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).  The  Government of Senegal passed a  Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law in 2021 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: http://www.marchespublics.sn.  The Economic/Commercial Office monitors requests for tenders and reports those that may be of interest to U.S. suppliers to the Department of Commerce and the bids.state.gov website.  Bid specifications are usually in French, and proposals must also be submitted in French. 

U.S. companies bidding on Senegalese 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 U.S. Department of Commerce’s 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 dealing with infrastructure.  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.  DFC maintains a resident representative in Dakar.  U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank:

http://www.exim.gov) financing is available for short-and medium-term private sector transactions and provides export insurance.  

Resources

• Investment Promotion Agency APIX: https://investinsenegal.sn/
• American Chamber of Commerce: https://www.amchamsenegal.org/en/about
• Senegalese Bar Association:  https://www.ordredesavocats.sn/
• Customs Office https://www.douanes.sn/
• A list of all banks is available at https://apbef.sn/reseaux-des-membres/
• Public Tenders Regulatory Authority - (ARMP) – http://www.armp.sn/
• Droit Afrique: https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Senegal-Code-2019-petrolier.pdf
• U.S. Embassy Dakar’s business website:  https://sn.usembassy.gov/business/

FONSIS (sovereign wealth fund):  https://www.fonsis.org/en