IMPACT OF CONTRACTOR SELECTION CRITERIA ON PUBLIC PROJECT DELIVERY IN ABUJA, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

Abstract

ABSTRACT There are so many contractors that are not technically and managerially competent. This makes procurement and contractor selection processes an onerous task to be performed by the client. Yet, without a proper and accurate method for selecting the most appropriate contractor, the performance of the project will be affected denying clients value for money. Therefore, the study assessed the Influence of Contractors’ Selection Criteria on Public Project Delivery in Abuja using the sequential mixed methods design. The research questions were analysed using thematic analysis, Mean score, Factor analysis, Canonical Correlation analysis and Regression analysis.185 questionnaires were used for the analysis. The outcome revealed that the selective, competitive and negotiated processes were the widely used tendering system; multi-criteria system was prefer over the “price only” for evaluation of tenders; Use of fictitious document by contractors, lack of Pre-qualification of consultants, unrealistic Tender price and undue interference from higher authorities hinders the optimum selection of contractors. It was discovered that Experience, Financial Capability, and Technical Capability are widely considered criteria in the selection process while all the critical success factors for project delivery are very much crucial and that Procurement related factors, Project stakeholders’ related factors, and Daily site factors are key parameters to project delivery. The study concluded that there exists a significant relationship between the factors considered in selection of contractors and the criteria success factors. The study concluded that the niche on the inadequate use of the contractor selection criteria in the construction industry in Nigeria will be enhanced by tackling the barriers hindering optimum selection of contractors, diligence evaluation of contractors and the introduction of e-procurement system in the tendering process to minimise the cumbersomeness of the process.