Atlas · Licensing

Maximum initial term of contracts governed by Law 13.979/2020 is 6 months

Reviewed on 2026-10-04 · next review 2027-04-04

Data

Data consulted on 04/10/2026.

Basis

• Law No. 13.979/2020 (Planalto, in Portuguese): Article 4º-H establishes that contracts governed by the Law will have a duration of up to 6 months, which can be successively extended as long as the need to address the public health emergency persists.

How it applies

The rule applies to contracts entered into by the federal public administration during the validity of Law 13.979/2020, aimed at addressing the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus. The maximum initial term is 6 months, regardless of the object or value of the contract, provided they are linked to the procedures established in the Law.

Limits

• Extension depends on the continuation of the need to address the emergency, as per Article 4º-H, and is conditioned to the validity of Legislative Decree No. 6/2020 (which declared a state of public calamity).
• The initial term does not change due to extensions: each additional period is up to 6 months, but the total is not limited by the Law.
• The rule does not apply to contracts outside the scope of Law 13.979/2020, such as those governed by Law 8.666/1993 (Procurement Law) or other regimes.
• Subsequent changes after Law 14.035/2020 (which consolidated the wording of Article 4º-H) should be verified on Planalto.

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