The Secretariat for Investment Partnerships of the State of São Paulo (SPI) has opened a public consultation to receive contributions on the guidelines for Competitive Dialogue, a bidding model provided for in Brazil’s new Public Procurement Law that allows the public sector to engage in dialogue with the market before the final phase of the tender. The initiative assesses the use of this instrument as a new complementary tool for project qualification. The deadline for submitting suggestions is February 23, 2026.
The initiative aims to gather input from society, experts and the market regarding the adoption of Competitive Dialogue as an additional tool available to the State in structuring partnership projects, especially those of greater complexity. The consultation does not alter ongoing projects nor replace the models currently used by the Government of São Paulo.
“The proposal is to assess the incorporation of an additional tool into the set of instruments already used by the State, particularly for more complex projects. Competitive Dialogue allows for deeper technical discussions before the bidding process, contributing to better-structured bid notices aligned with international best practices,” said Rafael Benini, Secretary for Investment Partnerships of the State of São Paulo.
Competitive Dialogue is a procedure that allows the public sector to engage in in-depth technical discussions with potential bidders before the final stage of the tender, contributing to the development of more mature, secure solutions aligned with market realities. It is a model widely used in other countries and has the potential to increase the attractiveness and quality of public projects.
The proposal under consultation provides for a process structured in clear stages, beginning with the selection of qualified participants, followed by a technical dialogue phase and, subsequently, a competitive phase conducted under traditional bidding rules. The objective is to deliver a more robust bid notice, with greater predictability and alignment between the public sector and the market.
SPI emphasizes that any eventual use of Competitive Dialogue will be complementary in nature and applied only when technically appropriate. The established stages of studies, public consultations and public hearings remain pillars of São Paulo’s partnership model.
Contributions received during the public consultation will support the Government’s assessment regarding the incorporation of this instrument into its partnership portfolio, reinforcing the commitment to transparency, dialogue and continuous improvement of infrastructure and public service projects.
The documents related to Public Consultation SPI No. 03/2026 are available on the Secretariat for Investment Partnerships website, in the social participation section at https://www.parceriaseminvestimentos.sp.gov.br/. Submissions may be sent until February 23, 2026.