forces young people with disabilities or cancer to work

Público reports this Thursday that the Government admits to spending an additional 30 to 40 million on 'work incentives' within the Single Social Benefit (PSU) and that, if the proposal moves forward, 125,000 people currently receiving social support will transition to this benefit starting next January. Jornal de Notícias also highlights the PSU, stating it forces young people with disabilities or cancer to work. It explains that exemption only applies to disabilities of 80% or higher and that the obligation covers them as family members, noting the Government says situations must 'always be evaluated on a case-by-case basis'. Correio da Manhã reports that the French brothers abandoned on a road in Alcácer do Sal have been removed from their grandmother's care and are back in foster care, now in France. The Portuguese baker who found them says he is willing to take them in again. Diário de Notícias reports that municipalities have already closed over 10,000 local accommodation units. Negócios writes that public tenders will no longer have a mandatory base price. 'Public entities will now have the power to decide whether or not to indicate the maximum price they are willing to pay when launching a tender or public consultation. The change is part of the Government's proposal to revise the public procurement code, but it divides experts.' Eco highlights an interview with Miguel Poiares Maduro, who states that 'this World Cup confirms that FIFA's priority is to increase revenue'.

Despite being unpopular, direct adjustment is not the problem

How are citizens and local elected officials expected to exercise the oversight that is their right if the names of the beneficiaries are redacted?

Cascais City Council targeted by searches due to suspicions in public procurement

The National Anti-Corruption Unit was at the municipality last Tuesday. The searches targeted public works contracts signed between 2018 and 2021.

10 of the 14 detainees in Operation 'Murky Waters' released

Ten of the 14 individuals arrested in Operation Murky Waters, which investigates an alleged corruption scheme at the company Águas de Gaia, were released on Saturday, May 30, by order of the Porto Criminal Investigation Court. According to a court source, those for whom the Public Prosecutor's Office did not request preventive detention were released, leaving four people in custody. Coercive measures for the remaining suspects will be announced next week. The investigation, ongoing for about 17 months, focuses on an organized economic-financial crime scheme involving private sector entrepreneurs and senior staff at the municipal company Águas de Gaia, who allegedly manipulated public procurement contracts worth 8 million euros in exchange for bribes, including money, luxury goods, and services.

Air Force prefers American F-35s over European fighter jets

The world's leading combat aircraft manufacturers are preparing to compete for a contract with the Portuguese state to sell between 14 and 28 fighter jets — a deal expected to be worth between 3 billion and 5 billion euros — to replace the F-16s. The decision has not been made and has not even been...