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Public Procurement in Colombia
Public Procurement in Colombia represents a core pillar of public financial management and economic governance. Through public procurement, the Colombian government acquires goods, works, and services required for public administration, infrastructure delivery, social protection, and sectoral development.
Government procurement in Colombia connects public institutions with domestic and international suppliers through a legally structured and digitally enabled system. For national firms, government tenders in Colombia represent a major source of commercial opportunity. For international contractors and consultants, Colombia offers one of the most advanced and data-rich procurement environments in Latin America.
This page provides a complete, data-accurate overview of Colombia’s public procurement system based entirely on the official country profile reference.
Country & Economic Overview
| Country | Colombia |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Population | 52.9 million (2024) |
| Income Level | Upper middle-income economy |
| Base Currency | Unidad de Valor Real |
| Conversion Rate to USD | 4,072.6 (2024) |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | USD 350 billion (2024) |
| Gross National Income (GNI) | USD 342 billion (2024) |
| GNI per Capita | USD 6,950 (2024) |
Colombia is an active participant in international economic and development institutions, including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB/IADB), IFAD, IMF, UNCTAD, and the WTO.
Public Procurement Governance Framework
| Public Procurement Agency (PPA) | Colombia Compra Eficiente |
| PPA Website | https://www.colombiacompra.gov.co/ |
| Central Purchasing Body | Colombia Compra Eficiente |
| Is PPA a CPB? | Yes |
| Relevant Ministry | National Planning Department |
| CPB Website | https://community.secop.gov.co/STS/Users/Login/Index |
| Sectors Covered by CPB | Agriculture, Education, Energy & Extractives, Information & Communication, Public Administration, Social Protection, Transportation, Water / Sanitation / Waste |
Colombia Compra Eficiente acts as the regulatory authority, system operator, and central purchasing body for national public procurement.
Legal & Regulatory Framework
- Primary procurement legislation includes Law 80, Law 1150, Law 1712, Law 2069, and Decree 1082 of 2015
- MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender): Article 2.2.1.1.2.2.2, Decree 1082 of 2015
- Bid securities: Article 7, Law 1150
- Public bid openings: Article 24, Law 80
- Domestic preference: Article 21, Law 80
- SME participation: Article 34, Law 2069
- Complaint resolution period: Article 68, Law 80 (15 days)
- Contract award disclosure: Article 10, Law 1712
- Tender thresholds and direct contracting limits: Article 2, Law 1150
- Bid validity periods for goods, works, and services: Article 2.2.1.1.2.1.3, Decree 1082 of 2015
Procurement Procedures & Thresholds
| Open Procedures | Regulated under Decree 1082 of 2015 |
| Direct Contracting Thresholds | Article 2, Law 1150 |
| Advertisement Periods | Decree 1082 of 2015, Chapter 2 |
| Average Days from Advertisement to Award | 20 days |
| Average Bid Evaluation Time | 7 days |
E-Procurement System Overview
| System Name | SECOP |
| Website | https://www.colombiacompra.gov.co/colombia-compra/secop |
| Launch Year | 2011 |
| Ownership Model | Government owned and operated |
| Supported Functions | eProcurement Plan, ePublishing, eTendering, eQuotation, ePurchasing (P2P) |
| Supported Languages | Spanish (Castilian) |
| Supported Currency | Colombian Peso |
| OCDS Data Portal | https://www.colombiacompra.gov.co/transparencia/gestion-documental/datos-abiertos |
| Tender Documents Downloadable | Yes |
Procurement Market Characteristics
| Annual Tenders | 313,978 |
| Annual Tender Value | USD 4,599,702,382 |
| Annual Contracts | 255,471 |
| Annual Contract Value | USD 4,573,909,229 |
Contract awards by category include:
- Goods: 2,135 awards (USD 32,897,285)
- Works: 57 awards (USD 44,261,887)
- Services: 222,586 awards (USD 2,092,530,426)
Domestic awards total 255,295 contracts valued at USD 4,547,635,347, while international awards number 133,827 with a reported value of USD 6,796,077,327,417.
Transparency, Complaints & Oversight
- Number of cancelled procurement procedures: 37
- Complaint resolution period: 15 days
- Public procurement data published through SECOP and Power BI dashboards
Sustainability & Green Public Procurement
- Green public procurement strategy and roadmap: Yes
- Green procurement applied in sectors including agriculture, education, energy, ICT, transport, water, and public administration
- Green procurement practices mandatory under public procurement law
- Specific sustainability criteria and supplier guidance published by the Ministry of Environment
- Green certifications required for suppliers
Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations
- SME awards: 10,975 contracts valued at USD 187,983,803
- No mandatory quotas specified for women-owned or disadvantaged-group businesses
- No explicit legal obligation for international labour standards listed
Key Challenges & Practical Insights for Bidders
- High volume of procurement activity requires strong compliance capacity
- SECOP data-driven transparency increases audit and documentation expectations
- Direct contracting remains prevalent alongside open procedures
- Suppliers benefit from understanding sustainability and SME-related provisions
Public Procurement in Colombia is one of the most transparent, data-intensive, and digitally advanced procurement systems in the region. Suppliers that align with legal, technical, and sustainability requirements are best positioned for success.
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