FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PARTICIPATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN TANZANIA: A CASE OF UBUNGO MUNICIPALITY

Abstract: Public procurement offers commercial opportunities to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), yet participation may be constrained by their financial and technical capabilities and access to tender information. This study examined the relationships between financial strength, technical tendering skills, access to tendering information and SME participation in public procurement in Ubungo Municipality, Tanzania. Guided by Dynamic Capabilities Theory, a quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among SME owners and managers. From an eligible population of 692, 253 respondents were selected through proportionate stratified random sampling; 200 usable questionnaires were analysed (effective response rate: 79.1%). Data were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27, with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression. All three factors were positively associated with SME participation and remained significant in the combined model (p < 0.001). Information access had the largest standardised coefficient (β = 0.324), followed by technical tendering skills (β = 0.299) and financial strength (β = 0.291). The model explained 42.1% of the variation in participation (R² = 0.421). These results provide municipality-specific evidence that information access and complementary firm capabilities are jointly relevant to procurement participation. The study recommends accessible electronic tender information, practical bidding training and stronger financial preparedness. Causal claims are not warranted by the cross-sectional, self-reported data. Keywords: Small and medium enterprises; public procurement; financial strength; tendering skills; tendering information; dynamic capabilities; Tanzania. Title: FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PARTICIPATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN TANZANIA: A CASE OF UBUNGO MUNICIPALITY Author: Kibera Segi Peter, Francis Muya International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 14, Issue 4, October 2026 - December 2026 Page No: 288-294 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 26-October-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23669458 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/factors-influencing-the-participation-of-small-and-medium-enterprises-in-public-procurement-in-tanzania-a-case-of-ubungo-municipality