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Public Procurement in Senegal

Public procurement in Senegal plays a central role in public investment, service delivery, and national economic development. Government purchasing supports infrastructure expansion, healthcare delivery, transportation networks, education systems, and social programs, making public contracts a significant market for both domestic and international suppliers.

The Senegalese procurement system is institutionally structured, legally codified, and overseen by specialized regulatory and control bodies. Over the past decade, reforms have focused on transparency, competition, and regulatory oversight, positioning public procurement as a strategic tool for development and governance.

Country & Economic Overview

Public Procurement Governance Framework

• Direction centrale des marchés publics (DCMP) - Office of Public Procurement
• Autorité de Régulation des Marchés Publics (ARMP) - Regulatory Authority of Public Contracts

• DCMP Website: http://www.marchespublics.sn
• ARMP Website: http://www.armp.sn

DCMP is responsible for ex-ante control and technical validation of procurement procedures, while ARMP provides regulatory oversight, handles complaints, and ensures compliance with procurement rules.

Central Purchasing Bodies

• National Pharmacy Supply - Health sector
• Direction of Material and Administrative Transit - Transportation sector

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Public procurement in Senegal is governed by the Public Procurement Code and related decrees, which define procurement methods, institutional roles, bidder rights, and oversight mechanisms.

• Public Procurement Code (including amendments by Decree No. 2022-1538)
• Implementing decrees and regulatory decisions issued by ARMP

Key Legal Provisions

• Public bid opening: Articles 60 and 66
• Domestic preference: Article 50
• Bid validity: Article 63
• Direct contracting thresholds: Article 76
• Contract award disclosure: Article 53
• Complaint resolution: Article 89
• Women-owned business participation: Decree No. 2022-2295, Articles 12(b) and 44(h)

Procurement Procedures & Thresholds

Competitive tendering is the default procurement method in Senegal. Alternative procedures such as restricted tendering and direct contracting are permitted under legally defined conditions.

E-Procurement System Overview

The SYGMAP platform serves as the official channel for publishing procurement notices, managing procurement plans, and handling supplier registration and complaints.

Procurement Market Characteristics

• Procurement spans goods, works, and services across central and decentralized government entities
• Strong participation from domestic firms, particularly in works and services
• International firms participate mainly in large infrastructure and donor-funded projects
• Common procurement classification uses the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

Procurement plans and contract notices are published through the national procurement portal to support market visibility.

Transparency, Complaints & Oversight

Transparency is ensured through mandatory publication of tender notices, public bid openings, and disclosure of award decisions. ARMP operates an administrative complaint review system, allowing suppliers to challenge procurement decisions within legally defined timelines.

• Annual Reports: http://www.armp.sn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=188&Itemid=70
• Procurement Statistics: http://www.marchespublics.sn/index.php?option=com_stats&task=afficheTacmaq&Itemid=141

Sustainability & Green Public Procurement

The public procurement framework in Senegal allows for the integration of environmental and sustainability considerations. The Public Procurement Code explicitly enables the use of green public procurement practices, although implementation remains sector-specific and policy-driven.

Environmental considerations are increasingly relevant in infrastructure, energy, and public works projects.

Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations

• Legal provisions promote participation of women-owned businesses
• Domestic preference rules support local supplier development
• Ethical and social considerations are progressively reflected in procurement reforms

These measures aim to align public procurement with inclusive growth and social policy objectives.

Practical Insights for Bidders

Key Challenges

• Procedural complexity and documentation requirements
• Capacity constraints at sub-national contracting authorities
• Limited publicly aggregated procurement statistics

Practical Tips

• Monitor procurement plans and notices on marchespublics.sn
• Prepare bids in French and ensure full compliance with formal requirements
• Understand domestic preference rules and complaint timelines
• Engage early in large infrastructure and donor-financed projects

Public Procurement in Senegal represents a structured and regulated market with growing transparency and institutional oversight. For suppliers, success depends on regulatory compliance, familiarity with national procedures, and strategic engagement with procurement planning cycles.