Implementing the 'Technique and Price' Criterion in Public Procurement in Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities for Specialized Technical Services of Predominantly Intellectual Nature (STENPI)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2319-0558.v13i1p%25pKeywords:
Technique and Price, STENPI, Public Procurement, Brazil, Law 14.133/2021, Public Administration, Contract ManagementAbstract
This study investigates the implementation of Brazil's New Bidding Law No. 14,133/2021 (Lei nº 14.133/2021), focusing on the "Technique and Price" evaluation criterion for Specialized Technical Services of Predominantly Intellectual Nature (STENPI—Serviços Técnicos Especializados de Natureza Predominantemente Intelectual). Utilizing a qualitative interpretive approach, researchers conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders, alongside documentary analysis of 64 objection requests submitted by sector unions. Five key themes emerged from reflexive thematic analysis: institutional and technical capacity gaps, systemic implementation barriers, cultural and behavioral resistance, the complexity of technical evaluation, and the valorization of professional services. These themes underscore the challenges hindering effective adoption while indicating the potential for improving public procurement quality. The research provides the first empirical analysis of Law 14,133/2021's implementation in the STENPI sector, demonstrating that the "Technique and Price" criterion offers a better balance between technical quality and economic viability. The analysis reveals that excessive discount percentages (averaging 42.57% in federal infrastructure projects) negatively impact contract execution capacity. The study suggests pathways for institutional strengthening, such as criteria standardization, team training, and alignment of control bodies, with implications for public procurement reform in developing countries moving from lowest-price to value-based strategies.
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