PPRA records 41.2bn/- special group contracts uptake

DODOMA: THE Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has recorded significant progress in ensuring special groups benefit from the 30 per cent procurement quota reserved under the Public Procurement Act.

The authority has issued contracts worth over 41.2bn/- to the groups as of April 11, 2026.

Speaking at the Youth and Mwalimu Nyerere Conference held over the weekend to mark the 104th anniversary of the Father of the Nation, PPRA Director General Dennis Simba said youth continue to secure a substantial share of the opportunities.

Out of the total value awarded, youth secured tenders worth 21.3bn/-, women 17.4bn/-, the elderly 2.1bn/- and people with disabilities 298m/-.

Mr Simba said the figures reflect the impact of sustained oversight by PPRA, noting that participation of special groups in public procurement remains a key avenue for national economic empowerment.

As of April 11, 2026, a total of 1,360 special groups were registered on the National e-Procurement System (NeST), including 785 youth groups, 510 women’s groups, 45 elderly groups and 20 groups of persons with disabilities.

“To strengthen youth participation in building the national economy, PPRA will continue enforcing the opportunities provided under the Public Procurement Act, 2023, ensuring youth and other special groups access their rightful share,” he noted.

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Mr Simba highlighted that public procurement accounts for more than 70 per cent of the national budget, with over 5tr/- channelled through tenders annually, ample room for job creation if opportunities reach the intended beneficiaries.

He noted that the law mandates procuring entities to set aside 30 per cent of their annual procurement budget for special groups and requires all tenders valued up to 50bn/- to be reserved exclusively for local suppliers.

“Foreign bidders must not benefit from these categories,” he stressed.

For tenders advertised nationally or internationally where foreign bidders are allowed to compete, local suppliers are granted a preference margin of up to 10 per cent to enhance their competitiveness and ensure contracts stay within the country.

Since the system became operational, contracts worth about 24bn/- have been awarded to special groups, but registration levels remain below targets. PPRA aims to register 20,000 groups in the 2025/2026 financial year.

Special groups are encouraged to form clusters of five to 20 members and obtain formal registration through local government authorities or institutions such as VETA.

Once listed on PPRA’s special groups register, they are supported through the preliminary stages of NeST registration before applying for public tenders.

PPRA reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing compliance among procuring entities and intensifying nationwide awareness to ensure special groups fully tap into the vast opportunities available within the public procurement framework.