Update: Mexico – Government procurement by UNOPS

October 7, 2020

As previously reported, on August 12, 2020, the Amendment to Article 1 of the Public Sector Procurement, Leasing and Services Law came into force, through which the Mexican Government is empowered to acquire medicines through intergovernmental organizations.

In this context and based on the agreement recently signed by the Institute of Health for the Welfare of the United Mexican States (INSABI) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), for the management of the consolidated purchase of medicines and healing material for the period 2021-2024, the first informative session open to the national and international market was held last Monday, led by the Deputy Regional Director of UNOPS, the General Director of INSABI and the Head of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), where the following was communicated:

• 2380 codes for medical supplies and patented medicines are planned for tender, including single source and generics, where more than 800 national and international companies interested in participating in more than 90% of the codes have already been identified, with an initial investment of approximately $4 billion US dollars.
• Corresponding timelines were provided for the 2021 procurement process, for patented medicines and critical supply, and for generic medicines and medical supplies, as well as the estimates for the multi-year purchasing process 2022- 2024.
• The stages of the bidding procedure were briefly explained, emphasizing that it will be carried out in accordance with UNOPS’ regulations, assuring high standards of transparency and fair prices for quality, safe and effective products. (Regional Observatory of Medicines Prices).
• All types of vaccines are exempted from this process.
• The procedure applicable to marketing authorizations was explained in accordance with the agreement dated January 28, 2020 of the Ministry of Health (See OLIVARES’ circular N° 91)

OLIVARES will continue to monitor the development of the bidding process by UNOPS, to inform and advise our clients in the observance of their exclusive rights, free competition, and those derived from preferential conditions established in international treaties.