RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
2May1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1980)
Original: Spanish Working Party onGATS Rules
COMMUNICATION FROM ARGENTINA
Questionnaire onGovernment Procurement ofServices
Addendum
Thefollowing communication iscirculated attherequest ofArgentina toMembers ofthe
Working Party onGATS Rules.
_______________
I. EXISTING PROCUREMENT REGIMES
Definition
1. What isthedefinition ofgovernment procurement employed incompleting this
questionnaire?
Procurement bytheStateArticle 55oftheDecree-Law onAccounting No.23.354/56, ratified
byLaw14.487, defines asanypurchase orsaleonbehalf oftheNation, aswellasanycontract
concerning leasing, rental, work orsupplies.
Article 1oftheLawonPublic Works No.13.064 defines national public works asany
construction orwork orservice ofanindustrial nature carried outwithfunds oftheNational Treasury.
Administrative structure
2. Howaregovernmentprocurementactivitiesadministered?Dowhatextentareprocurement
activities centralized? Please specify theidentity ofanycentral procurement agencies andtheir
respective responsibilities.
Pursuant toDecree No.1.545/94, thegovernment procurement regime isbased onthe
centralization ofrule-making andthedecentralization ofoperational functions. Thus, theNational
Procurement Office, partoftheDepartment ofFinance -Ministry oftheEconomy andPublic Works
andServices -isresponsible forputting forward policies, establishing rulesandelaborating operational
management systems inthisarea. Inturn,eachMinistry, decentralized body, official bankandState
enterprise carries outitsprocurement through itsownpurchasing body.
Consequently, theprocurement regime issubject toasingle setofrules(seebelow, Laws and
Regulations inforce), withadistinction between goods andservices ontheonehandandpublic works
ontheother. Asmentioned, there arealsospecial procedures forpublic works concessions, which
mayinclude additional specifications depending oneachparticular case.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
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Lawandregulations inforce
3(a) Please specify thelaws, regulations, rules, guidelines, decrees, decisions andother measures
governing government procurement. What isthescope oftheirapplication? Inparticular,
please describe anyexemptions thatexist. Please provide abrief summary ofthecontent
ofeachofthese measures.
Atnational level, thebasic legalframework forprocurement ofgoods andservices issetout
intheState procurement regime included intheDecree-Law onAccounting No.23.354/56, andthe
regulations thereto inDecree No.5.720/72 andamendments thereof.
Inaddition,otherapplicableprovisionsarethoseofLawNo.24.156onFinancialAdministration
andControl Systems oftheNational Public Sector, thedecrees establishing regulations tothatLaw,
andsupplementary Decrees No.2.662/92 onPowers toAuthorize andApprove Expenditures and
No.2.380/94andAdministrativeDecisionNo.148/96onRevolvingFundsandPettyCashoftheBodies
oftheCentral Administration.
Theregime inforce forpublic works islaiddown intheLawonProcurement ofPublic Works
No.13.064, asamended byLaws 16.798 and17.804 andamending decrees thereto.
Theregime forpublic works concessions iscontained inLawNo.17.520, asamended byLaw
No.21.691, LawNo.23.696 anditsRegulatory Decree 1.105/89.
Inthecaseofpublic works andconcessions theprocedures areprimarily contained inspecific
legislation, while theprovisions oftheLawonAccounting (Articles 3and61,paragraph 147,of
Decree 5.720/72) apply onasupplementary basis.
Inaccordance withArticle 63ofDecree Law23.354/56, procurement bytheArmed Forces
anddecentralized entities intheDefence areaaregoverned bytherelevant specific provisions oftheir
respective organic andspecial laws, andonasupplementary basis bytheregime established bythis
Lawanditsregulatory decrees. Inthespecific caseoftheArmed Forces, theprocurement regime
islaiddown inLawNo.20.124 andDecrees 265/73, 3.961/73, and4.027/73.
(b) Doestheprocurement regime distinguish between theprocurement ofgoods andservices?
Ifso,thenhowistheapplication ofrulesdetermined incases ofjointprocurement involving
bothgoods andservices?
Asmentioned above, thesame regime governs theprocurement ofbothgoods andservices.
Article 3ofDecree 5.720/72 establishes thatprocurement ofsupplies ofmaterials orservices
fornational public works shallbesubject totheprovisions established bythecompetent authority in
accordance withtheruleslaiddown inthelegislation inforce inthisrespect (Law 13.064) or,failing
such, theprovisions oftheregulations approved bythatDecree.
Procurement procedures applied
4(a) What procedures arefollowed intheprocurement process?
and
(b) Under what circumstances aredifferent procedures used? Forinstance, ifthemethod
useddepends onthevalue oftheprocurement, thethresholds should begiven.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
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Procurement procedures varyaccording tothedifferent regimes inforce. Inallcasesprovision
ismade forpublic (open) and,selective (private) tendering anddirect contracting, butpreference is
given topublic tendering. Theprocurement methods andrespective thresholds aresummarized below:
Direct contract Selective tender Public tender
Goods andservices upto$100,000 upto$1million over$1million
Public works - upto$69,000 over$69,000
- supplementary works foranongoing
work according toscale (limit of
$26,000 forworks uptoavalue of
$129,500 orfrom 5%to20%ofthe
original costforlarger amounts). See
Resolution 814/96 oftheMinistry of
theEconomy andPublic Works and
Services.
Public works
concessionNothreshold
stipulatedNo Nothreshold
stipulated
Forprocurement ofgoods andservices, thegeneral principle isthatofpublic tender (Article 55
oftheLawonAccounting). Selective tendering isalsoallowed iftheamount ofthetransaction does
notexceed thethreshold (Article 56.1oftheLawonAccounting asupdated byDecree 2.293/93).
Inthecaseofselective tendering atleastsixregistered suppliers areinvited, onarotating basis, from
theRegister ofSuppliers, including inallcases theprevious winning bidder (Article 62,paragraph
8and9,ofDecree 5.720/72). Direct contracting isallowed inthecaseofsmall amounts (Article 58.3
oftheLawonAccounting andDecree 2.293/93) orwhere other requirements listed inthatArticle
arefulfilled, namely, reasons ofurgency, single supplier, tender declared void, scientific, technical
orartistic works, needforsecrecy, etc.Inthecaseofdirect contracts oflessthan$100,000 orjustified
byreasons ofurgency orvoidtender, threesuppliers willnevertheless berequested tobid,failing which
anofficial record willbemade ofthereasons thatprevented doing so(Article 62,inc.10,of
Decree 5.720/72).
Procurements ofgoods andservices bytheNational Administration arealsosubject tocontrol
bytheOffice oftheAuditor-General (SIGEN) through theReference Price System. Thisismandatory
forpublic tendering forover$750,000, selective tendering foramounts ofnotlessthan$500,000 and
direct contracting foramounts ofatleast$75,000. SIGEN nevertheless hasthepower tocontrol any
procurement, including thatcarried outunder thepublic works regime (SIGEN Resolution No.55/96).
Inthecaseofprocurement ofpublic works, preference isagain given topublic tendering, but
selective tendering ordirect contracting isaccepted when contract values donotexceed aspecified
threshold orinthecaseofworks essential foranongoing work butnotprovided forintheoriginal
project andwhich again donotexceed aspecified threshold (Article 9ofLaw13.064). Other exceptions
mentioned inArticle 9oftheLaware:emergency work, unforeseen circumstances, State security,
specific artistic ortechnical capability, special licences orprivileges, voidorunacceptable tenders.
TheLawonPublic Works Concessions (Law17.520) alsorecognizes threealternative methods:
publictendering,directcontractingwithpublicentitiesorgovernment-ownedcompanies,andcontracting
withmixed-capital orprivate-sector companies. Inthelatter case,when dealing withworks ofpublic
interest, thechoice isbetween public tendering orcompetitions forcomplete projects. Inthelatter
case, invitations areissued forthepresentation ofprojects withaviewtothesubmission ofproposalsS/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
Page4
(Law 23.696, Article 58andDecree 1.105/89). Ifamoredesirable bidthanthatoftheperson presenting
theproposal ismade, bothmayimprove theirrespective proposals within aperiod notexceeding half
oftheoriginal presentation period. Theopening ofthebids, andthecontinuation oftheprocedure,
theaward andsubsequent continuation ofthecontract aregoverned bytheprinciples laiddown inthe
Public Works Regime (Law 13.064).
(c) What arethetime-limits forthesubmission forbids?
Inthecaseofprocurement ofgoods andservices, there arenomandatory time-limits forthe
submission ofbids. Minimum time-limits forpublic notice andtheperiod thatmustprecede theopening
dateareset,theformer being included inthelatter (Articles 3and4ofDecree 826/88). These dates
establish defacto minimum time-limits forsubmission ofbids.
Publicity forinviting tenders
5.(a) How areintended procurements publicized? Areinvitations totender published? Ifso,
where, andinwhat languages? and
(b) Dotheextent andform ofpublicity differ according totendering procedures applied and/or
thevalue ofprocurement?
Thereisnoobligationtopubliciseprocurementintentions.Noticesoftendersmustbepublished.
Goods andservices: notices ofpublic andselective tenders anddirect contracting arepublished
intheOfficial Bulletin andonthenotice-board oftheprocuring body. Where itispractically impossible
todoso,asdulyaccredited bytheNational Director oftheOfficial Register, andexcept inthecase
ofpublic tendering, publication intheOfficial Bulletin maybereplaced bypublication intwomass
circulation newspapers oftheFederal Capital (Article 62oftheLawonAccounting, asamended by
Decrees 826/88 and2.293/93).
When itispresumed thatinterest mayexistabroad, publication intherelevant countries may
beauthorized (Article 62oftheLawonAccounting).
Publication time-limits varyaccording totheprocurement procedure:
Public tendering: published for8days, 12daysinadvance oftheopening date,except
where theamount oftheprocurement doesnotexceed $5,000,000, inwhich casethe
time-limits arereduced to2and4days, respectively (Article 3(a)ofDecree 826/88).
Selective tendering: notices arepublished for2days, 3daysinadvance oftheopening
date(Article 3(b)ofDecree 826/88).
Direct contracting: following theconclusion ofthecontract, foraperiod ofoneday
(Article 3(c)ofDecree 826/88).
These time-limits refertoworking daysandminimum time-periods inallcases.
Public works: Article 10ofLaw13.064 provides forthepublication ofnotices ofpublic
tendering intheOfficial Bulletin, which doesnotprevent publishing them inprivate media orinany
other form within thecountry orabroad. Thepublication time-limits updated byResolution 814/96
oftheMinistry oftheEconomy andPublic Works andServices depend onthevalue ofthebudget
forthework:S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
Page5
- Upto$110,000: notices published for5days, 5daysinadvance;
- from $110,000 to$260,000: published for10days, 15daysinadvance;
- over$260,000: published for15days, 20daysinadvance.
Public Works Concessions: There arenospecific provisions inLawNo.17.520, apart from
thereference totheamendment ofArticle 4contained inLaw23.696, which establishes theprovisions
forcompetitions forcomplete projects. Inthiscasetheinvitation topresent projects ismade through
notices intheOfficial Bulletin andintwonational mass circulation newspapers forfivedays. These
notices mustgiveasummary oftheinitiative, setthedate,hourandplace forthesubmission ofbids
andthedate,hourandplace ofopening. Thetime-period between thefinalpublication ofnotices and
thedateofsubmission ofbidsmustbeatleast30daysandatmost90days, except incarefully defined
exceptional cases where themaximum time-period maybeextended.
None oftheabove provisions contain references tothelanguage ofnotices, butinsome cases,
asmentioned above, theyenvisage thepossibility ofpublishing them abroad.
(c) What details oftheintended procurement arenormally published? Isthere aminimum
setofinformation thatisrequired tobepublished? Ifso,please specify.
Forprocurement ofgoods andservices, theLawonAccounting andState Procurement
(Article 62,asregulated byDecree 5.720/72 andamended byDecree 826/88, Article 7)establishes
thatthenotices muststatethename oftheprocuring body, typeandnumber ofprocurement, object
ofprocurement, place where tender specifications maybeobtained orconsulted, costoftender
specifications, place forsubmission ofbidsandplace, dateandtimeofopening ofbids.
InthecaseofPublic Works, Law13.064 provides inArticle 11thatthetender notice must
statethework putouttotender, siteofwork, procuring body, place where theauction documents
maybeconsulted orobtained, conditions tobefulfilled bybids, official towhom bidsshould besent
ordelivered, place, dateandtimeatwhich theauction willbeheldandamount ofthesecurity which
bidders havetolodge inorder totakepart. TheLawonPublic Works Concessions doesnotcontain
anyprovisions inthisrespect. Consequently, theprovisions oftheLawonAccounting apply, except
asprovided forinLaw23.696 oncompetitions forcomplete projects.
(d) Arethere anycharges forobtaining thefullsetoftender documents? Ifso,please specify
anddescribe howthese charges areset?
Tender documents maybeconsulted freeofcharge. They maybeobtained inorder totake
partinthebidding against payment oftheamount established inthetender documents andspecifications.
Thisamount issetbytheprocuring bodyatbetween 0.5perthousand and5perthousand oftheestimated
costoftheprocurement (Article 61,paragraph 45.1, ofDecree 5.720/72).
(e) Areelectronic means usedtoadvertise procurement opportunities? What isthenature
ofsystems thatareinplace? Aredifferent tendering provisions applied tocontracts
advertised inthismanner? Ifso,please describe.
Theuseofelectronic means toadvertise government procurement opportunities isnotprovided
forstatutorily.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
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Requirements laiddown forpossible suppliers
6.(a)Arethere registration, residence orother requirements forpotential suppliers?
Inthecaseofprocurement ofgoods andservices, there isnorequirement ofprior enrolment
inaregister ofsuppliers. Decree No.825/88 (amending Article 61oftheLawonAccounting and
Decree 5.720/72) provides thattheNational General Accounting Office shallkeeparoster ofsuppliers
which willinclude anyenterprise thatbidsorcontracts withtheState; theprocuring bodymayrequest
thatafirmregister therein within fivedaysfollowing theopening ofbids.
Decree 5.720/72, Article 61.2(c) (asamended byDecree 825/88) provides thatinorder to
conclude acontract withtheStateafirmmustbeestablished inthecountry, butforeign firms without
localbranches orrepresentatives areexempted from thisrequirement inthecaseofparticipation in
international tenders (Article 61.3(g)).
InthecaseofPublic works, enrolment intheNational Register ofPublic Works Building
Contractors (Article 13ofLawNo.13.064) isanessential prerequisite forthequalification and
authorization offirms. TheRegister isregulated byDecree No.756/81, which establishes thepowers
ofaCouncil comprising bodies ofthenational administration forthepurpose ofclassification and
qualification offirms according totheirtechnical (economic andproduction) capability andcontracting
capacity (Article 22)asarequirement forenrolling themintheRegister. Theduration ofqualification
isoneyearandsixmonths. Theregime provides forsome exceptions topriorenrolment, forexample,
when contracting capacity required islessthanthethreshold periodically setbytheCouncil. Likewise,
inthecaseofexceptional factors affecting theexecution ofthework, theCouncil mayauthorize
participation inthetender bynon-registered localfirms, onceonlyforsuchfirms, provided theyhave
averifiable record inthecountry orabroad which justifies considering thattheyhavesufficient technical
andfinancial capability.
TheCouncilmayalsoauthorizeparticipationininternationaltendersofforeignfirmsnotincluded
intheRegister when initsopinion theyhaveadequate technical andfinancial capability (Article 30
ofDecree 756/81).
Inthecaseofconsortia oflocalandforeign firms, thecontracting capability attributed tothem
intheRegister isexclusively thatofthelocalfirms.
(b) What isthenature ofanyconditions forparticipation required from suppliers -suchas
financial guarantees, commercial standing andtechnical qualifications? Dotheconditions
ofparticipation vary according tothenature ofthetender process and/or thevalue of
theintended procurement?
Forprocurement ofgoods andservices, itisnecessary tohavethecapacity tocontract, have
aplaceofbusiness ormanufacturing inthecountry, alicence totrade, furnish suchreports orreferences
asmayberequired andsatisfy thecommon requirements forallthose engaged intrade, including proper
records ofaccounting operations (journal, inventory, balance sheets, etc.)setoutinArticles 33and
44oftheTrade Code. Apart fromtheexemption offoreign firms fromtheserequirements when taking
partininternational tendering, there areother bidders whoforvarious reasons either donotneedto
meettheserequirements orareprohibited fromcontracting (Article 61,paragraph 4,ofDecree 5.270).
With regard tothetender process itself, inthecaseofprocurement ofgoods andservices,
bidders mustlodge abidperformance guarantee equivalent to5percentofthetotalvalue ofthebid
or10percentofthatvalue inthecaseoflicences orconcessions (Article 61,paragraph 33,ofS/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
Page7
Decree 5.720/72). Bidders donothavetolodge thisguarantee atthetimeofsubmitting abid,but
must dosoatthesimple request oftheprocuring entity (Article 61,paragraph 37).
Withrespect topublic works, inaddition totherequirements ofprior qualification andbefore
submitting aproposal thebidder mustlodge incash, securities orbonds aguarantee equivalent to1per
centofthevalue oftheofficial budget ofthework putouttotender. Inthecaseofprocurement not
exceeding $69,000 itisnotnecessary tolodge itinadvance, butthismustbedoneatthesimple request
oftheprocuring entity (Article 14ofLaw13.064).
With regard totheregime forconcessions, anyproposal submitted byprivate individuals for
acomplete project competition mustbeaccompanied byamaintenance guarantee which maynotbe
lessthan2percentoftheamount ofthework. Thisguarantee isexecutable intheevent ofnon-
submission ofthebid,butmaybeconverted intothebidguarantee intheevent ofaninvitation totender
orcompetition. Nevertheless, ifthebidismade subsequently, andtheguarantee proves tobeless
than2percent-witha30percentmargin -thebidder willnotbeconsidered tobetheauthor ofthe
proposal.
Likewise, aproposal submitted byprivate individuals mustbeaccompanied byanidentification
ofthework anditsnature, economic andtechnical feasibility studies, fullparticulars ofthebidder
and,inthecaseofArgentine enterprises, theirregistered capacity tocontract.
(c) Dothere exist listsofapproved suppliers? Ifso,what aretheprocedures forchecking
thecapability offirms applying forinclusion ontenderers 'mailing lists? Arelistsof
approved suppliers, ifany,regularly reviewed/updated?
Seethereply toquestion 6(a)above concerning theNational Register ofPublic Works Building
Contractors.
Criteria forassessing bidsandawarding contracts
7.(a) What criteria aretaken intoaccount intheaward oftenders? Arecriteria foraward
ofcontracts made available inadvance topotential suppliers?
Inthecaseofprocurement ofgoods andservices, Decree 5.720/72, Article 61,paragraph 76,
provides thatthecontract should beawarded tothebidthatismostdesirable fortheprocuring body,
taking intoaccount quality, price, suitability ofthebidder andother conditions ofthebid. Article
61,paragraph 73,stipulates thatincaseofequality ofprices, thecontract should beawarded tothe
bidoffering elements ofdomestic origin, andshould therestillbeatie,tothebidoffering better quality
elements ifthisemerges from thespecific characteristics ofthebid.Ifthetiecontinues, theDecree
provides forother criteria, suchasanimprovement inprices, preference forthebidthatoriginally
agreed toadiscount forpayment byinstalments, andapublic draw ofthetiedbids.
With respect topublic works, Law13.064 provides thatthecontract willalways beawarded
tothemostdesirable proposal, inaccordance withtheconditions established forthetender (Article 18).
Law23.696 andDecree No.1.105/89 establishing itsregulations amended theLawonPublic
Works Concessions, bystipulating asaward criteria theeconomic/financial equation andthescope
ofthepriorinvestments tobemade ineachcaseinorder toobtain arealreduction inthetarifforcharge
tobepaidbyusers.
With respect tocomplete project competitions, theLawprovides thatinthecaseofamore
desirable bidthanthatsubmitted bytheperson whomade theinitial proposal, thetwomayimproveS/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
Page8
theirrespective bids. When thebidssubmitted areequivalent, preference willbegiven totheperson
whosubmitted theinitial proposal.
(b) Isprocurement subject toanyoffset provisions, suchaslocalcontent, technology transfer
orcounter trade requirements?
There arenooffset requirements.
(c) Ispreference given toanyparticular enterprises orgroup ofenterprises? Ifso,please
specify.
Nosuchpreferences exist.
(d) Dotheprocurement criteria differ according tosector orregion oftheeconomy?
No,procurement criteria donotdiffer according tosector orregion oftheeconomy.
(e) What isthemargin ofchoice ordiscretion allowed tothepurchasing authority? What
doestheextent, ifany,ofdiscretion allowed depend upon?
Theprocuring authority mustfollow theevaluation criteria laiddown inthelegislation inforce.
Prior tothedefinitive award, theprocuring body mayatanystage oftheprocedure cancel
thetender ongood cause shown, ormake thepreliminary award ofallorpartoftheitems putout
totender orofpartofanitemunder certain conditions.
Disclosure ofbidsreceived andcontracts awarded
8.(a) How aretender received, registered andopened?
Inthecaseofprocurement ofgoods andservices, inaccordance withArticle 61,paragraph 50,
ofDecree 5.720/72, bidsmust besubmitted totheprocuring body bythedateandtimesetforthe
opening ofbids. They mustbesubmitted inperfectly sealed envelopes bearing theidentification of
thetender concerned andthedateandtimeofopening.
Theopening ofthebids,iscarried outattheplace, dateandtimeannounced andinthepresence
oftheofficials designated bythetendering bodyandanyother persons wishing toattend. Anofficial
record oftheoutcome isdrawn up,andissigned bytheofficials taking partandbyanyother persons
present wishing todoso.Bidders mayrequest, attheirexpense, acopyofthebidssubmitted (Article
61,paragraph 62,ofthesaidDecree asupdated byDecree 826/88).
TheLawonPublic Works No.13.064 contains similar provisions (Articles 15and16).
(b) Areentities required topublish details ofthecontracts awarded and/or notify unsuccessful
tenderers?
Decree 5.720/72 provides inArticle 61,paragraph 78,thattheaward ofcontracts must be
announced inoneormore visible places inthepremises oftheprocuring body towhich thepublic
have access. Thetime-periods forsuchpublic notice varyaccording tothetypeofprocurement
procedure.
- Public tender: During atleast3days.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
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- Selective tender: During atleast2days.
- Direct contract: During atleast1day.
Pursuant toDecree 826/88, Article 9,theaward alsohastobepublished foronedayinthe
same media inwhich theinvitations totender were published.
Thewinning bidder receives official confirmation ofthedefinitive award within seven days
bymeans ofapurchase order and,exceptionally, insome other form (Article 61,paragraph 81,of
Decree 5.720/72).
(c) Areentities required topublish, orprovide tounsuccessful bidders, pertinent reasons
whytheir bidwasrejected?
No.Nevertheless, ifafterthepreliminary award isannounced aninterested party contests
it,thetendering authorities must make thefullproceedings ofthetender available tothatparty for
examination (Article 61,paragraph 79,ofDecree 5.720/72).
Treatment granted todomestic andforeign services and/or suppliers
9. What laws, regulations, procedures orpractices accord domestic services and/or suppliers
treatment more favourable than thataccorded toforeign services and/or suppliers, oraccord
services and/or suppliers ofaMember more favourable treatment thanthose ofanother Member?
Please specify how,ifatall,more favourable treatment isaccorded. Please alsospecify theworking
definition "domestic" inrelation todomestic services andsuppliers.
Decree1.224/89,establishingtheregulationstoLaw23.697whichsuspendedthe"BuyNational"
regime defines agoodasbeing ofdomestic origin when produced orextracted inArgentina, provided
thecostoftheimported rawmaterials, inputs ormaterials usedinitsproduction doesnotexceed
50percentofthetotalcost(Article 2).
Forthepurposes ofprocurement ofgoods andservices, Article 11ofthesaidDecree defines
adomestic enterprise asonehaving itsdomicile andprincipal place ofbusiness inArgentina.
National Treatment: Economic Emergency Law23.697 suspended the"Buy National" regime
inforce until thattimefortheprocurement ofgoods andservices (Article 23). Itsregulatory
Decree 1.224/89, asamended byDecree 2.284/91 oneconomic deregulation (confirmed byArticle 29
ofLawNo.24.307), stipulates preference forthepurchase orlease ofgoods ofdomestic origin in
thecaseofsimilar bidsofidentical quality andbenefits when theirprice isthesame asorlessthan
thatofforeign goods (Article 3ofDecree 1.224/89 andArticle 21ofDecree 2.284/91). Forprice
comparison purposes, theprice ofthegood offoreign origin willinclude current import duties and
other taxes andcharges required forittobeimported byaprivate importer without special privileges.
Article 61,paragraph 73,ofDecree 5.720/72 refers to"elements ofdomestic origin" asan
award criterion incaseofaprice tie.
Withrespect toprocurement ofworks andservices, preference willbegiven tolocalcompanies
incaseofequality ofbidsbetween adomestic andaforeign firm(Article 11ofDecree 1.224/89 and
Article 21ofDecree 2.284/91).
MFN Treatment: There arenoprovisions ofthiskindinthedomestic legislation.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.19
Page10
Procedures forhearing andreviewing complaints/appeals
10. What, ifany,aretheprocedures available forparties, domestic andforeign, tolodge
complaints against theaward ofacontract? Please provide details.
Article 61,paragraph 79,ofDecree 5.720/72 (Regulations onState Contracts) establishes a
mechanism forchallenging thepurchase orcontracting ofgoods andservices. Those concerned may
lodge achallenge when thepreliminary award isannounced, within aperiod ofnotlessthanthree
daysfrom theexpiry ofthetime-limit setfortheannouncement inquestion.
Challenges maybedecided bytheauthority responsible forapproving thecontract, byadecision
thatcannot besubsequent tothefinalaward decision. Itshould beborne inmind inthisconnection
thatthedefinitive award mustbemade within amaximum period of30daysfromthedateofopening
ofthebids(time-limit formaintenance ofbids), aperiod which isautomatically extended byfivedays
inthecaseofachallenge (Article 61,paragraph 61,ofDecree 5.720/72).
With respect topublic works andpublic works concessions, theprovisions oftheregulations
onState contracts apply.
II. MEMBERSHIPOFPLURILATERAL,REGIONALAND/ORBILATERALAGREEMENTS
11. IstheMemberpartytoanyplurilateral,regionaland/orbilateralagreementswithprovisions
ongovernment procurement? Ifso,please describe therelevant provisions.
Argentina isnotaparty toanyplurilateral, regional and/or bilateral agreements containing
provisions ongovernment procurement.
III. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OFSERVICES PROCUREMENT
12(a) Please provide statistics (ifavailable) onthenumber andvalue ofservices procurements
- Onbothanaggregate andsectoral basis;
- byorigin ofservices andsuppliers.
(b) Please provide statistics (ifavailable) onthe
- Share ofservices procurement intotalprocurement;
- share ofprocurement ofeachservice intotaldomestic output oftheservice;
- share ofprocurement ofeachservice intotaldomestic consumption oftheservice.
TheArgentine statistical system doesnotallow fortherequested breakdown.