{"id":17635,"date":"2026-10-04T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=17635"},"modified":"2026-10-03T20:46:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T01:46:21","slug":"780m-in-panama-public-contracts-are-open-but-one-number-is-alarming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/business-economy\/780m-in-panama-public-contracts-are-open-but-one-number-is-alarming\/","title":{"rendered":"$780M in Panama Public Contracts Are Open, But One Number Is Alarming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Panama&#8217;s government procurement platform shows 342 open tenders valued at $780.4 million as of October 1, with nearly half closing within a week. The data reveals a striking pattern in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/business-economy\/no-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-panamanian-government-spent-66m-on-fuel-aid-yet-prices-still-rose\/\" rel=\"internal\">Panama public contracts<\/a><\/strong> where competition varies dramatically depending on what the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/country\/panama\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">state is buying<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of those 342 open acts, 194 worth $125.8 million will stop accepting proposals by October 8. The figures come from PanamaCompra, the official portal managed by the Directorate General of Public Procurement, and were processed by Nexo Licita as of October 1, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"et-diagram et-diagram--auto\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><style>.et-diagram {\n  --et-bg: #ffffff;\n  --et-surface: #f7f9fb;\n  --et-surface-alt: #eef4f9;\n  --et-border: #dfe7ee;\n  --et-border-strong: #c2ced8;\n  --et-text: #0f1b29;\n  --et-text-muted: #556576;\n  --et-primary: #0a5fa8;\n  --et-primary-dark: #084a82;\n  --et-primary-soft: #e3eefa;\n  --et-accent: #cb4739;\n  --et-accent-dark: #a5372c;\n  --et-gold: #d9a441;\n  --et-success: #2e9e5b;\n  --et-warning: #e08c1a;\n  --et-danger: #cf3d3d;\n  --et-font: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, \"Helvetica Neue\", Arial, sans-serif;\n  --et-mono: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, \"SF Mono\", Menlo, Consolas, monospace;\n  --et-radius-sm: 6px;\n  --et-radius: 10px;\n  --et-radius-lg: 14px;\n}\n.et-diagram {\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n  line-height: 1.55 !important;\n  margin: clamp(18px, 3vw, 32px) 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  max-width: 100% !important;\n  box-sizing: border-box !important;\n  background: var(--et-bg) !important;\n  border: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  border-radius: var(--et-radius-lg) !important;\n  overflow: hidden !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n  display: block !important;\n}\n.et-diagram *,\n.et-diagram *::before,\n.et-diagram *::after { box-sizing: border-box !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__header {\n  display: flex !important;\n  align-items: center !important;\n  gap: clamp(8px, 1.5vw, 14px) !important;\n  padding: clamp(10px, 1.8vw, 14px) clamp(12px, 2.2vw, 20px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f7f9fb 0%, #eef4f9 100%) !important;\n  position: relative !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__header::after {\n  content: '' !important;\n  position: absolute !important;\n  left: 0 !important;\n  right: 0 !important;\n  bottom: -1px !important;\n  height: 2px !important;\n  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--et-accent), var(--et-gold), var(--et-primary)) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__logo {\n  height: clamp(24px, 3.5vw, 34px) !important;\n  width: clamp(24px, 3.5vw, 34px) !important;\n  flex-shrink: 0 !important;\n  display: block !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  border: 0 !important;\n  border-radius: 0 !important;\n  box-shadow: none !important;\n  object-fit: contain !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__title {\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(13px, 2vw, 16px) !important;\n  font-weight: 700 !important;\n  letter-spacing: -0.01em !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n  line-height: 1.3 !important;\n  flex: 1 !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n  text-transform: none !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body {\n  padding: clamp(18px, 3vw, 28px) clamp(14px, 2.4vw, 24px) clamp(20px, 3.2vw, 30px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body > * + * {\n  margin-top: clamp(24px, 4vw, 40px) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body > * + *::before {\n  content: '' !important;\n  display: block !important;\n  height: 1px !important;\n  background: var(--et-border) !important;\n  margin: clamp(-12px, -2vw, -20px) 0 clamp(12px, 2vw, 20px) 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body > .et-notes + .et-notes::before {\n  display: none !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__caption {\n  padding: clamp(10px, 1.8vw, 14px) clamp(12px, 2.2vw, 20px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  border-top: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  background: var(--et-surface) !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(10px, 1.7vw, 12.5px) !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n  line-height: 1.5 !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__caption cite {\n  font-style: normal !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__caption a {\n  color: var(--et-primary) !important;\n  text-decoration: underline !important;\n  text-underline-offset: 2px !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stats {\n  display: grid !important;\n  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr)) !important;\n  grid-auto-flow: row !important;\n  gap: clamp(4px, 0.6vw, 8px) !important;\n  align-items: stretch !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  margin-top: clamp(20px, 3vw, 32px) !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  width: 100% !important;\n  box-sizing: border-box !important;\n  direction: ltr !important;\n  float: none !important;\n  clear: both !important;\n  position: relative !important;\n  left: auto !important;\n  right: auto !important;\n  transform: none !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stats > *:not(.et-stat) {\n  display: none !important;\n  width: 0 !important;\n  height: 0 !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  border: 0 !important;\n  position: absolute !important;\n  pointer-events: none !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stat {\n  order: 0 !important;\n  grid-column-start: auto !important;\n  grid-column-end: auto !important;\n  grid-row-start: auto !important;\n  grid-row-end: auto !important;\n  grid-area: auto !important;\n  direction: ltr !important;\n  float: none !important;\n  position: relative !important;\n  left: auto !important;\n  right: auto !important;\n  top: auto !important;\n  bottom: auto !important;\n  transform: none !important;\n  background: #f7f9fb !important;\n  border: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  border-top: 3px solid var(--et-primary) !important;\n  border-radius: var(--et-radius) !important;\n  padding: clamp(12px, 2.2vw, 22px) clamp(10px, 1.6vw, 16px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  text-align: center !important;\n  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(15, 27, 41, 0.04) !important;\n  box-sizing: border-box !important;\n  display: flex !important;\n  flex-direction: column !important;\n  justify-content: center !important;\n  gap: clamp(5px, 0.8vw, 9px) !important;\n  align-self: stretch !important;\n  width: auto !important;\n  min-width: 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stats > .et-stat:nth-child(1) { grid-column: 1 !important; grid-row: 1 !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-stats > .et-stat:nth-child(2) { grid-column: 2 !important; grid-row: 1 !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-stats > .et-stat:nth-child(3) { grid-column: 3 !important; grid-row: 1 !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-stats > .et-stat:nth-child(4) { grid-column: 4 !important; grid-row: 1 !important; }\n\n.et-diagram .et-stat:nth-child(2n) { border-top-color: var(--et-accent) !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-stat:nth-child(3n) { border-top-color: var(--et-gold) !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-stat span,\n.et-diagram .et-stat .et-stat__value,\n.et-diagram .et-stat .et-stat__label,\n.et-diagram .et-stat .et-stat__desc {\n  display: block !important;\n  width: 100% !important;\n  text-align: center !important;\n  float: none !important;\n  clear: both !important;\n  position: static !important;\n  left: auto !important;\n  right: auto !important;\n  transform: none !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  word-break: break-word !important;\n  overflow-wrap: anywhere !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stat .et-stat__value {\n  font-size: clamp(16px, 3vw, 24px) !important;\n  font-weight: 800 !important;\n  line-height: 1.15 !important;\n  letter-spacing: -0.02em !important;\n  color: var(--et-primary) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stat .et-stat__label {\n  font-size: clamp(9px, 1.5vw, 11.5px) !important;\n  font-weight: 700 !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n  text-transform: uppercase !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.05em !important;\n  line-height: 1.4 !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  hyphens: auto !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-stat .et-stat__desc {\n  font-size: clamp(9px, 1.5vw, 11.5px) !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n  line-height: 1.45 !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  max-height: 3.6em !important;\n  overflow: hidden !important;\n}\n@media (max-width: 640px) {}<\/style>\n  <figcaption class=\"et-diagram__header\">\n    <span class=\"et-diagram__logo-wrap\" itemprop=\"creator\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\">\n      <meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Expat Times\">\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"et-diagram__logo\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"34\" height=\"34\" alt=\"Expat Times\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\">\n    <\/span>\n    <h3 class=\"et-diagram__title\" itemprop=\"name\">Public Procurement: 342 Open Tenders Worth $780.4M<\/h3>\n  <\/figcaption>\n  <div class=\"et-diagram__body\" itemprop=\"description\">\n    <div class=\"et-stats\">\n      <div class=\"et-stat\">\n        <span class=\"et-stat__value\">342<\/span>\n        <span class=\"et-stat__label\">Public tenders open to proposals as of October 1<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"et-stat\">\n        <span class=\"et-stat__value\">$780.4M<\/span>\n        <span class=\"et-stat__label\">Total reference price of those tenders<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"et-stat\">\n        <span class=\"et-stat__value\">46%<\/span>\n        <span class=\"et-stat__label\">Of tenders awarded with minutes since 2024 received a single proposal<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"et-stat\">\n        <span class=\"et-stat__value\">4.9<\/span>\n        <span class=\"et-stat__label\">Average proposals for works tenders<\/span>\n        <span class=\"et-stat__desc\">vs. 2.2 for services tenders<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"et-diagram__caption\">Source: see article above<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Competition Gaps in Panama Public Contracts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A persistent challenge in the procurement system involves single-bidder awards. Since 2024, 46 percent of all adjudicated acts with formal records received only one proposal. The problem is most acute in services, where 54 percent of awarded contracts attracted a single company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Goods procurement shows a similar trend, with 48 percent of acts receiving just one bid. But infrastructure tells a different story entirely. Construction projects average 4.9 proposals per tender, and only 15 percent of works contracts end up with a single offeror. Services average just 2.2 proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The database covers 13,534 adjudicated acts with formal records since 2024. It excludes smaller purchases under $10,000 and direct contracting, which do not publish received proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"et-diagram et-diagram--bar\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><style>.et-diagram {\n  --et-bg: #ffffff;\n  --et-surface: #f7f9fb;\n  --et-surface-alt: #eef4f9;\n  --et-border: #dfe7ee;\n  --et-border-strong: #c2ced8;\n  --et-text: #0f1b29;\n  --et-text-muted: #556576;\n  --et-primary: #0a5fa8;\n  --et-primary-dark: #084a82;\n  --et-primary-soft: #e3eefa;\n  --et-accent: #cb4739;\n  --et-accent-dark: #a5372c;\n  --et-gold: #d9a441;\n  --et-success: #2e9e5b;\n  --et-warning: #e08c1a;\n  --et-danger: #cf3d3d;\n  --et-font: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, \"Helvetica Neue\", Arial, sans-serif;\n  --et-mono: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, \"SF Mono\", Menlo, Consolas, monospace;\n  --et-radius-sm: 6px;\n  --et-radius: 10px;\n  --et-radius-lg: 14px;\n}\n.et-diagram {\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n  line-height: 1.55 !important;\n  margin: clamp(18px, 3vw, 32px) 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  max-width: 100% !important;\n  box-sizing: border-box !important;\n  background: var(--et-bg) !important;\n  border: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  border-radius: var(--et-radius-lg) !important;\n  overflow: hidden !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n  display: block !important;\n}\n.et-diagram *,\n.et-diagram *::before,\n.et-diagram *::after { box-sizing: border-box !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__header {\n  display: flex !important;\n  align-items: center !important;\n  gap: clamp(8px, 1.5vw, 14px) !important;\n  padding: clamp(10px, 1.8vw, 14px) clamp(12px, 2.2vw, 20px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f7f9fb 0%, #eef4f9 100%) !important;\n  position: relative !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__header::after {\n  content: '' !important;\n  position: absolute !important;\n  left: 0 !important;\n  right: 0 !important;\n  bottom: -1px !important;\n  height: 2px !important;\n  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--et-accent), var(--et-gold), var(--et-primary)) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__logo {\n  height: clamp(24px, 3.5vw, 34px) !important;\n  width: clamp(24px, 3.5vw, 34px) !important;\n  flex-shrink: 0 !important;\n  display: block !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  border: 0 !important;\n  border-radius: 0 !important;\n  box-shadow: none !important;\n  object-fit: contain !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__title {\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(13px, 2vw, 16px) !important;\n  font-weight: 700 !important;\n  letter-spacing: -0.01em !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n  line-height: 1.3 !important;\n  flex: 1 !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n  text-transform: none !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body {\n  padding: clamp(18px, 3vw, 28px) clamp(14px, 2.4vw, 24px) clamp(20px, 3.2vw, 30px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body > * + * {\n  margin-top: clamp(24px, 4vw, 40px) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body > * + *::before {\n  content: '' !important;\n  display: block !important;\n  height: 1px !important;\n  background: var(--et-border) !important;\n  margin: clamp(-12px, -2vw, -20px) 0 clamp(12px, 2vw, 20px) 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__body > .et-notes + .et-notes::before {\n  display: none !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__caption {\n  padding: clamp(10px, 1.8vw, 14px) clamp(12px, 2.2vw, 20px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  border-top: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  background: var(--et-surface) !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(10px, 1.7vw, 12.5px) !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n  line-height: 1.5 !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__caption cite {\n  font-style: normal !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-diagram__caption a {\n  color: var(--et-primary) !important;\n  text-decoration: underline !important;\n  text-underline-offset: 2px !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-bar-chart {\n  display: flex !important;\n  flex-direction: column !important;\n  gap: clamp(8px, 1.4vw, 12px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-bar {\n  display: grid !important;\n  grid-template-columns: minmax(70px, 140px) 1fr minmax(50px, 90px) !important;\n  gap: clamp(6px, 1.2vw, 10px) !important;\n  align-items: center !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(11px, 1.8vw, 13.5px) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-bar__label {\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n  line-height: 1.4 !important;\n  overflow: hidden !important;\n  text-overflow: ellipsis !important;\n  white-space: nowrap !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-bar__track {\n  background: var(--et-surface-alt) !important;\n  border-radius: 999px !important;\n  height: clamp(14px, 2.4vw, 20px) !important;\n  overflow: hidden !important;\n  position: relative !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  border: 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-bar__fill {\n  height: 100% !important;\n  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--et-primary), #3aa9de) !important;\n  border-radius: 999px !important;\n  min-width: 4px !important;\n  box-shadow: inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08) !important;\n  display: block !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  border: 0 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-bar__value {\n  font-family: var(--et-mono) !important;\n  font-weight: 700 !important;\n  font-size: clamp(10px, 1.7vw, 12.5px) !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n  text-align: right !important;\n  line-height: 1.4 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-notes {\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: clamp(14px, 2.2vw, 20px) clamp(14px, 2.4vw, 22px) !important;\n  background: #fafbfc !important;\n  border: 1px solid var(--et-border) !important;\n  border-radius: var(--et-radius-sm) !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(10.5px, 1.7vw, 12.5px) !important;\n  line-height: 1.7 !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n  text-align: left !important;\n  display: block !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-notes p {\n  margin: 0 0 clamp(10px, 1.6vw, 14px) 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  font-family: var(--et-font) !important;\n  font-size: clamp(10.5px, 1.7vw, 12.5px) !important;\n  line-height: 1.7 !important;\n  color: var(--et-text-muted) !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-notes p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0 !important; }\n.et-diagram .et-notes strong {\n  color: var(--et-text) !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n}\n.et-diagram .et-notes a {\n  color: var(--et-primary) !important;\n  text-decoration: underline !important;\n  text-underline-offset: 2px !important;\n}\n@media (max-width: 640px) {.et-diagram .et-bar { grid-template-columns: 1fr !important; gap: 5px !important; }.et-diagram .et-bar__value { text-align: left !important; }.et-diagram .et-bar__label { white-space: normal !important; overflow: visible !important; text-overflow: clip !important; }}<\/style>\n  <figcaption class=\"et-diagram__header\">\n    <span class=\"et-diagram__logo-wrap\" itemprop=\"creator\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\">\n      <meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Expat Times\">\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"et-diagram__logo\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"34\" height=\"34\" alt=\"Expat Times\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\">\n    <\/span>\n    <h3 class=\"et-diagram__title\" itemprop=\"name\">Panama Public Contracts With Single Bids by Category, 2024&ndash;2026<\/h3>\n  <\/figcaption>\n  <div class=\"et-diagram__body\" itemprop=\"description\">\n    <div class=\"et-bar-chart\">\n      <div class=\"et-bar\">\n        <span class=\"et-bar__label\">Services<\/span>\n        <div class=\"et-bar__track\"><div class=\"et-bar__fill\" style=\"width:100%\"><\/div><\/div>\n        <span class=\"et-bar__value\">54.4%<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"et-bar\">\n        <span class=\"et-bar__label\">Goods<\/span>\n        <div class=\"et-bar__track\"><div class=\"et-bar__fill\" style=\"width:88.6%\"><\/div><\/div>\n        <span class=\"et-bar__value\">48.2%<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"et-bar\">\n        <span class=\"et-bar__label\">Works<\/span>\n        <div class=\"et-bar__track\"><div class=\"et-bar__fill\" style=\"width:27%\"><\/div><\/div>\n        <span class=\"et-bar__value\">14.7%<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"et-notes\">\n      <p><strong>13,534<\/strong> contracts awarded with a record of award in PanamaCompra since 2024. Services: <strong>3,787<\/strong> awards, <strong>2.22<\/strong> average proposals. Goods: <strong>7,997<\/strong> awards, <strong>2.38<\/strong> average proposals. Works: <strong>1,750<\/strong> awards, <strong>4.87<\/strong> average proposals. Includes purchases over $10,000 and tenders.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"et-diagram__caption\">Source: <cite>PanamaCompra (DGCP)<\/cite>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.panamacompra.gob.pa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">panamacompra.gob.pa<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Major Infrastructure Projects Driving Current Spending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Construction dominates the money currently open for bidding. A total of 83 works contracts account for $497.7 million of the $780.4 million available. Services represent 107 acts worth $229.7 million, while goods make up 152 acts totaling $52.9 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The single largest open tender is the expansion of the South Pier at Tocumen International Airport&#8217;s Terminal 2, valued at $208.75 million. After four addenda, the deadline for proposals is now October 16, pushed back from the original September 28 closing date in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"metro panama\" class=\"wp-image-8827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/metro-panama-1200x800.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">metro panama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three other significant tenders close in the coming weeks. Electricity supply for Metro Lines 1 and 2, worth $84.2 million, closes October 19. That same day, the National Internet Network 3.0 connectivity contract valued at $30 million also closes. The Los Santos Judicial City project, worth $39.5 million, closes October 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implications for Suppliers and Transparency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For businesses selling goods or services to the Panamanian state, the data underscores a sobering reality. Many contracts are effectively won without competitive pressure, particularly in service categories. This concentration of single-bidder awards raises questions about value for public money and the effectiveness of procurement rules designed to foster competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contrast between infrastructure and services is especially telling. Construction&#8217;s robust competition suggests that when projects are large, visible, and technically complex, more firms participate. Services, often smaller and less scrutinized, attract fewer bidders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"construction workers\" class=\"wp-image-13595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/construction-workers-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">construction workers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PanamaCompra processes data from the Directorate General of Public Procurement. The platform tracks public acts from 2015 through 2026, with 2.07 million total acts recorded. The current snapshot of 342 open tenders reflects the state&#8217;s ongoing demand for goods, works, and services across multiple sectors, from airport expansion to judicial infrastructure and public transit electricity supply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Panama&#8217;s government procurement platform shows 342 open tenders valued at $780.4 million as of October 1, with nearly half closing within a week. The data reveals a striking pattern in Panama public contracts where competition varies dramatically depending on what the state is buying. Of those 342 open acts, 194 worth $125.8 million will stop<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17636,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[30,87],"tags":[3300,133,50,7326,7327],"class_list":["post-17635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business-economy","category-featured","tag-government-procurement","tag-infrastructure","tag-panama","tag-procurement","tag-public-tenders"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17635"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17637,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17635\/revisions\/17637"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}