This matrix provides a systematized overview of strategic variables across Ebus Procurement Observatory (LAC) database, complemented by new indicators designed for objective comparison. It creates a standardized logic for diverse contracting models across selected cities.

The matrix allows clear identification of patterns in risk allocation and financial structures (CAPEX and OPEX) across different cities and contracting models, helping other cities identify peer models and benchmark the most relevant to their own institutional and financial goals.

By organizing complex data into objective indicators (e.g., categorical variables), the matrix highlights key governance and economic differences that are often obscured in raw contract documents.

It simplifies the technical complexity of tenders, making it easier to pinpoint exactly how institutional designs differ between models.

This matrix was informed by selected public bidding documents and contracts gathered for the five case studies presented in the tool. Because these procurements are the result of highly localized processes (often differing significantly between cities in the same country or between municipal and state-led authorities) the matrix was designed around standardized indicators.

To allow for meaningful comparison across such diverse structures, we prioritized indicators that act as “common denominators”, essential for systematic rigor, even if it requires a higher level of abstraction than a document-specific review.

While the matrix provides systematic rigor, transforming complex legal clauses and financial models into objective indicators has inherent limitations. It can occasionally smooth over important nuances, such as specific political dynamics, local juridical interpretations, or implicit negotiations not fully disclosed in formal documents. For this reason, the case study narratives serve as an essential qualitative complement to this data. Together (case study + matrix), they offer a dual-layered analysis that avoids excessive reductionism while maintaining a high level of technical discipline.