Public Contracts for Engineering Services

In order to understand the effects of bidders’ strategy on contractual modification and consequently the performance of the contracts, this study used econometric methods and a unique database containing 5964 engineering service contracts signed by the public administration in Brazil. The results demonstrate the effects arising from the trade-off between low prices presented in the contractor's selection phase and the performance in the execution of the contract. By highlighting the role of competition, the study contrasts previous findings pointing to the positive effect of competition, when analyzed in isolation, on the performance of the contract, but associating the analysis of competition with a possible distortion brought about by the disqualification of competitors at very low prices.为探究竞标者策略对合同变更及后续合同履约绩效的影响，本研究采用计量经济学方法，依托包含巴西公共行政部门签署的5964份工程服务合同的独特数据库开展研究。研究结果揭示了承包商遴选阶段的低价报价与合同履约绩效之间的权衡效应。本研究着重凸显竞争的作用，与既往研究结论形成鲜明对比：既往研究仅单独分析竞争对合同履约绩效的正向影响，而本研究则将竞争分析与超低价竞标者被取消资格所引发的潜在扭曲效应相结合。