The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Public Procurement 2012

The most relevant legislation in this area is the Public Contracts Code (hereinafter the PCC), approved by the Decree-Law nº 18/2008 on 29 January 2008 and in force since 29 July 2008.
The PCC implemented the Directives 2004/18/CE, on the coordination of procedures for the award of public work contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts; and 2004/17/CE, coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors.
The PCC establishes the legal framework applicable to public procurement procedures, including those not covered by EC Directives (for example: concessions contracts). On the other hand, the PCC also establishes the legal aspects of public contracts that have the nature of administrative contracts.

TAVARES, Gonçalo Guerra; FREITAS, Duarte Lebre de, "Portugal", The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Public Procurement 2012, Global Legal Group, 2012, páginas 161 a 166

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