On June 23rd, 2015, the General acquisition, leasing, services and works contracting Provisions of the Federal Electricity Commission (“CFE”) and its Productive State-owned Subsidiaries (“EPS”) were published in the Federal Official Gazette.

Such Provisions regulate the manner in which the CFE and its EPS shall contract and/or acquire goods, services and works within Mexico, and set forth the following contracting procedures: (i) open contest, (ii) simplified contest, (iii) restricted invitation, and (iv) direct award.

In the case a procedure different from an open contest is chosen, the contracting area of the CFE or EPS, as applicable, shall document, support, and justify the exception to the open contest. For such purposes Subcommittees for the Exception to Open Contests shall be created.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the Provisions specify that for the contracting of goods and services in an amount greater than USD$20 million and works in an amount greater than USD$40 million, social witnesses shall be involved in the contracting procedure.