Uruguay's public procurement

Management signals

Five measurements of how each state body buys: who the money concentrates on, whether awards come in bursts, how much is awarded directly, how long anyone had to compete, and how many price flags were left unexplained.

None of these measurements proves an irregularity. All of them have legitimate explanations: a hospital buying oxygen from the single licensed supplier concentrates 100% and is perfectly in order. A signal says only that the body sits among the highest on that dimension. It is a starting point for a question, never a conclusion.

Measured over awards from 27/10/2023 to 27/10/2026 · 268 bodies with at least 20 contracts

What each signal measures

Concentration in one supplier: Share of awarded money that went to a single supplier. An upper bound: the contract amount is not apportioned per supplier, so a shared award counts fully for each. Marked from 47% (top 10%) and high from 74% (top 3%).
Awards in bursts: How many times the body made 8 or more separate awards to the same supplier within one month. Counted once per supplier per month, so a body can accumulate several in the same month. It is the shape of contract splitting, and also the shape of a hospital pharmacy ordering often from one distributor. Marked from 19.600000000000023 (top 10%) and high from 83.88000000000011 (top 3%).
Direct awarding: Share of direct or exception purchases among the awards whose procedure could be resolved. Only 27% of awards carry a procedure, and nationally direct purchase is already 66%, so what matters is the position relative to the rest, not the number alone. Marked from 98% (top 10%) and high from 100% (top 3%).
Express bidding window: Calls whose bidding window fell in the shortest 5% for their own procedure. The threshold is per procedure because they are not comparable: an Abbreviated Tender never runs under 3.5 days, while a Direct Purchase runs a third of its calls in under 3. Marked from 10% (top 10%) and high from 33% (top 3%).
Unexplained overprices: Price flags that survived both the statistical detector and the automated review. There are about 70 in the whole corpus, so any concentration in one body stands out. Marked from 1 (top 10%) and high from 3 (top 3%).

268 bodies

Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell9345 contracts$ 2,96 mil M
- Concentration7.3%above 5% of bodies
- Bursts127above 97% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct98.7%above 94% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window0.1%above 35% of bodies
- Unexplained3above 98% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 32 separate awards to RESIMPEX S A in 2025-10.
See this body’s 3 unexplained flags
Centro Auxiliar de Nueva Palmira38 contracts$ 5,2 M
- Concentration95.7%above 100% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Bursts0above 66% of bodies
- Direct100.0%above 100% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window13.5%above 92% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
The largest supplier takes most of the amount, out of 29 awarded suppliers: COOPERATIVA SOCIAL DE SERVICIOS PALMIRENSE.
Hospital de San Carlos4963 contracts$ 533 M
- Concentration11.0%above 18% of bodies
- Bursts72above 97% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct98.7%above 93% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window0.4%above 38% of bodies
- Unexplained3above 98% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 27 separate awards to GASTROCLINICA S.R.L. in 2025-05.
See this body’s 3 unexplained flags
Centro Departamental de Rocha8178 contracts$ 530 M
- Concentration9.2%above 11% of bodies
- Bursts144above 98% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct96.4%above 88% of bodies
- Express window1.8%above 56% of bodies
- Unexplained5above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 63 separate awards to COR BARRETO SANDRA ADRIANA in 2024-05.
See this body’s 5 unexplained flags
Centro Departamental de Flores9501 contracts$ 270 M
- Concentration7.2%above 4% of bodies
- Bursts193above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct99.5%above 96% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window7.6%above 85% of bodies
- Unexplained2above 96% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 36 separate awards to S BIDEGAIN S A in 2024-04.
See this body’s 2 unexplained flags
Dirección General de la Salud18107 contracts$ 11,17 mil M
- Concentration13.5%above 27% of bodies
- Bursts351above 100% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct95.5%above 87% of bodies
- Express window10.4%above 90% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
Worst month: 260 separate awards to MURRY S A in 2024-05.
Hospital Maciel10402 contracts$ 2,14 mil M
- Concentration9.6%above 12% of bodies
- Bursts232above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct99.2%above 95% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window7.8%above 85% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
Worst month: 32 separate awards to SANYFICO S A in 2024-01.
Banco de Seguros del Estado9592 contracts$ 1,54 mil M
- Concentration9.3%above 12% of bodies
- Bursts158above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct2.8%above 8% of bodies
- Express window1.7%above 55% of bodies
- Unexplained2above 96% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 102 separate awards to AMEWYL S.A. in 2024-03.
See this body’s 2 unexplained flags
Instituto del Niño y Adolescente del Uruguay INAU2751 contracts$ 1,34 mil M
- Concentration22.9%above 64% of bodies
- Bursts36above 94% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct77.9%above 58% of bodies
- Express window3.1%above 68% of bodies
- Unexplained7above 100% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 24 separate awards to ORTIZ SCHNEIDER ESTEBAN RAUL in 2024-12.
See this body’s 7 unexplained flags
Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación1494 contracts$ 1,03 mil M
- Concentration18.4%above 47% of bodies
- Bursts5above 81% of bodies
- Direct93.0%above 80% of bodies
- Express window12.5%above 92% of bodies
- Unexplained6above 100% of bodiesSee the contracts
See this body’s 6 unexplained flags
Centro Auxiliar de Bella Unión4379 contracts$ 568 M
- Concentration8.3%above 9% of bodies
- Bursts68above 96% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct99.7%above 97% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window0.9%above 44% of bodies
- Unexplained2above 96% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 38 separate awards to SOCIEDAD MEDICO QUIRURGICA DE SALTO IAMPP in 2026-07.
See this body’s 2 unexplained flags
Centro Departamental de Salto4006 contracts$ 254 M
- Concentration22.5%above 62% of bodies
- Bursts52above 95% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct99.7%above 96% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window5.2%above 78% of bodies
- Unexplained2above 96% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 18 separate awards to SANYFICO S A in 2024-04.
See this body’s 2 unexplained flags
Centro Auxiliar de Río Branco1801 contracts$ 98,8 M
- Concentration9.2%above 11% of bodies
- Bursts21above 91% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct98.9%above 94% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window16.1%above 93% of bodies
- Unexplained1above 90% of bodies
Worst month: 24 separate awards to POLAKOF Y CIA SOCIEDAD ANONIMA in 2025-12.
See this body’s 1 unexplained flags
Centro Auxiliar de Paso de los Toros30 contracts$ 66,3 M
- Concentration55.8%above 93% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Bursts0above 66% of bodies
- Direct70.4%above 49% of bodies
- Express window38.5%above 98% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
The largest supplier takes most of the amount, out of 19 awarded suppliers: COOPERATIVA DR. CURI.
Jefatura de Policía de Rivera1802 contracts$ 18,1 M
- Concentration6.4%above 1% of bodies
- Bursts32above 93% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct100.0%above 100% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window6.7%above 84% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
Worst month: 18 separate awards to DIAZ TRINDADE ADRIANA in 2025-07.
Centro Auxiliar de Guichón769 contracts$ 17,7 M
- Concentration17.2%above 43% of bodies
- Bursts3above 76% of bodies
- Direct98.2%above 92% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window52.5%above 99% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
Jefatura de Policía de Tacuarembó1594 contracts$ 13,7 M
- Concentration18.7%above 49% of bodies
- Bursts44above 94% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct100.0%above 100% of bodiesSee the calls
- Express window0.0%above 35% of bodies
- Unexplained1above 90% of bodies
Worst month: 24 separate awards to LAGO DORVAL S A in 2024-10.
See this body’s 1 unexplained flags
Jefatura de Policía de Flores1092 contracts$ 8,9 M
- Concentration13.0%above 26% of bodies
- Bursts31above 93% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct85.7%above 67% of bodies
- Express window0.0%above 35% of bodies
- Unexplained3above 98% of bodiesSee the contracts
Worst month: 15 separate awards to MULTIRUBRO S.R.L. in 2024-11.
See this body’s 3 unexplained flags
Administración de las Obras Sanitarias del Estado3952 contracts$ 50,21 mil M
- Concentration66.7%above 96% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Bursts21above 91% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct50.0%above 30% of bodies
- Express window1.0%above 46% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
The largest supplier takes most of the amount, out of 812 awarded suppliers: SACEEM.
Worst month: 29 separate awards to TEREGAL SOCIEDAD ANONIMA in 2026-09.
Intendencia de Montevideo41243 contracts$ 17,87 mil M
- Concentration19.1%above 50% of bodies
- Bursts796above 100% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct91.5%above 75% of bodies
- Express window4.0%above 74% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
Worst month: 431 separate awards to COOPERATIVA DE LAS ARTES DEL URUGUAY SUPLEMENTADA in 2024-03.
Banco de Previsión Social7175 contracts$ 7,08 mil M
- Concentration7.4%above 5% of bodies
- Bursts130above 98% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Direct0.6%above 5% of bodies
- Express window6.4%above 83% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
Worst month: 75 separate awards to MEDI IMPORT S.A. in 2025-01.
Presidencia de la República y Unidades Dependientes484 contracts$ 6,03 mil M
- Concentration94.2%above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Bursts0above 66% of bodies
- Direct76.0%above 54% of bodies
- Express window2.0%above 60% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
The largest supplier takes most of the amount, out of 235 awarded suppliers: SZABO SA.
Comando General del Ejército841 contracts$ 3,01 mil M
- Concentration13.9%above 30% of bodies
- Bursts0above 66% of bodies
- Direct60.7%above 39% of bodies
- Express window0.3%above 37% of bodies
- Unexplained4above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
See this body’s 4 unexplained flags
Centro Departamental de Paysandú1130 contracts$ 2,96 mil M
- Concentration84.3%above 99% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Bursts0above 66% of bodies
- Direct91.2%above 75% of bodies
- Express window1.3%above 51% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
The largest supplier takes most of the amount, out of 220 awarded suppliers: ROCHE INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Dirección Nacional de Transporte179 contracts$ 1,37 mil M
- Concentration98.7%above 100% of bodiesSee the contracts
- Bursts0above 66% of bodies
- Direct72.7%above 50% of bodies
- Express window0.0%above 35% of bodies
- Unexplained0above 83% of bodies
The largest supplier takes most of the amount, out of 68 awarded suppliers: C I E M S A CONSTRUCCIONES E INSTALACIONES ELECTROM.