Brazil's government contracts over $25 billion annually with private companies. Out of 794,000+ registered suppliers, only 714 are foreign — and only 59 have ever won a contract. The barrier is legal and procedural. We remove it.
In 2025, Brazil recorded its largest infrastructure investment cycle in history — $56 billion contracted, led by the private sector. The government is actively seeking foreign companies: road shows were held in Italy and Portugal, and a new wave of concessions in energy, sanitation, and transport is underway.
Lei 14.133/2021 formally opened the door: foreign companies can bid on Brazilian government contracts without incorporating a local entity. A CNPJ (Brazilian tax ID) is only required upon contract signing — after you win. Upfront risk is minimal.
The challenge is not eligibility — it's execution. Brazil's procurement ecosystem operates entirely in Portuguese, with specific documentation requirements, procedural rules, and compliance obligations that have no equivalent in other markets. That is precisely where we operate.
Speak with a specialistLei 14.133/2021 allows foreign participation without prior Brazilian registration. But the procedural requirements — SICAF registration, documentation equivalency, bid submission protocols — are entirely in Portuguese and highly specific. Most foreign companies fail at the procedural stage, not the eligibility stage.
Of the 714 foreign companies registered in SICAF, over 270 have never submitted a single bid. The most common reason: no qualified legal support to navigate the bid submission process, interpret edital requirements, and respond to disqualification challenges in real time.
Art. 70 of Lei 14.133/2021 grants foreign companies the right to present equivalent documentation when Brazilian-specific certificates cannot be obtained. Enforcing this right requires an immediate, well-structured administrative appeal — filed within hours of disqualification. We do this.
Federal Decree 12.304/2024 made integrity programs mandatory for large government contracts. A false compliance declaration disqualifies the company from all federal tenders. We structure, implement, and validate compliance programs to CGU, AGU, and TCU standards — including for foreign-headquartered companies.
$27B in highway concessions in 2025. Ports, railways, and urban mobility projects follow. Brazil's infrastructure gap — compared to GDP — is one of the largest in the G20, creating a multi-decade pipeline for international contractors.
Brazil's 2020 Sanitation Framework Law opened the entire water and sewage market to private operators. Only 30% of municipalities are privately operated today — with billions in PPP contracts being structured through 2026 and beyond.
Brazil contracted $12.5B in transmission lines in 2025. Solar and wind capacity is expanding at record pace. EDP (Portugal) won a 30-year distribution concession renewal in 2025. Foreign energy companies are actively welcomed.
Solid waste PPPs are being structured across hundreds of Brazilian municipalities. ESG-aligned concessions are prioritized under the new procurement law, creating opportunities for European operators with verified environmental credentials.
Federal, state, and municipal governments contract large-scale digital infrastructure, surveillance systems, urban mobility platforms, and AI-based public services. Brazil is one of the fastest-growing GovTech markets in Latin America.
Hospital PPPs, diagnostic centers, and social infrastructure concessions are among the most stable long-term contracts in Brazil's public market. Federal and state programs drive consistent deal flow, with international operators increasingly present.
We assess your company profile, sector, and target contract type. We map the most suitable active tenders, identify legal requirements specific to your country of origin, and outline the fastest path to SICAF compliance.
We prepare, apostille, and submit all required documentation to Brazil's Unified Supplier Registry. We manage the full registration process and keep your file current — including renewals and regulatory updates.
We review the edital (tender document), identify risk clauses, guide your technical and commercial proposal, represent your company during the session, and file immediate appeals if disqualification occurs.
Post-award, we manage contract performance, economic rebalancing claims, sanctions defense, and payment enforcement. Permanent legal coverage throughout the full contract lifecycle.
Full management of Brazil's Unified Supplier Registry — documentation preparation, apostillement coordination, submission, and ongoing monitoring to maintain active registration status.
Deep legal review of tender documents, qualification requirements, and contract clauses — identifying risks and opportunities before you commit resources to a bid.
Immediate administrative appeals under Art. 70 of Lei 14.133/2021 — enforcing your right to present equivalent foreign documentation when disqualification occurs.
Appointment and management of your mandatory Brazilian legal representative for contract execution, judicial proceedings, and regulatory interactions.
Integrity program structuring under Decree 12.304/2024 — validated to CGU, AGU, and TCU standards. Mandatory for high-value contracts and increasingly required at state level.
Economic-financial rebalancing claims when original contract conditions change due to inflation, FX shifts, regulatory changes, or supervening events — administrative and judicial proceedings.
Defense against fines, unilateral contract terminations, suspension orders, and debarment — focused on nullifying the penalty or achieving its drastic reduction before the competent authority.
Representation in special audits and liability proceedings before the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and state equivalents across all Brazilian jurisdictions.
Recovery of delayed government payments, monetary correction, interest claims, and precatório enforcement against federal, state, and municipal entities that fail to pay on time.
Negotiation and structuring of leniency agreements under Brazil's Anti-Corruption Law (Lei 12.846/2013) — minimizing sanctions while preserving business continuity and market access.
Before committing resources to Brazil's public procurement market, international companies have specific, practical questions. We've answered the most critical ones below — directly and without jargon.
If your question isn't here, our free 30-minute diagnostic call is the fastest way to get answers specific to your company profile, country of origin, and target sector.
Book a free call →A practical 14-page guide covering everything a foreign company needs to know before entering Brazil's public procurement market — written in plain English by specialists in Brazilian public law.
Valerio Sociedade Individual de Advocacia is a nationally active Brazilian law firm with a solid track record advising companies that contract with the government. Under Dr. Sandro Valerio's leadership, the firm has accumulated over two decades of experience in public procurement, administrative contracts, and corporate defense before control bodies and superior courts.
With a track record across high-profile national proceedings, the firm has built recognized expertise defending companies in complex cases before the TCU, CGU, STJ, and STF — including major infrastructure contracts, public works, and ongoing service agreements. For international clients, we provide full English-language service, operate across time zones, and represent your interests at every stage of the Brazilian procurement lifecycle.
Contact us for a free 30-minute initial consultation. We assess your company profile, map relevant active tenders, and outline the fastest legal path to your first Brazilian government contract. Full English-language service.