Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.
Last Published: 1/28/2019

Government procurement is based on the issuance of tenders either annually (at the beginning of each calendar year) or as needed for specific goods or services.  Bidding is often open to international bidders, but sometimes requires local participation in the form of a voluntary joint venture.  U.S. firms interested in bidding for GoT tenders should contact the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam for counseling and support through the U.S. government’s Advocacy Center.
 
Government procurement has been decentralized from central to local government level.  The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) is responsible for ensuring application of fair, competitive, transparent, non-discriminatory and value-for-money procurement standards and practices.  PPRA provides advice to the Central Government, Local Governments and Statutory bodies on all procurement policies and practices.  President Magufuli’s government is reviewing all public procurements in his campaign to weed out corruption.  Regulations require the GoT to buy new goods/merchandise only. 
 
At times, government procurement is done by direct solicitation; Ministers may exercise considerable influence in the procurement process.  The most significant opportunities for U.S. businesses include the procurement of equipment and supplies in the Agriculture, Information Technology, Infrastructure Development and Energy sectors. 

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


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Tanzania Business to Government Legislation