Assessing The Participation of Special Groups in Tendering Process to Public Sectors

Abstract

This study assesses the participation of special groups in tendering process to public sectors in Dodoma City. The study's specific goals are to assess the competence of these groups to participate in the tendering process, their legal capacity for such participation, and their awareness of the preferential scheme for participating in tenders. The research employed a cross-sectional design and surveyed 61 participants selected from four special interest groups using purposive sampling. Data collection methods included questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews, with data analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The research examined the relationship between the competence of special groups and their participation in the tendering process, utilizing the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). The results revealed a significant negative correlation (r= -0.882, p-value=0.000), indicating that a decrease in the competence level among members of specific groups leads to reduced opportunities for engagement in the tendering process. In addition, the legal capacity of special groups in participating in the tendering process was explored, with respondents expressing disagreement on factors such as friendly registration requirements, knowledge of eligibility criteria, legal expertise, and awareness of the complaint process. The negative correlation (r=-0.803, p value=0.000) suggested that a decrease in the legal capacity of special groups would result in reduced participation in the tendering process. Furthermore, the study delved into the awareness of special groups regarding their participation in the tendering process. Respondents indicated low agreement on the effectiveness of the promotion of the special group preference scheme, awareness of the scheme, provision of training, and opportunities by procuring entities for special groups to submit tenders. The negative correlation (r=-0.412, p value=0.024) suggested that lower awareness within special groups leads to a decreased opportunity for them to participate in the tendering process. Consequently, the study recommends that public procurement stakeholders organize seminars and training sessions to educate these groups on the preferential scheme and related procedures, enabling them to utilize the scheme effectively and, in turn, contribute to the government's goal of improving the lives of its citizens.