DODOMA: Tanzania’s procurement watchdog has suspended 43 tenders valued at more than 586 billion Tanzanian shillings (about $230 million) after determining that selected bidders lacked the required financial and technical capacity to deliver major development projects.
The decision by the Public Procurement Appeals Authority aims to safeguard public funds and ensure that public contracts are awarded to qualified contractors capable of executing projects effectively.
Executive Secretary James Sando said the intervention protects the integrity of public procurement and prevents potential losses from awarding tenders to underqualified bidders.
“Blocking unqualified contractors strengthens dispute resolution mechanisms and supports the government’s commitment to fairness, transparency and equal opportunity in procurement,” he said, referencing reforms implemented under the administration of Samia Suluhu Hassan.
According to the authority, 196 procurement-related cases have been registered during the current administration. Officials say recent reforms under the Public Procurement Act, 2023, and related regulations have significantly reduced the time required to resolve disputes, improving accountability and efficiency.
Capacity-building initiatives accompany the enforcement measures. The authority has trained 878 young people in Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Mbeya on procurement rights and participation procedures. Additionally, 1,693 bidders and 1,739 public officials have received training on the electronic complaints and appeals module integrated into the National e-Procurement System, designed to enhance transparency and streamline dispute resolution.
The digital platform, developed in collaboration with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, enables electronic submission and processing of procurement complaints and appeals. Since its introduction last year, 549 administrative complaints and 26 appeals have been handled through the system, officials said.
Sando noted that all procuring entities are now connected to the platform, allowing bidders to file appeals digitally while giving the authority real-time access to tender documentation for case assessment. Plans to integrate the appeals module with the judiciary’s digital systems in the coming financial year aim to further modernise dispute resolution and align with Tanzania’s broader digital transformation agenda.
Authorities say the procurement reforms strengthen oversight, reduce corruption risks and ensure that public infrastructure and development projects are delivered by competent contractors in line with national development priorities.
