Contractors’ Selection Criteria and Construction Project Outcome in Rivers State

The building industry plays a leading role in the macroeconomic development of sovereign states, particularly in the provision of essential infrastructure such as bridges, motorways, and other structures that underpin commercial activity. However, the same sector in emerging economies often struggles to deliver projects that fully meet planned performance targets, largely due to inadequate contractor selection procedures. This paper examined the relationship between contractor selection standards and construction project performance outcomes. The survey tool consisted of 29 items on a five-point Likert scale and was administered to 132 officers of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis with SPSS V.23. The results revealed a strong positive relationship (r = 0.846; p = 0.000) between the rigor of contractor selection requirements and positive project results. Based on that, the research proposes that standardized evaluation metrics that emphasize financial soundness, technical skills, prior experience, and resource availability should be prioritized as key factors associated with improved construction project performance.