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Public Procurement in Uruguay
Public procurement in Uruguay is a well-institutionalized, transparent, and digitally enabled system that plays a strategic role in public service delivery, social policy implementation, and sustainable economic development. Government purchasing represents a measurable share of national expenditure and is regulated through a mature legal and institutional framework.
The Uruguayan procurement market is recognized in Latin America for its strong regulatory oversight, mandatory electronic disclosure, and integration of sustainability, SME participation, and social policy objectives. Government tenders in Uruguay are accessible to domestic and international suppliers through centralized digital platforms.
For suppliers, consultants, and international companies, Public Procurement in Uruguay offers a predictable, rules-based market with advanced eProcurement tools, open data access, and clearly defined procurement procedures.
Country & Economic Overview
| Country | Uruguay |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Population (2024) | 3.44 million |
| Income Level | High-income economy |
| Base Currency | Peso Uruguayo (UYU) |
| Conversion Rate (UYU/USD) | 41.17108333 |
| GDP (USD, 2024) | USD 80.96 billion |
| GNI (USD, 2024) | USD 75.96 billion |
| GNI per Capita (USD, 2024) | 21,580 |
| Public Procurement (% of GDP) | 0.12% |
Uruguay is a member of the IMF, WTO, UNCTAD, IDB, and IFAD. These relationships support procurement transparency, donor-aligned procedures, and international standards in public purchasing.
Public Procurement Governance Framework
The national procurement authority is the Agencia de Compras y Contrataciones del Estado (ACCE), also referred to as the State Purchases and Contracting Agency (SPCA). ACCE is responsible for regulatory oversight, policy guidance, data publication, and system governance.
| Public Procurement Agency (PPA) | Agencia de Compras y Contrataciones del Estado (ACCE) |
| PPA Website | https://www.gub.uy/agencia-reguladora-compras-estatales/ |
| PPA as Central Purchasing Body | No |
Uruguay operates a dedicated Central Purchasing Body:
| Central Purchasing Body (CPB) | Agencia Reguladora de Compras Estatales (ARCE) |
| Sectors Covered | Agriculture, Health |
| Geographic Coverage | National |
| CPB Website | https://www.gub.uy/agencia-reguladora-compras-estatales/ |
Legal & Regulatory Framework
Public procurement in Uruguay is governed by the Texto Ordenado de Contabilidad y Administración Financiera (TOCAF), supported by multiple laws, decrees, and regulatory instruments.
- Life-Cycle Costing: Art. 79 TOCAF; Art. 2 Decree 402/018; Art. 17 Decree 191/019
- Value for Money: Art. 1 & 2 Decree 402/018
- MEAT: Art. 66, 68 & 48 TOCAF
- Sustainability: Art. 59, 60 & 152 TOCAF
- SME participation: Art. 59 & 60 TOCAF; Law 18.362; Law 19.292
- Bid securities: Art. 47, 48, 64, 65, 70 & 151 TOCAF
- Domestic preference: Art. 58 TOCAF
Procurement Procedures & Thresholds
Uruguay applies competitive procurement methods as the default, with clear thresholds and procedural safeguards.
| Tender Threshold Value | USD 5,100 |
| Bid Validity Period | Art. 48 TOCAF |
| Standstill Period | Art. 65 & 67 TOCAF |
| Contract Award Disclosure | Art. 50 TOCAF |
Complaint resolution is regulated under Art. 73 TOCAF and constitutional provisions.
E-Procurement System in Uruguay
Uruguay operates a mature, multi-module eProcurement ecosystem managed by ACCE.
| Core Systems | SICE, Llamados y Adjudicaciones, Tienda Virtual, RUPE, Catálogo |
| Main Portal | https://www.comprasestatales.gub.uy |
| Initial Launch | 2002 |
| System Ownership | Government owned and operated |
| System Type | Proprietary build |
| Languages | Spanish (Castilian) |
| eProcurement Usage | 100% of procurement value |
| OCDS Data Portal | https://www.gub.uy/agencia-compras-contrataciones-estado/datos-y-estadisticas/datos/open-contracting |
Procurement Market Characteristics
| Open Contract Awards | 12,376 (USD 4,425,819,648) |
| Direct Contract Awards | 91,372 (USD 3,702,323,109) |
| Framework Agreement Awards | 1,753 (USD 18,488,852) |
| Cancelled Procedures | 2,740 |
Procurement activities span agriculture, health, energy, infrastructure, and public administration.
Transparency, Complaints & Oversight
Uruguay publishes procurement data, statistics, and performance indicators through dedicated observatories and open data portals.
- Procurement Observatory: https://observatorio.arce.gub.uy
- Open Data Portal: https://www.gub.uy/agencia-reguladora-compras-estatales/datos-y-estadisticas/datos-abiertos
Sustainability & Green Public Procurement
Green public procurement is mandatory in Uruguay.
- Mandatory GPP: Decree 527/2008; Law 18.834
- Energy efficiency criteria enforced
- Lead body: Advisory Council on Sustainable Public Procurement
- Monitoring via policy instruments and sectoral rules
Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations
- Mandatory awards to women-owned businesses: Law 19.292
- Disadvantaged groups support: Art. 58 TOCAF
- Labor standards compliance enforced during contract execution
- Ethical sourcing requirements defined in multiple decrees
Key Practical Insights for Bidders
- Mandatory registration in RUPE supplier registry
- All tenders published electronically
- Strong sustainability and social criteria integration
- High transparency and audit scrutiny
Public Procurement in Uruguay represents one of the most advanced, transparent, and policy-driven procurement systems in Latin America, offering suppliers a stable, digital, and sustainability-oriented government tender market.
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