PPRA Urges Full Adoption of Nest Digital Procurement System

PPRA Emphasizes the Use of the Nest Digital Procurement System

Dodoma, March 7, 2025 – The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has urged regional and local government procurement units to ensure all public procurement is conducted through the digital Nest system, in accordance with the law.

This message was delivered today by PPRA's Director General, Denis Simba, during the opening of a three-day training workshop in Dodoma. The workshop, aimed at enhancing the skills of procurement professionals, included participants from 184 local government authorities and officials from 26 regional secretariats.

According to Simba, the Public Procurement Act mandates that all procurement entities, including local governments, utilize the Nest system for their procurement activities. This digital platform increases transparency and competition throughout the procurement process.

“The Nest system has proven beneficial for those already using it,” Simba remarked. “However, for those facing challenges, we are providing this training to help them reach the level of those who are already benefiting from it.”

He explained that the system provides opportunities for both large and small contractors, as well as special groups such as women and youth, to engage in public procurement. It also promotes economic opportunities for small and medium-sized stakeholders within the community.

“Government policy has allocated 30% of procurement opportunities to special groups, which is a patriotic step. We, as PPRA, are responsible for ensuring that these groups benefit, and I am confident that if we fully implement this 30% allocation, we could inject approximately 5 to 6 trillion Tanzanian shillings into these groups, which would significantly improve their economic status,” Simba added.

He emphasized the role of procurement leaders in executing these tasks and building a stronger national economy, suggesting that such efforts could help nurture local businesses and create Tanzanian billionaires.

Winfrida Mwabuki, a participant from Kondoa District Council, noted several challenges faced during procurement, including unrealistic budget estimates that lead to a lack of winning bidders. She also highlighted issues such as the high costs faced by contractors in comparison to the procurement prices set by the purchasing institutions, delays in the implementation of contracts, and the small number of qualified contractors.

Additionally, Mwabuki mentioned a low level of awareness regarding the Nest system among bidders, a lack of understanding of how to input pricing correctly, and delays in finding contractors, all of which affect the timely execution of projects.

Gilbert Kamnde, the PPRA's Manager for Capacity Building and Consultancy Services, explained that the training is aimed at local government officials, as they are the primary implementers of the system in the communities they serve.

He concluded by stressing that after the training, there should be no excuse for conducting procurement outside the Nest system, as its use is now a legal requirement for all public procurement activities.