Dar es Salaam. The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has called upon local suppliers and business operators to register with the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NEST) to tap into opportunities presented under the new Public Procurement Act, 2023.
According to the authority, the updated law offers significantly broader opportunities, allowing suppliers to bid for tenders worth up to Sh50 billion.
Special groups, including women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, can now compete for contracts valued at up to Sh500 million.
Speaking in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region, during the closing of a four-day capacity-building training on the understanding of the new procurement law and its regulations, PPRA’s Coast Zone Manager, Ms Vicky Molel, said the training aimed at equipping stakeholders from public institutions with practical knowledge on the recent changes.
“The new Act establishes a stronger foundation for transparency, competitiveness, and effective contract management. We urge all suppliers, particularly local ones, to register with NEST so they may fully benefit from these expanded opportunities,” Ms Molel said.
She further explained that the revised law enhances the responsibilities of Procurement Management Units and clearly outlines the roles of end-users within procuring entities, including their direct accountability in contract implementation.
“For instance, an end-user is now required to closely monitor contract implementation—an aspect that had not previously been given adequate attention,” she added.
On his part, PPRA’s Manager for Capacity Building and Advisory Services, Mr Gilbert Kamde, noted that the new legal framework ensures a fair process for all suppliers, including mechanisms for addressing any grievances during procurement procedures.
“This law recognises the right of every bidder. In cases of dissatisfaction with the procurement process, suppliers have the right to appeal through the Public Procurement Appeals Authority (PPAA),” he said.
Participants of the training session expressed appreciation for the knowledge gained, citing improved understanding of procurement transparency and efficiency through the NEST platform.
“Through NEST, we can now conduct procurement processes more transparently and track every stage of contract implementation,” said a Procurement Officer from one of the government institutions, Ms Grace Mshana.
The training brought together procurement officers, internal auditors, legal officers from public institutions, and heads of procurement units, with the objective of preparing them to effectively implement the provisions of the new procurement law.
