Public procurement
We take pride in having one of the most comprehensive and respected practices in Panama in public procurement.
We advise clients throughout the entire process, including the bidding and award stage, formalization, finalization, and execution of the contract, claims and responses to modification requests by the contracting entities, and the termination and settlement of contracts.
Our consulting services are not limited to specific public procurement matters, but also include services such as necessary administrative registrations, required permits and certifications, advice on bonds and insurance, contractual risk analysis, support in the formulation of inquiries, observations, claims, and appeals, among others.
Our team participated in the drafting and enactment of Panama's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law. We have represented clients in very high-profile public contract cases, including the award of the first mobile/cellular phone concession in Panama, the construction and expansion of Panama City Metro Lines, the expansion of Tocumen International Airport, the mass transit concession in Panama and San Miguelito, road concessions, the construction of bridges, hospitals, administrative buildings, and other major infrastructure projects, as well as renewable energy facilities (hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy), among others.
- We serve international and domestic clients from the banking and finance, insurance, energy, telecommunications, public infrastructure, passenger transportation systems, technology, and general government supplier industries.
Acknowledgments
- Ranked in Band 2 by the prestigious British directory Chambers and Partners in its Latin America Guide.
- «Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez's team masters the regulatory framework, has a deep understanding of energy projects and is capable of handling complex situations. The lawyers offer practical and effective responses. Customer for Chambers and Partners, Latin America 2024.
- Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez receives praise from clients for its extensive experience and knowledge across the full range of energy projects and matters, including public acquisitions and concessions, project finance, regulatory affairs, and the sale and acquisition of energy companies. The team stands out for its expertise in various sectors, spanning the energy, oil and gas, logistics, marine infrastructure, telecommunications, and transportation industries. Editorial The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “A team of highly experienced and knowledgeable lawyers. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “Compared to other firms, AFRA has demonstrated great knowledge of the issues on which we have required advice, as well as promptness in its responses. The firm's different departments work together in a very coordinated manner, and there is very good communication with the client. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “All partners and associates are very competent. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “I have personally worked with Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez for a few years, during which they helped me and my client with great professionalism and followed a clear path, even in the most suddenly complex matters. In our experience, among the other strengths that make the firm a true asset for its clients (aside from the solid client recognition strategy, which naturally creates a sense of trust) are its people and the efficiency of the service, which is always highly available and open. We believe that the firm's practices fully meet our expectations, with a solid interest in our business and a long-term, equally wide-ranging plan. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “I would say that the best qualities of the people at Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez with whom we interact are openness and friendliness. Luis Horacio Moreno is a good example of this. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
Featured Transactions
- Legal advice to the Panamanian Consortium of Hospital Constructions, a consortium of three local construction companies that was assigned a contract of approximately USD$1 billion for the design, construction, financing, and equipping of the City of Health Hospital.
- Legal advice to Astilleros Puerto de Balboa, S.A. (Astibal) in the public procurement process for the qualification and operation of the Balboa Port shipyards, located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, for over US$35MM.
- Legal assistance to Logistic Park during the development, construction, and operations of the Colon Logistic Park (CLP) service logistics park. The project is expected to be a game changer in the logistics sector, as it will offer space availability within a terminal for the reception, storage, handling, and delivery of foreign goods, as an alternative to the traditional headquarters of the Colon Free Zone and the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area.
- Legal assistance to client in awarded proposal for the maintenance project of the elevators and escalators of Metro Line 1, and other contracts with Metro de Panamá.
- Legal assistance to the client on the awarded proposal for the maintenance services of the Metro Line 1 railway system for USD $ 26MM, and other contracts with the Panama Metro.
- Legal assistance to a client in the establishment of a joint venture for the construction and operation of Panama's largest Data Center.
- Continuous advisory services to the client in the execution of the Bidding Contract for Design Engineering Services, construction of Civil Works, Line and Station Auxiliary Facilities, and Interfaces with the Integral Railway System for the extension of Panama Metro Line 1 to Villa Zaíta.
- Client advisory during the prequalification process for the bidding of the construction and operation of the fourth power transmission line in Panama (2018).
- Advising a state entity on the negotiation of the Supplementary Performance Bond Execution Agreement between INAC and the Surety of the Contract for the bidding process for the project of studies, design, supply of materials, labor, equipment, administration, and construction of the City of the Arts.
- Client advisory in a tender for the supply of over 60 prefabricated bridges to the Ministry of Public Works of Panama.
- Client advisory on contract assignment and credit assignments related to the project «EXPANSION TO SIX (6) LANES – BEACHES CORRIDOR (SECTION 1: CHORRERA – SANTA CRUZ), PROVINCE OF WEST PANAMA«.
- Client advisory on the assignment and performance of the contract for the project “STUDIES, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND FINANCING OF THE MANUEL AMADOR GUERRERO HOSPITAL”.
- Advising a State Entity on the Preparation of the Tender Documents for two bidding processes of the National Authority of Land Transit and Transportation of Panama (ATTT) for the issuance services of driver's licenses, weight and dimension cards, and vehicle ownership titles.
- Representation of a multinational telecommunications company in the award of the first cellular mobile telephony concession contract.
- Legal advisory services to a client that is a concessionaire of the Mass Passenger Transportation System in the Districts of Panama and San Miguelito, followed by advising the client in the process of selling the concessionaire's shares to Metro de Panamá, S.A.
- Advisory services to Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. and support in the procurement bidding process for additional buses. Assistance in the clarification meeting and legal advice during the different phases of the bidding process.
- Advisory services to a local thermoelectric power generation company in the tender process for the purchase of 350MW of energy (PPA).
Acknowledgments
- Ranked in Band 2 by the prestigious British directory Chambers and Partners in its Latin America Guide.
- «Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez's team masters the regulatory framework, has a deep understanding of energy projects and is capable of handling complex situations. The lawyers offer practical and effective responses. Customer for Chambers and Partners, Latin America 2024.
- Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez receives praise from clients for its extensive experience and knowledge across the full range of energy projects and matters, including public acquisitions and concessions, project finance, regulatory affairs, and the sale and acquisition of energy companies. The team stands out for its expertise in various sectors, spanning the energy, oil and gas, logistics, marine infrastructure, telecommunications, and transportation industries. Editorial The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “A team of highly experienced and knowledgeable lawyers. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “Compared to other firms, AFRA has demonstrated great knowledge of the issues on which we have required advice, as well as promptness in its responses. The firm's different departments work together in a very coordinated manner, and there is very good communication with the client. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “All partners and associates are very competent. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “I have personally worked with Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez for a few years, during which they helped me and my client with great professionalism and followed a clear path, even in the most suddenly complex matters. In our experience, among the other strengths that make the firm a true asset for its clients (aside from the solid client recognition strategy, which naturally creates a sense of trust) are its people and the efficiency of the service, which is always highly available and open. We believe that the firm's practices fully meet our expectations, with a solid interest in our business and a long-term, equally wide-ranging plan. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- “I would say that the best qualities of the people at Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez with whom we interact are openness and friendliness. Luis Horacio Moreno is a good example of this. A client for The Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
Featured Transactions
- Legal advice to the Panamanian Consortium of Hospital Constructions, a consortium of three local construction companies that was assigned a contract of approximately USD$1 billion for the design, construction, financing, and equipping of the City of Health Hospital.
- Legal advice to Astilleros Puerto de Balboa, S.A. (Astibal) in the public procurement process for the qualification and operation of the Balboa Port shipyards, located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, for over US$35MM.
- Legal assistance to Logistic Park during the development, construction, and operations of the Colon Logistic Park (CLP) service logistics park. The project is expected to be a game changer in the logistics sector, as it will offer space availability within a terminal for the reception, storage, handling, and delivery of foreign goods, as an alternative to the traditional headquarters of the Colon Free Zone and the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area.
- Legal assistance to client in awarded proposal for the maintenance project of the elevators and escalators of Metro Line 1, and other contracts with Metro de Panamá.
- Legal assistance to the client on the awarded proposal for the maintenance services of the Metro Line 1 railway system for USD $ 26MM, and other contracts with the Panama Metro.
- Legal assistance to a client in the establishment of a joint venture for the construction and operation of Panama's largest Data Center.
- Continuous advisory services to the client in the execution of the Bidding Contract for Design Engineering Services, construction of Civil Works, Line and Station Auxiliary Facilities, and Interfaces with the Integral Railway System for the extension of Panama Metro Line 1 to Villa Zaíta.
- Client advisory during the prequalification process for the bidding of the construction and operation of the fourth power transmission line in Panama (2018).
- Advising a state entity on the negotiation of the Supplementary Performance Bond Execution Agreement between INAC and the Surety of the Contract for the bidding process for the project of studies, design, supply of materials, labor, equipment, administration, and construction of the City of the Arts.
- Client advisory in a tender for the supply of over 60 prefabricated bridges to the Ministry of Public Works of Panama.
- Client advisory on contract assignment and credit assignments related to the project «EXPANSION TO SIX (6) LANES – BEACHES CORRIDOR (SECTION 1: CHORRERA – SANTA CRUZ), PROVINCE OF WEST PANAMA«.
- Client advisory on the assignment and performance of the contract for the project “STUDIES, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND FINANCING OF THE MANUEL AMADOR GUERRERO HOSPITAL”.
- Advising a State Entity on the Preparation of the Tender Documents for two bidding processes of the National Authority of Land Transit and Transportation of Panama (ATTT) for the issuance services of driver's licenses, weight and dimension cards, and vehicle ownership titles.
- Representation of a multinational telecommunications company in the award of the first cellular mobile telephony concession contract.
- Legal advisory services to a client that is a concessionaire of the Mass Passenger Transportation System in the Districts of Panama and San Miguelito, followed by advising the client in the process of selling the concessionaire's shares to Metro de Panamá, S.A.
- Advisory services to Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. and support in the procurement bidding process for additional buses. Assistance in the clarification meeting and legal advice during the different phases of the bidding process.
- Advisory services to a local thermoelectric power generation company in the tender process for the purchase of 350MW of energy (PPA).