Key takeaways
- A new federal procurement law (LAASSP) was published on April 16, 2025, and took effect the next day, replacing the 2000 law.
- Compras MX replaced CompraNet as the federal e-procurement platform and is being phased in by module.
- Public tenders can be national, international under trade agreements, or open international; national tenders are limited to Mexican bidders.
- USMCA's government procurement obligations apply between the United States and Mexico.
Mexico's 2025 procurement law
Mexico's federal government buys goods, leases and services under the Ley de Adquisiciones, Arrendamientos y Servicios del Sector Público (LAASSP).
A new LAASSP was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on April 16, 2025, and took effect on April 17, 2025, replacing the law in force since 2000. New implementing regulations took effect in December 2025. The Secretaría Anticorrupción y Buen Gobierno (Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Secretariat), which replaced the Secretaría de la Función Pública, oversees the system, and the finance ministry (Hacienda) plays a central role in consolidated purchases and framework agreements.
Compras MX
Compras MX is the federal government's new e-procurement platform, replacing CompraNet. The law calls it the Plataforma Digital de Contrataciones Públicas and phases it in by module; until a module is live, the CompraNet rules still apply. Compras MX covers federal procurement; Mexico's states and municipalities run their own systems.
Supplier registration
Bidders must register in the platform's electronic supplier registry, known as the Registro Único de Proveedores y Contratistas (RUPC), and keep their information current. The law provides an electronic identification for foreign suppliers generated by the platform. The U.S. Commercial Service, however, says companies need a Mexican tax ID to use the platform, so confirm current requirements before you register.
Procurement methods
- Licitación pública (public tender), the default method
- Invitación a cuando menos tres personas (invitation to at least three bidders)
- Adjudicación directa (direct award)
- Diálogo competitivo and negotiated direct awards, new methods reserved for Hacienda
- Framework agreements and purchases from the Tienda Digital and electronic catalogs
National and international tenders
| Tender type | Who can bid |
|---|---|
| National | Mexican bidders only, with domestic content requirements |
| International under trade agreements | Mexican bidders and bidders from countries with a trade agreement covering procurement |
| Open international | Bidders from any country |
In international tenders, Mexican law allows a price preference of up to 15% for national goods.
USMCA
USTR states that USMCA's government procurement obligations apply between the United States and Mexico. Coverage depends on the buying entity and value thresholds, so check whether your target agencies are covered.
Tips for foreign suppliers
- Watch for international tenders under trade agreements, which are open to US companies.
- Expect some transition as Compras MX modules roll out; check which rules apply to each procedure.
- Remember states and municipalities buy separately from the federal government.
- Work in Spanish, and consider a local partner or representative for delivery and support.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's bilingual SDRs reach Mexican 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: Cámara de Diputados, LAASSP; trade.gov, Mexico: selling to the government; Garrigues on the new LAASSP regulation; Pacific Alliance, Mexico public procurement system; USTR.