Government contracts in Iraq require close attention to the tender documents and the rules governing the purchasing authority. A commercially attractive offer can fail if the bidder overlooks an eligibility condition, guarantee format or submission requirement. Legal review is most useful before the bid is finalised.
Use the current procurement framework
The Ministry of Planning publishes Public Contracts Instructions No. 1 of 2025 and associated controls. Its 2026 circular states that the instructions and controls apply from 15 February 2026. A tender review should therefore check the current regime and any transitional treatment instead of relying automatically on the former 2014 instructions.
Public procurement law in Iraq should be applied to the particular authority and transaction. Identify the governing instructions, standard documents, clarifications and any project-specific requirements. Preserve the complete tender version and subsequent addenda used to prepare the bid.
Review eligibility and execution risk
Tender legal services in Baghdad should address the bidder’s legal identity, authorised signatories, qualification evidence and any consortium or subcontracting arrangements. Check that the offer, guarantees and supporting corporate documents use consistent names and commitments.
Review the proposed contract before pricing. Payment certification, delivery obligations, variation procedures, delay consequences and security requirements can materially affect performance. Allocate responsibility for obtaining approvals and responding to authority requests.
Manage compliance after award
Public contract compliance in Iraq requires a calendar for deliverables, guarantees, notices, renewals and reporting. Project teams should know which instructions require formal approval and how to document additional work. Keep payment applications and acceptance records linked to the contractual milestones.
Government tender disputes in Baghdad should be assessed promptly. Identify the challenged decision, notification date and applicable complaint or challenge route. Do not assume that a commercial meeting preserves a procedural deadline or that every tender dispute belongs in the same forum.
Contact Etihad Law with the tender package, amendments and proposed bid structure to discuss a legal review. If a dispute has already arisen, include the decision and evidence of receipt. A complete file helps identify both the immediate procedural issue and the wider commercial consequences.
Intermediary and procurement services • Litigation and dispute resolution • Contact Etihad Law