Kensington Sales Group
Book a call
Guide

Selling to the Costa Rican government: Ley 9986 and SICOP.

Costa Rica consolidated its public purchasing under a single law and a single digital system. Here's how procurement works and where foreign suppliers start.

Updated November 1, 2026 · By Kensington Sales Group · 5-minute read

Key takeaways

  • Ley 9986, Costa Rica's General Public Procurement Law, took effect in December 2022 and was amended in 2025.
  • Public bodies must use a single digital procurement system, SICOP.
  • The Dirección de Contratación Pública runs the platform and the official supplier registry.
  • CAFTA-DR, which includes Costa Rica, carries government procurement obligations.

Costa Rica's procurement law

Costa Rica's public procurement is governed by Ley 9986, the Ley General de Contratación Pública, dated May 27, 2021.

The law took effect in December 2022 and was amended in March 2025 by Leyes 10654 and 10659. It brought most public bodies under one set of procurement rules.

Who runs procurement

The Autoridad de Contratación Pública, chaired by the Minister of Finance, sets procurement policy. The Dirección de Contratación Pública runs the digital procurement system and the official registry of suppliers and subcontractors.

SICOP

Ley 9986 requires public procurement to run through a single digital system, and that system is SICOP. Tenders, bids and awards are managed there, which also makes it the place to research past purchases.

Supplier registration

Suppliers register in the official electronic supplier registry, and bidders submit a sworn statement as part of their registration. Requirements for foreign companies should be confirmed with the Dirección de Contratación Pública before you bid.

Procurement methods

  • Ordinary procedures: licitación mayor, licitación menor and licitación reducida
  • Extraordinary procedures: remate (auction) and subasta inversa electrónica (electronic reverse auction)
  • Special procedures for cases such as urgency, real estate and services in competitive markets
  • Convenios marco (framework agreements)

CAFTA-DR

USTR lists CAFTA-DR, which includes Costa Rica, among US free trade agreements with government procurement obligations. Coverage depends on the entity and value thresholds.

How KSG helps

Kensington Sales Group's bilingual SDRs reach Central American public buyers in Spanish and book meetings for your team. See our Central & South America sales development.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Procurement rules in Latin America have changed significantly since 2023; confirm current requirements with the procurement agency or local counsel before bidding.

Sources: Ley 9986, Ley General de Contratación Pública; CRHoy on SICOP; USTR.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is SICOP?
SICOP is Costa Rica's digital public procurement system. Ley 9986 requires public procurement to run through a single digital system, which is SICOP.
What is Costa Rica's public procurement law?
Ley 9986, the Ley General de Contratación Pública, dated May 27, 2021. It took effect in December 2022 and was amended in 2025.
What procurement methods does Costa Rica use?
Ordinary procedures are licitación mayor, licitación menor and licitación reducida. Extraordinary procedures include auctions (remate) and electronic reverse auctions, and there are special procedures for cases such as urgency. Framework agreements (convenios marco) are also used.
Who runs procurement in Costa Rica?
The Autoridad de Contratación Pública sets procurement policy, and the Dirección de Contratación Pública runs the digital system and the official supplier registry.
Does CAFTA-DR cover government procurement in Costa Rica?
USTR lists CAFTA-DR, which includes Costa Rica, among US free trade agreements with government procurement obligations.

Ready to sell to governments in Latin America?

Book a 30-minute call. We'll talk through your target countries, your ideal buyers and how a bilingual English and Spanish sales development team can open doors — no commitment.

Book a 30-minute call Email sales@kensingtonsalesgroup.com