public contract

[ˈpʌblɪk ˈkɒntrækt]
nounpl: public contracts
contrato público
1. A legally binding agreement between a government entity or public administration and a private company or individual for the provision of goods, services, or works
The city awarded a public contract to the construction firm for building the new highway.
A cidade concedeu um contrato público à empresa de construção para a obra da nova rodovia.
2. A contract subject to public law, competitive bidding processes, and transparency requirements
All public contracts must be published and open to competitive bidding.
Todos os contratos públicos devem ser publicados e abertos a licitação competitiva.
3. An agreement that is a matter of public record and subject to governmental oversight and accountability
Public contracts require full disclosure of terms and conditions to ensure transparency.
Os contratos públicos exigem divulgação completa dos termos e condições para garantir transparência.
In Brazil, public contracts (contratos públicos) are regulated by Law 8,666/93 and Law 14,133/21, which establish strict requirements for transparency, competitive bidding (licitação), and accountability. Public procurement is a significant part of government operations and is subject to oversight by the Court of Accounts (Tribunal de Contas). In the USA, public contracts at federal, state, and local levels follow specific procurement regulations to ensure fair competition and prevent corruption. Both countries emphasize transparency as a cornerstone of democratic governance.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
government contractprocurement contractadministrative contractpublic procurement agreement
Antonyms / Antônimos
private contractprivate agreementbilateral contract

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
contrato público
Standard term used in administrative and legal contexts
São Paulo
contrato público
Commonly used in state and municipal government; also 'contratação pública'
Rio de Janeiro
contrato público
Standard usage in government and business contexts
Portugal
contrato público
Also referred to as 'contratação pública' or 'contratos de direito público'

Related Words

public procurementbidding processtendergovernment spendingpublic administrationcontract law

Related Idioms & Phrases

competitive bidding for public contracts
public contract law
transparent public contracts
awarding a public contract
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