Abstract:
This study sought to identify competitive strategies used by privately owned business while
competing for public tendering opportunities in Public Universities in Kenya. The study identified
quality of service as a strategy for creating a competitive gain while competing for tendering
opportunities in Chartered Public Universities in Kenya. To achieve its objectives the study adopted a
descriptive design with quantitative approach where semi-structured questionnaires were
administered. The target population was 149 prequalified suppliers of goods and services in
Chartered Public Universities in the Rift Valley, Central, Nairobi and the Eastern Regions. Data
collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences to generate descriptive and
inferential data. A regression model was developed to establish the strength and direction of the
relationship between the variables and it was determined that the quality of goods and services had a
β value of 0.182. The study established that the quality of service had an impact on the
competitiveness of the business in public tendering opportunities. The study recommends that firms
that seek to participate in tendering opportunities in Public Universities should capitalize on the
quality of the services provided to their customers