Zambia at a glance
| Law | Public Procurement Act 2020, amended 2023; Regulations 2022; preference rules 2025 |
| Regulator | Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) |
| Portal | e-GP at eprocure.zppa.org.zm, mandatory |
| Open national tender above | K1,000,000 (goods, works, services); K600,000 (consulting) |
| Foreign bidders | Open international tenders, with a Zambian-owned partner |
| Preferences | 5–10% by bidder type; 10–15% for locally made goods |
| Language | English |
| WTO GPA | Not a party or observer |
| Challenges | ZPPA within 5 working days; then arbitration |
Where tenders appear
- e-GP. Procuring entities must use ZPPA’s electronic government procurement (e-GP) system for notices, bid submission and opening, evaluation and contract publication. Its portal lists current tenders, opening records, annual procurement plans and ZPPA circulars. Over 103,000 tenders were published on it in 2025.
- Other notices. Notices also go on entities’ notice boards. International ones may also appear in regional or international media.
- Standard documents. Entities must use ZPPA’s standard bidding documents.
- New system coming. ZPPA is building a new, locally developed e-GP system, with a pilot planned for the third quarter of 2026. We couldn’t confirm whether it has started, or whether suppliers will have to re-register.
Thresholds and procedures
Amounts are in Zambian kwacha (K), from the 2022 Regulations. We found no later revision.
| Method | When |
|---|---|
| Open national bidding | Goods, works and non-consulting services above K1,000,000 |
| Simplified bidding (at least 3 quotations) | Up to K1,000,000 |
| Direct bidding for low value | Up to K20,000 |
| Open national selection (consultants) | Above K600,000; simplified selection below |
| Open international bidding or selection | When fewer than 3 suppliers in Zambia can compete, when an agreement requires it, or for manufacturer sourcing and specialised industries |
- Minimum bidding time. 4 weeks for open national bidding, and 6 weeks for open international bidding or for limited bidding with foreign firms on the shortlist. A draft amendment proposing shorter periods hadn’t been enacted when we checked.
- Other methods include limited bidding, e-reverse auctions, framework purchases from other entities and, since 2023, government-to-government procurement.
- Award notices are published within 14 days. Contract variations can’t raise the price by more than 25%; beyond that, the contract is re-tendered.
Who can bid
The Act defines three types of bidder:
| Type | Meaning | Open national tenders | Open international tenders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizen bidder | Wholly owned by Zambian citizens | Yes, with priority | Yes |
| Local bidder | Not citizen-owned, but registered to do business in Zambia | Yes; must partner with a citizen supplier | Yes |
| Foreign bidder | Not registered in Zambia | No | Yes; must partner with a citizen supplier |
- The partnership rule. A foreign bidder must partner with a citizen supplier. Original equipment manufacturers and franchise holders are exempt.
- Subcontracting. Since 2023, the Act requires foreign and local bidders to subcontract part of works contracts to citizen firms. The 2022 Regulations set at least 20% of the contract value above the simplified thresholds. They predate the 2023 change, so how it applies to goods and services is unclear. Subcontractor details and a draft agreement go in your bid, and the entity pays subcontractors directly.
- Reservations. Entities can reserve contracts for citizens, small firms, and firms owned by women, youth or people with disabilities. Since 2025, all Constituency Development Fund procurement is reserved for citizen bidders based in that constituency.
- Other eligibility rules. Bidders must be solvent, up to date on taxes and social security, free of recent director convictions, and not suspended. “Fronting” for someone else is banned. Foreign bidders can submit equivalent documents from their home country, or a statement that none exist.
- Construction.
- NCC registration: contractors must be registered with the National Council for Construction (NCC). A foreign winner of an international works tender must register within 21 days of the award; temporary registration lasts up to 6 months.
- Joint venture: a foreign contractor may tender for works only as a joint venture with a Zambian contractor.
- Other reported rules: press reports of grades reserved for locals and a 26% subcontracting share haven’t been confirmed in official texts.
- Treaties. Zambia isn’t a party to, or an observer of, the WTO GPA, so foreign access depends on these national rules.
Preference margins (since June 2025)
S.I. 45 of 2025 adjusts evaluated prices in favour of Zambian bidders. Only the highest single margin applies.
| Bidder | Margin |
|---|---|
| Local (Zambia-registered) supplier | 5% |
| Citizen and local supplier in a joint venture or subcontract | 6% |
| Citizen supplier | 7% |
| Citizen business paying turnover tax | 8% |
| Citizen enterprise owned by women or youth | 9% |
| Citizen enterprise owned by persons with disabilities | 10% |
- Made in Zambia. Locally made goods with at least 35% local content get 15% if made by a citizen bidder, 12% by a citizen–local joint venture, and 10% by a local bidder. This covers 12 sectors, including textiles, furniture, pharmaceuticals, fertiliser, ICT equipment, copper products and construction products.
- Foreign suppliers get no preference.
Bidding, step by step
- Pick the right route. As an unregistered foreign firm, you can enter open international bidding or selection, or limited bidding if shortlisted. For open national tenders you must first register to do business in Zambia.
- Register on e-GP as a “Foreign Company”. Enter your details by hand if you’re not on the Zambian registries, attach your documents, choose your categories and create your administrator. Paper registration has ended.
- Pay the annual registration fee online or at Zanaco bank. It was about K300 in 2021; your account is validated after payment.
- Find a citizen partner early, and for works, line up citizen subcontractors and a Zambian joint-venture partner for NCC.
- Download the documents and pay any participation fee on e-GP.
- Prepare the bid in English with your home-country eligibility documents and the bid security or declaration. Upload it before the deadline: e-GP rejects late or incomplete uploads, and the maximum size is 100 MB.
- Follow the bid opening, in person or on e-GP.
- Watch for the best-evaluated-bidder notice. It’s published within 2 working days of the decision and starts a 5-working-day standstill.
- If you win, provide the performance security within 21 days, and sign the standard contract.
Securities and payment
- Bid security. Required for open and limited bidding, at at least 2% of the estimated value. It can be a certified cheque, insurance bond, bank guarantee or standby letter of credit, valid 28 days beyond bid validity. Some reserved tenders for small target-group firms use a declaration instead.
- Performance security. Above K1 million: 5% to 10% of the contract value within 21 days. Failing to provide it leads to suspension.
- Advance payments are capped at 25%, against a guarantee for the full amount.
- Payment. Contracts must state the payment period and provide interest on late payment. US Commerce reports large government arrears, so build in payment risk.
How bids are evaluated
- Lowest evaluated responsive bid. For goods, works and non-consulting services, the award goes to the lowest evaluated, substantially responsive bid. The evaluated price includes corrections, unconditional discounts, conversion to one currency and the preference margins. Qualification is usually checked after evaluation.
- Market prices. ZPPA publishes a quarterly Market Price Index that entities use to check prices. Since 2023, entities can negotiate if the lowest evaluated price is above market.
- Currency. Bids can be in kwacha or a foreign currency named in the documents, converted at the Bank of Zambia rate.
Challenging a decision
- Where. Appeal directly to ZPPA. There’s no required first complaint to the buyer.
- Deadline. 5 working days from when you knew, or should have known, of the grounds. Late appeals aren’t accepted.
- Suspension. ZPPA tells the entity to suspend the procurement, and no award can be made until the appeal is resolved.
- Timing. ZPPA’s 5-member committee decides within 15 working days.
- Fee. Set by ZPPA circular; we couldn’t find the current amount.
- After ZPPA. There’s no separate tribunal. If you disagree with ZPPA’s decision, you can start arbitration within 10 working days.
- Older figures. The 2022 Regulations still give 10 working days for the standstill and for ZPPA’s decision. The 2023 Act, which takes priority, sets 5 and 15, but some tender documents may still quote the older figures.
What changed in 2023–2026
- December 2023 (Amendment Act):
- National tenders were opened to Zambia-registered bidders, with priority for Zambian-owned firms.
- The partnership rule now exempts manufacturers and franchise holders.
- Subcontracting was focused on works.
- Standstill and appeals: both shortened to 5 working days, and ZPPA’s decision time extended to 15.
- Variations capped at 25%.
- June 2025: S.I. 45 introduced the preference margins and local-content margins, and reserved Constituency Development Fund contracts for local citizens. ZPPA issued guidance in July.
- 2025: use of e-GP surged, to over 103,000 tenders.
- Pending: draft amendment regulations proposing shorter bidding periods, and a pilot of the new e-GP system planned for late 2026.
Live Zambian tenders
See also which countries can bid on which government tenders.
Questions
Can a foreign company bid on Zambian government tenders?
Yes, in open international bidding or selection, or when shortlisted for limited bidding. Open national tenders, above K1 million for goods and works or K600,000 for consulting, are limited to Zambian-owned and Zambia-registered bidders. Registering to do business in Zambia makes a foreign company a ‘local bidder’, but Zambian-owned firms still get priority.
Do foreign bidders need a Zambian partner?
Generally yes. A foreign bidder must partner with a Zambian-owned (citizen) supplier, unless it’s the original equipment manufacturer or a franchise holder. For works, the regulations require at least 20% of the contract value to be subcontracted to citizen firms, and foreign contractors must form a joint venture with a Zambian contractor.
What price preferences apply in Zambian tenders?
Since June 2025, evaluated prices are adjusted in favour of Zambian bidders: 5% for local (Zambia-registered) suppliers, 7% for citizen suppliers, and up to 10% for firms owned by women, youth or people with disabilities. Goods made in Zambia with at least 35% local content get 10–15%. Foreign suppliers get no preference.
How do I register as a supplier in Zambia?
Self-register on ZPPA’s e-GP portal as a ‘Foreign Company’, upload your company details and documents, choose your product categories, and pay the annual registration fee online or at Zanaco bank. Paper registration has been discontinued. Bids are submitted only through e-GP, in English.
What bid and performance securities are required in Zambia?
A bid security or bid-securing declaration of at least 2% of the estimated value for open and limited bidding. Above K1 million, the winner provides a performance security of 5% to 10% within 21 days of signing. Advance payments are capped at 25%, against a full guarantee.
How do I challenge a Zambian tender award?
Appeal directly to ZPPA within 5 working days of learning of the decision. The procurement is suspended, and ZPPA decides within 15 working days. If you disagree with ZPPA’s decision, the next step is arbitration, started within 10 working days.
Sources
- Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020
- Public Procurement (Amendment) Act No. 17 of 2023
- Public Procurement Regulations 2022 (S.I. 30 of 2022)
- Preference and Reservation Schemes Regulations 2025 (S.I. 45 of 2025)
- ZPPA e-GP portal
- National Council for Construction Act 2020
This guide explains the rules in plain English; it isn’t legal advice. Procurement rules change, and each tender document sets its own conditions — it always prevails.