Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.

Algerian government institutions, including ministries, agencies, and local governments, buy foreign-made goods and services by way of competitive or restricted tenders. For most security-related tenders, foreign bidders must deal directly with the client agency without the use of local agents, but tender requests and documents may be obtained through local representatives or by contacting Mr. Billal Zidi at the private sector firm Algerian Tenders at billal.zidi@tenders.com; tel: +213-21-28-41-13 or +213-21-28-41-18; fax: +213-21-28-41-15. Although the law on public tenders does not require the state-owned companies to purchase goods and services through tenders, many do.

Algeria has taken steps to improve the transparency of its contracting process. Most government contracts are awarded through a two-step tender process: technical bids are first reviewed to ensure compliance with tender requirements and to evaluate competing specifications, after which financial bids are reviewed. Competitors are sometimes short-listed after the technical offers are opened, and sometimes companies are pre-qualified for large tenders, particularly in oil and gas development.

Military and security-related contracts are usually tendered on a restricted basis, whereby the agency will ask a number of specific companies to bid on a request for proposal. U.S. firms that would like to send information about their goods and services to the Algerian military should send a letter to the following address and comply with the instructions below:

Ministère de la Défense Nationale
DREC (Direction des Relations Exterieures) Les Tagarins, El-Biar, Alger
A Monsieur le Directeur

1)  Request to meet with the department responsible for your specific sector.
2)  Ensure NOT to mention any specific names of Algerian military officials.
3)  Ensure the letter is written in French.

U.S. companies should carefully adhere to all specific Algerian tender guidelines. Although Algeria is a member of the Arab League, there is no known instance in which U.S. firms have been disadvantaged by Algeria’s acquiescence to the Arab League’s boycott against Israel.

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.