Sao Tome and Principe - Country Commercial Guide
Selling to the Public Sector
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Selling to the Government

U.S. firms interested in selling directly to the government should ensure that funds have been allocated in the São Toméan State Budget. To confirm this, contact each relevant Ministry to confirm the Government budgeted funds for the project or procurement. However, according to the Law 8/2009 which approves the Regulation of Public Procurement and Contracting, all Government acquisition or service contracting greater than STD 25,000 (currently $1,051) must be done through a public tender.

U.S. companies bidding on Government tenders may also qualify for U.S. Government advocacy. A unit of the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters bidding on public sector contracts with international governments and government agencies. 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 for Foreign Government Contracts for additional information.

Multilateral Development Banks and Financing Government Sales

Price, payment terms, and financing can be significant factors in winning a government contract. Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB). A helpful guide for working with the MDBs is the Guide to Doing Business with the Multilateral Development Banks. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s (USDOC) International Trade Administration (ITA) has a Foreign Commercial Service Officer stationed at each of the five different Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs):  the African Development Bank; the Asian Development Bank; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Inter-American Development Bank; and the World Bank. earn more by contacting the Commercial Liaison Office to the World Bank

Financing of Projects

Projects may be financed through national or international institutions.

Resources

Export-Import Bank of the United States

Country Limitation Schedule

Trade and Development Agency

SBA’s Office of International Trade: https://www.sba.gov/oit/

USDA Commodity Credit Corporation

U.S. Agency for International Development