Reform to the Public Sector Acquisitions, Leasing and Services Law in Mexico

On July 29, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plenary session of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved the reform to the Public Sector Acquisitions, Leasing and Services Law (Ley de Adquisiciones, Arrendamientos y Servicios del Sector Público) to empower the president or any agency to acquire medical equipment, medicine and services abroad without the need for a national public bidding. Later the Senate also approved such reform.

The proposal adds a paragraph to Article 1 of the law, which states that "in the case of the acquisition of goods or provision of health services, when the market investigation concludes that the tender is not the ideal way to assure the State the best conditions (…) the dependencies and entities, with prior authorization of the Ministry (of Finance), may contract the acquisition of goods or provision of health services with these international intergovernmental organizations through previously established collaboration organizations." 

The reform will be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation.

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