top of page

"what are the advantages and disadvantageous of selective tendering?"


Selective tendering is a method of procurement where the client or employer invites a select number of contractors or suppliers to bid for a project or contract. This method is often used for projects that require specialized expertise or for projects that have a high level of risk. Advantages of selective tendering include:

  1. Access to specialized expertise: By inviting only a select number of contractors or suppliers to bid for a project, the client can ensure that they have access to the most qualified and experienced companies for the job. This can lead to a higher quality of work and better outcomes for the project.

  2. Better control over costs: Selective tendering allows the client to have more control over the costs of a project, as they can carefully evaluate the bids and select the contractor or supplier that offers the best value for money.

  3. Reduced risk: By only inviting a select number of contractors or suppliers to bid for a project, the client can reduce the risk of fraud or poor workmanship. This is because the client can carefully evaluate the qualifications and past performance of the contractors or suppliers before inviting them to bid.

  4. Faster execution: Selective tendering can be faster compared to open tendering as it reduces the number of bidders and thus reduces the time for the tendering process.

However, selective tendering also has some disadvantages, including:

  1. Limited competition: By only inviting a select number of contractors or suppliers to bid for a project, the client may miss out on the best possible price or quality of work. This is because there is less competition among the bidders, which can lead to higher prices or lower quality work.

  2. Lack of transparency: Selective tendering can be criticized for being less transparent than open tendering, as the client may not disclose the criteria used to select the contractors or suppliers that are invited to bid.

  3. Risk of favoritism: Selective tendering can also be criticized for being open to favoritism, as the client may choose to invite contractors or suppliers that they have a personal or financial relationship with, rather than selecting the most qualified or experienced companies for the job.

  4. Limited scope for innovation: Selective tendering can limit the scope of innovation as the client may only invite the contractors or suppliers they are familiar with, and may not be open to new ideas and new ways of working.

In conclusion, selective tendering can offer many advantages, such as access to specialized expertise, better control over costs, and reduced risk. However, it also has some disadvantages, such as limited competition, lack of transparency, risk of favoritism, and limited scope for innovation. It is important for the client to carefully consider these pros and cons when deciding on a method of procurement for a project.

Featured Posts
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
  • Facebook Basic Square
  • Twitter Basic Square
  • Google+ Basic Square
bottom of page