Senegal - Country Commercial Guide
Selling to the Public Sector
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Selling to the Government

Government procurement normally follows a public tender and competitive selection process supervised by the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ARMP) and the Central Directorate for Public Tenders (DCMP).  In 2021, the GOS created a new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law clarifying procedures for sole source contracts and spontaneous offers.   Competitive tender requirements also may not apply to procurement relating to national security emanating from the Presidency or from the Ministries of the Armed Forces, Health, and Interior.  

Requests for proposals are usually posted online, published in local newspapers, and sometimes advertised internationally.  Information in French on upcoming public tenders can be found at: https://www.marchespublics.sn/.  The U.S. Embassy Economic and Commercial Office monitors requests for tenders and reports those that may be of interest to U.S. suppliers to the Department of Commerce and on https://bids.state.gov/ .  Bid specifications are usually in French, and proposals must also be submitted in French. 

U.S. companies bidding on Government tenders may qualify for U.S. Government advocacy. U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government interagency efforts to advocate on behalf of U.S. businesses bidding on public sector contracts with foreign governments.  The Advocacy Center works closely with our network of the U.S. Commercial Service worldwide and inter-agency partners to ensure that exporters of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance of winning government contracts.  Advocacy assistance can take many forms but often involves the U.S. Embassy or other U.S. Government agencies expressing support for the U.S. bidders directly to the foreign government.  Consult Advocacy Center for Foreign Government Contracts and for additional information.

Project Financing

The African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank (WB), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) finance public projects.  The private sector-lending arm of the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has financed major infrastructure projects.  The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, along with the AfDB, offers funds for feasibility studies.  The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC, formerly OPIC) is actively seeking to strengthen its portfolio in Senegal.  DFC offers project finance and insurance to support U.S. investment projects.  U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank:

https://www.exim.gov/) financing is available for short-and medium-term private sector transactions.

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