Public procurement has become an issue of public attention and debate over a long period. It has been subjected to reforms, restructuring, rules and regulations to ensure compliance in achieving value for money by the procuring entities. Despite statutory provisions and internal controls, public sector institutions have not fully complied with Access to Government Procurement Opportunities regulations for special groups in several nations. The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of targeted procurement strategies on the growth of SMEs. Specifically, the study determined the effects of financial access, evaluation criteria, compliance monitoring and capacity building on the growth of SMEs. It’s conjoined on the Pecking Order Theory, Preferential Procurement Model, Institutional Theory and Dynamic Capability Theory. The study methodology was empirical review whereby relevant research journals based on targeted procurement were reviewed. The study findings indicated that financial access, evaluation criteria, compliance monitoring and capacity building were all positively significant to the growth of SMEs. The study recommended for the full financial assess and support, flexible tender evaluation criteria, compliance monitoring by the buying organizations and capacity building to the SMEs to hasten their growth. Further, a study proposed a future study to consider assessing other factors like bid price, youth owned or women enterprises to see whether similar findings could be gotten.

Keywords : Access to Government Procurement Opportunities, Capacity Building, Compliance Monitoring, Public Procurement, Special Groups.