How to sell to the Government of Brazil

How to take part

1. Find notices on PNCP; the bidding platform is named in each notice (federal tenders mostly run on Compras.gov.br).
2. Create a SICAF user account on Compras.gov.br; foreign firms register with a home-country identifier such as TIN or DUNS.
3. Upload documents for Level I (company data, Brazilian legal representative), II (legal standing), III–IV (no tax/labour debts), V (technical qualification), VI (financial statements, no bankruptcy).
4. Free translations are accepted at first; before signing, replace them with sworn-translator translations and apostilled or consularised documents.
5. Price the bid according to the tax treatment set in the tender notice (edital).

Local preference & limits

• Preference margin of up to 10% for national goods and services meeting Brazilian technical standards (Decree 11.890/2024, federal bodies).
• Up to 10% more for goods/services from R&D and innovation done in Brazil; total capped at 20%.
• Bidders cannot be distinguished by domestic or foreign ownership except where a preference applies.
• Architecture and engineering projects must use BIM or equivalent international standards.

Bid language · Portuguese. Foreign documents: free translation first, sworn translation in Brazil before contract.

Development-bank projects

Eligible foreign firms can bid on MDB-financed procurement (World Bank, IDB, etc.). The US Commercial Guide states that a legal entity in Brazil is required for MDB-financed procurement; check each bank's rules.

Good to know

• Price, payment terms and financing are often decisive.
• Be ready to present financing, engineering, equipment, training and after-sales service.
• Learn sector-specific regulations before bidding.
• Start sworn translations and apostilles early.
• Key sectors: infrastructure (roads, rail, airports, housing, telecom), health, security, defence.