The paper undertakes a theoretical revision of public policies as a category of research based on consolidated constructions in the social sciences. From these it is sought to facilitate the determination of the general components that lead to the formulation and design of a public policy for the planning of state contracting in the government of Antioquia department. So, first, the nature and definition of public policies are developed based on the frameworks, theories and outstanding models presented by the doctrine; the approaches of its analysis are described and the basis for an in-depth study of the stages of formulation, implementation and evaluation of the cycle approach is posed.