Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.
Last Published: 2/14/2019

Switzerland is a party to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), but has not deposited its instruments of acceptance of the 2014 revised GPA. U.S. companies can identify potential business opportunities via the Swiss government’s electronic platform simap (www.simap.ch) that publishes all government tenders within the GPA framework.  Nevertheless, some areas are partly or fully exempted from the GPA, such as the management of drinking water, energy, transportation, telecommunication and defense.  Swiss legislation about public procurement are governed by the Federal Act on Public Procurement.

The Swiss defense departement is heavily reliant upon cooperation and expertise from foreign companies due to limited capacity within Switzerland.  Procurement by armasuisse, a part of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports better known by its acronym DDPS, may involve offsets.  Offset transactions are used to open up access to foreign markets for Swiss industry or to strengthen its position in these markets.

Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.

Prepared by the International Trade Administration. With its network of more than 100 offices across the United States and in more than 75 markets, the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.