Development of Tendering Duration Models for Federal Government Building Projects in Nigeria

Abstract

The Study sought to fundamentally generate information on the relationship between tendering duration and project complexity/determinants of cost and duration in order to determine via a scientific model, realistic tendering durations of various types of federal building projects in Nigeria.  To achieve this, historical data on project cost, project duration and tendering duration were obtained for 78 federal building projects.  They were subjected to correlation and regression analysis to test for statistical significance and the relationship between tendering duration and cost variables. Results of the regression analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between tendering duration and project cost, which can be seen from the strong statistical correlation; R square value = 0.53 and the P(significant) values of 0.00 < alpha value ? (0.05)adopted in the study. Furthermore, a significant relationship between tendering duration and project duration was revealed. The statistical correlation was however observed to be higher; with R square value = 0.80 and P(sig) values < ? (0.05). Hence, the following models were developed which proved significant for the sampled projects based on the quadratic regression equation: First, the tendering duration – project cost model which is in the form; TD = 2.574 + 1.137E-9C – 5.245E-20C², where TD is the tendering duration in weeks and C, project cost.  Second, the tendering duration-project duration model expressed as TD = 1.299 + 0.073D + 0.000D², where D is the project duration in weeks. The study recommends that the Federal Government should formulate bidding deadlines for different categories of building projects based on complexity factors of cost and duration, via adoption of the models proposed by the study. This will promote standards, efficiency in project planning, achievement of fairness and transparency in the public tendering system.

Key Words: Building Projects, Development, Federal Government, Models, Nigeria, Tendering Duration.