Abstract:
Contractor selection is one of the main activities undertaken by state-procuring entities. Without
a proper and accurate method for selecting the most appropriate contractor, the performance of
the construction project will be affected. It is indeed important that capable contractors with
appropriate attributes are selected to ensure that construction project performance is not put at
risk. This study is aimed at evaluating the contractor selection procedures that are used during the
tender evaluation process. The significance and the relationship between the contractor’s
selection procedures and project success performance were determined based on a questionnaire
survey. A quantitative and qualitative research strategy and a cross-sectional survey design were
used. A stratified random sampling was adopted to determine the proportion of each stratum for
the 263 sample size from a target population of 841 public projects that formed the unit of
analysis. The data was analysed for multicollinearity, descriptive, multiple regression, and a test of
significance computed at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive statistics results revealed that
financial soundness, technical capacity, experience, quoted tender price, management capability,
and government statutory requirements are the most appropriate variables in tender evaluation.
The hypothesis was stated in null form, for which the following results were recorded:
(F(2,155)=17.218, p=0.000) and (F(2,154=10.828,p=0.000) thus rejected hypothesis. A stepwise
multiple regression model was derived based on dependent variables and independent variables
to determine whether there is a relationship between the variables. The goodness fit of the model,
as defined by the value of R-square (0.123), was found to be 12.3%. It was therefore, concluded
that financial soundness and technical capacity are statistically significant variables that suggest
that the variables explain the construction project success. The study is significant in that it
provides specific variables to procuring entities and construction contractors with
recommendations of better evaluation of tenders both financially and technically.
Keywords: construction project; contractor selection; selection procedures
