Procurement Process and Performance of Construction Projects in Local Governments: A Case of Kole District Local Government

Abstract

Background: The main purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between procurement process and construction project performance in local governments, a case of Kole District Local Government. It was to assess the relationship between procurement planning and performance of construction projects in the education department of Kole District Local Government, examine the relationship between procurement specification and performance of construction projects in the education department of Kole District Local Government and to assess the relationship between procurement evaluation and performance of construction projects in the education department of Kole District Local Government. Methods: The study sample was 103 respondents. Data collection tools were questionnaire and interview guide and analysis was done using correlation analysis with the help of statistical package for social scientists (SSPSS) version 23. In the process, data was cleaned, sorted and entered in to data matrix before being exported to the SPSS. Descriptive statistics and measures of association were used to examine the relationship between the procurement process and project performance. Findings: The results of the analysis indicated that; procurement planning had a positive significant with project performance (r=0.842, p<0.05), procurement specification had a positive significant relationship with project performance (r=0.604, p<0.05) and project evaluation also had a positive significant relationship with project performance (r=0.685, p<0.05). Conclusion: overall, it is conclusive that procurement planning has a bearing on project performance and is a very important component in the procurement process in any procuring entity. These results were compared to other similar international research findings, and were found to be agreeing in many aspects. Recommendations: It therefore recommended that management, policy makers and procuring entities pay particular attention to procurement planning for meaningful procurement and future researches be conducted on other components of procurement planning in relation to project performance. Keywords: procurement process, performance, construction projects, procurement planning, procurement specification, and procurement evaluation.