Implementing e-tendering to improve the efficiency of public construction contract in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The demand from the construction industry for paperless business processes has increased the use of e-tendering systems around the world. E-tendering systems are quite complex since they involve many stages to meet the need of construction sectors. This paper developed an e-tendering model the public construction contract in Saudi Arabia to improve its efficiency with addresses the dilemma of traditional tendering. Moreover, to assist the development of the proposed e-tendering model, literature review, ten interviews, a focus group, and 52 questionnaire participants are conducted. Therefore, the model allows a contractor to be involved during the design stage and involved officially during the design process. This feature seeks to minimise the pre-construction time, reduce the bidder's risks and maximise the quality and transparency of e-tendering. As a result, this paper identified the stage of tender document handling to the bidders is the most affected stage toward more efficient of e-tendering process.