Sustainable Public Procurement in the Sao Paulo State Government: An in-depth case study

This case study examines the Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) program of the Sao Paulo State Government, Brazil. It details the program's evolution from 2004, its legal foundations under Brazilian federal and state law, and the operational tools used to integrate socio-environmental criteria into the procurement of goods, services, and construction works. The document highlights the use of electronic systems, such as the Electronic Procurement Exchange (BEC/SP) and reverse auctions, to increase efficiency and transparency while promoting sustainable development.

• The Sao Paulo State Government manages a significant annual procurement budget of approximately USD 12 billion for goods, services, and construction works, positioning it as a major consumer capable of influencing sustainable development.
• The SPP program utilizes a 'Socio-Environmental Label' to identify goods in the BEC/SP catalog that possess socio-environmental advantages. As of the study's timeframe, 462 goods were recommended by this label, though the process generally relies on producer-supplied information rather than full life cycle analysis.
• The state employs the Cadterc registry and associated technical studies to standardize service contracts. These studies incorporate environmental parameters such as water and energy savings, minimization of atmospheric and noise pollution, and waste reduction.
• Electronic reverse auctions have significantly reduced procurement costs and corruption risks. Between 2003 and September 2011, these auctions resulted in total savings of approximately BRL 14.4 billion, with an average savings rate of 19.85% relative to reference values.
• The state maintains an electronic sanctions record system (www.sancoes.sp.gov.br) that acts as a 'blacklist' for natural and legal persons prohibited from contracting with the government due to administrative or environmental violations.
• Sabesp, a mixed-capital basic sanitation company, implements a rigorous pre-qualification process for strategic 'class A' goods. This involves on-site factory inspections to evaluate the entire production process and socio-environmental sustainability initiatives before a supplier is approved.
• To address the lack of SPP knowledge among public servants, the Administrative Development Foundation (Fundap) launched a distance-learning course in 2009. The course used a Virtual Learning Community (VLC) to facilitate interaction and knowledge exchange among 2,600 participants.
• The state's approach to sustainable construction is managed through the State Program of Sustainable Construction (PECCS), as the variety of construction works makes the standard Socio-Environmental Label difficult to apply.
• The Sao Paulo State Policy on Climate Change (PEMC) sets a target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels, utilizing SPP as a tool to readjust the government's purchasing power to meet this goal.

APA

Brauch, M. D. (2012). Sustainable Public Procurement in the Sao Paulo State Government: An in-depth case study. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/spp_sao_paulo.pdf

Chicago

Brauch, Martin Dietrich. Sustainable Public Procurement in the Sao Paulo State Government: An in-depth case study. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/spp_sao_paulo.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Brauch |first1=Martin Dietrich |title=Sustainable Public Procurement in the Sao Paulo State Government: An in-depth case study |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=July 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/spp_sao_paulo.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{brauch2012sustainable, author = {Brauch, Martin Dietrich}, title = {{Sustainable Public Procurement in the Sao Paulo State Government: An in-depth case study}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/spp_sao_paulo.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }