Deadline extension: Selecting a service provider to implement a capacity building programme for public institutions responsible for regional and local development policy in the context of the EU candidate country status of the Republic of Moldova

Organizational Context: Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova is the Chisinau Branch of Fundacja Solidarności Międzynarodowej, Warsaw, a state foundation, managed and co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, created to contribute to the development of neighbouring countries. In 2023, Solidarity Fund PL successfully completed the EU certification process „Pillar Assessment”, joining the group of entities with higher capabilities to access European funds. You can read more about the activity of Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova here.  

Project Context:  EU4 Moldova Resilience - Secure States, Resilient Communities (EU4MR), a 1.5 year project funded by the European Commission through the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and implemented by Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova (SFPL in Moldova). It is being launched as part of the European Union's support to the Republic of Moldova in the context of the specific challenges and changing needs that the country is currently facing. The overall objective and expected outcome of the EU4MR project is to increase the resilience of the Republic of Moldova to emergencies and potential security threats. To this end, the capacities of state institutions to detect and counter potential emergencies and security threats will be strengthened. 

Description of the acquisition: 

For the last 10 years, SFPL in Moldova has cooperated with Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIRD) to develop and implement regional and urban policies, including urban revitalization and capacity building for central, regional, and local authorities. With Moldova's EU pre-accession, there is a need for expertise in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting under shared management. 

In 2023, MIRD, with support from SFPL in Moldova, developed a capacity building programme for public institutions responsible for regional and local development policy in the context of Moldova's EU candidate status, as part of Moldova's EU accession plan and aims to enhance administrative capacities. In continuation of these efforts, SFPL in Moldova intends to support MIDR and other PCA institutions in implementing EU-aligned regional and local development policies and in creating a sustainable mechanism for capacity development. 

Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova invites you to make an offer for the execution of the assignment. 

Purpose of services: To implement a capacity building programme for public institutions responsible for regional and local development policy in the context of the EU candidate country status of the Republic of Moldova. 

Objectives: 

• Enhancing the knowledge, understanding, and capabilities of at least 45 employees from public administration institutions in Moldova in EU regional policy, cohesion funds management, and EU pre-accession requirements, to effectively plan and implement regional and local development policies aligned with EU standards. 

• Developing and delivering training methodology across five thematic blocks to cover essential topics like regional development factors, strategic planning, project management, and EU fund utilization etc. 

• Ensuring logistics in the implementation of the capacity building program in the city of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, including experts’ accommodation, space for courses, catering, translation, etc. 

• Establishing an e-learning course to facilitate continuous learning and knowledge retention among participants beyond the workshop sessions. 

• Organize, plan, conduct, and facilitate a study visit for approx. 20 attendees in a relevant EU country, ensuring alignment with the theoretical knowledge and practical experiences gained during the capacity building program implementation.

Please see all the details in the services' Terms of Reference.

The dossier withh all the documents mentioned in the above Terms of Reference must be sent to the email address: procurements@solidarityfund.md with the title of the message: Services – Capacity building programme for public institutions responsible for regional and local development policy, specifying the application format in the content of the message (email): company or expert group. 

Application deadline: 02/09/2024, 11:00 a.m. 

Note: Questions regarding the procurement process can be sent to the email address: procurement@solidarityfund.md no later than 5 days before the application submission deadline. Answers will be published in the Q&A category, 3 days before the submission deadline. 

* The applicant has the right to establish independently the confidentiality limits of the provided data and to mention which of the attached documents to the offer are confidential.  

** Personal data will be processed by Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova for the purposes of the procurement process, in accordance with the provisions of the legislation in force and internal rules. The provision of personal data is voluntary. Refusal to provide data will result in the impossibility to conclude a contract with Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova. Individuals have the right to obtain information about the purpose, scope and manner of processing personal data, the right to access their personal data, and the rights to data portability and rectification. Personal data may be disclosed to development partners, auditors, public law bodies, lawyers - for the purposes of Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova control, protection of rights, dispute resolution. Personal data will not be transmitted to other third parties without prior consent of the applicant. Any questions regarding personal data can be directed to Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova by e-mail info@solidarityfund.md.   

*** For the transparency purpose of the procurement process, the results of the auction with information on the selected provider (name/ surname, service, price, period) will be published on the Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova website. Participation in the auction by sending documents signifies acceptance of the publication of the procurement results, except for information marked as confidential.   

**** Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova reserves the right to cancel the procurement process at any time without any obligation to the bidders.