Regarding your appointment request, you can review the ‘Rules for Appointment with PAO’ document below.
Rules for Appointment with PAO
Considering the timetable of the relevant grant scheme and the number of potential applications, benefiting from Independent Assessors is possible to be utilized in the evaluation processes of the grant schemes where our Unit is the Contracting Authority.
Announcements for Independent Assessors to be employed are declared separately specific to each grant scheme and announcements are published on our website (www.cfcu.gov.tr). Potential applicants can be informed about independent assessor announcements by visiting the above website regularly and in case of meeting all eligibility criteria required, they can apply for the relevant announcements.
Independent Assessors are selected specifically for that grant scheme in line with the objectives and goals of each grant scheme. Therefore, it is not possible to employ any Independent Assessor in other grant schemes then the selected one.
In the Grant Scheme where our Unit is the Contracting Authority, we act in accordance with the rules laid down in the IPA Regulations and the European Commission Procurement and Grants for European Union External actions -A Practical Guide (PRAG) and its annexes. The documents used in the call for proposals and the application language are determined by following the points mentioned in these sources. Therefore, it is a general rule to apply the grant schemes in English where our Unit is the Contracting Authority.
However, exceptionally some Grant Schemes can be open for Turkish applications. In order to be informed about these programs, it is recommended to visit our website (www.cfcu.gov.tr) regularly.
Within the Grant Schemes where our Unit is the Contracting Authority, the eligibility criteria for the institution/ organization / individual that can apply is determined specific to each scheme. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to examine the "Guidelines for Grant Applicants" which have been published specific to each grant scheme on our website (www.cfcu.gov.tr) to be informed about the eligibility criteria sought before submitting any application.
No written or verbal opinion is given by our Unit to any institution / organization / individual whether it meets the appropriate eligibility criteria under any grant scheme.
On our website, in the right section under the heading ‘Tender Search’;
- ‘Open’ in the ‘Status’ menu,
- In the ‘Type’ menu: ‘Procurement of Goods’ and/or “Construction Works” and/or “Procurement of Services” and/or ’Grant’
you will find a list of the calls for tender notices/calls for proposals to which applications can be made and the information/documentation published for each call for tender notice/call for proposal. Some announcements regarding the call for tenders/notices are also published in the announcements section of our website.
In line with the information/documentation published specific to the call for tenders/notices, proposals can be submitted by eligible applicants in accordance with the criteria. For this reason, it will be useful for you to visit our Unit's website at appropriate intervals in order to be informed about the announcements/calls for tenders.
Grant Schemes for which the call for tenders has been completed:
On our website, in the right section under the heading ‘Tender Search’;
- ‘Closed’ in the ‘Status’ menu,
- In the ‘Type’ menu: ‘Procurement of Goods’ and/or “Construction Works” and/or “Procurement of Services” and/or ’Grant’
you can access the list of grant schemes for which the call for tender has been completed and the information/documentation published for each call for tender/ call for proposals.
First of all, it is recommended to make use of the “Grant Implementation Guide” prepared under each grant scheme for detailed information. In this guide, there are sections for the Coordinator Beneficiaries explaining the implementation methods, including contractual obligations and secondary procurement (sub-contracts) carried out by them, and providing information on the monitoring methods of grant projects. In addition, detailed information meetings are organised during the implementation process regarding the implementation of the grant contract. Also, you can access general information about the process of the beginning of the implementation of the Grant Contracts via the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW9dZh8xVLw
Detailed information can be found in the “Grant Implementation Guide” prepared under the relevant grant scheme. In addition, detailed information meetings are held during the implementation process regarding the execution of the Grant Contract. Also, you can access general information about the implementation process of the Grant Agreements via the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EozxwUJfZ9E
Detailed information can be found in the Grant Implementation Guide prepared under the relevant grant scheme. In addition, detailed information meetings are held during the implementation process, including the issues to be considered after the implementation process of the Grant Contract. Also, general information about the end of the implementation process of the Grant Agreements and reporting can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f7nVhtG__E
All tasks related to procurement processes announced by our Unit are carried out as per the procedures and standard documents (PRAG) published by the European Commission. Please see the PRAG document and its annexes in the following link:
https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/display/ExactExternalWiki/ePRAG
All requirements for participation in a tender are specified in the “Contract Notice” and “Additional information about the Contract Notice” of the relevant tender.
The principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination of PRAG apply to all tenderers. In this regard, tenderers do not have any priority whether they are based in Türkiye or abroad.
Prior Information Notice is published in order to give brief information setting out the specific characteristics of a planned tender procedure. It is not possible to access technical documents of a tender when only Prior Information Notice is published and tenderers are not expected to submit applications at this stage. Please visit the websites, CFCU (www.cfcu.gov.tr), F&T Portal (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home) and EU Official Journal (https://ted.europa.eu) regularly until further documents related to tender in question are published.
The evaluation procedures are carried out by the Evaluation Committee as per PRAG, and the Contracting Authority cannot give prior opinion on the assessment of a tender with a clarification.
In restricted procedure, all economic operators may submit a request to participate but only those who satisfy the selection criteria may be invited to submit a tender. The selection criteria and the tasks to be undertaken are described in the published Contract Notice and Additional information about the Contract Notice document. A ‘long list’ of all the candidates replying to the notice is cut down to a shortlist of the best qualified, on the basis of their replies.
In open procedure, all economic operators may submit a tender. Any natural or legal person wishing to tender may ask to receive the tender dossier (which may have to be paid for or published), in accordance with the procedures specified in the contract notice. The tenders are examined, compared and the contract is awarded.
For the award procedures under Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, in principle, products supplied under a contract financed under the EU budget must originate from an eligible country as designated by the relevant Instrument(s). This is referred to as rules of origin as per PRAG. For award procedures financed under the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, with the exception of the INSC Regulation 2021/948 of 27 May 2021, all supplies and materials may originate in any country. Please visit the PRAG document in the link below and its annexes for more detailed information, in particular Article 2.3.4. of PRAG and Annex A2a.
https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/display/ExactExternalWiki/ePRAG
Regarding the conformity of the goods to rules of origin your services intend to propose, the evaluation procedures are carried out by the Evaluation Committee as per PRAG and the Contracting Authority cannot give prior opinion on the assessment of a tender with a clarification.
In principle, for a contract financed under the EU budget, specific rules on nationality apply. This is referred to as rules on nationality as per PRAG. Please visit the PRAG document in the link below and its annexes for more detailed information, in particular Article 2.3.1. of PRAG, Annex A2a and Annex A2a1.
https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/display/ExactExternalWiki/ePRAG
Regarding the eligibility of your services in term of rules on nationality, the evaluation procedures are carried out by the Evaluation Committee as per PRAG and the Contracting Authority cannot give prior opinion on the assessment of a tender with a clarification.
The language to be used during procurement procedures are indicated in the Contract Notice/Tender Dossier of the related tender. Please carefully check the requirements in these documents regarding the language to be used, considering that this is an administrative compliance requirement as per PRAG.
Twinning is a European Union mechanism that aims to strengthen institutional cooperation between the public administrations of the Member State and the Beneficiary Country. This mechanism aims to transfer the expertise of the Member State's public institutions and organisations to the Beneficiary Country's public institutions and organisations. In this context, one-to-one activities are carried out between the Member State and the Beneficiary Country, aiming to achieve mandatory and concrete results for the Beneficiary Country. The twinning mechanism has emerged with the aim of supporting candidate countries to achieve the necessary capacity for the adoption and effective implementation of the acquis.
The Twinning Light mechanism is narrower in scope compared to the standard Twinning mechanism and aims to solve institutional problems that need partial correction. In this respect, it can be said that Twinning Light projects are small-scale projects designed to solve specific problems that do not require complex solutions.
Main differences between Twinning and a Twinning Light project are summarized below:
|
Twinning Projects |
Twinning Light Projects |
Duration of the project |
At least 12 months |
Maximum 8 months (in exceptional cases 10 months) |
Budget |
There is no such a restriction |
Up to EUR 250 000,00
|
Experts |
|
Short Term Specialists (There is no RTA.) |
How to Apply |
Individual application or by forming a consortium |
Individual application. (Member States cannot form a consortium). |
Work plan of the Contract |
A work plan is prepared at periodic intervals during the project period. |
The work plan covering the duration of the project is determined at the contractualisation stage.
|
All of these distinguishing factors underscore that ‘Twinning Light’ project must allow for a quick mobilisation of targeted public sector assistance.
In line with the policy guidelines developed by the European Commission, the beneficiary country prepares a document called Project Fiche, which contains important information about the project, such as the aim, objective, budget and duration of the project. Once approved by the competent authorities, the Project Fiche is circulated simultaneously among the Member States by the National Contact Point so that Member State authorities can submit proposals for the project.
Member State authorities are required to submit their proposals for the project to the relevant authorities, which are clearly indicated in the circulation email, by the deadline. A selection meeting is then organised for the selection of project partners. At this meeting, all proposing Member States are expected to make a presentation of their proposals. The results of the selection are communicated separately to the National Contact Points of the successful and unsuccessful Member States, copying also the administrations of the Member States that submitted proposals.
Member State and Beneficiary Country Project Leaders:
The successful implementation of a Twinning project requires the commitment of Project Leaders who hold senior positions in the Member State and Beneficiary Country public institutions. Each Twinning project has a Member State Project Leader who continues to work in the Member State administration but devotes part of his/her time to designing, supervising and coordinating project-related activities. In addition, there is a Beneficiary Country Project Leader who plays a complementary role and works closely with the Member Country Project Leader in the overall direction and coordination of the project.
Resident Twinning Adviser (RTA) and RTA Counterpart:
Twinning Projects have a full-time expert, called the Resident Twinning Adviser, who accompanies the Project Leader in the implementation of the project. A Resident Twinning Adviser is a public official or person in an equivalent position who is seconded by Member State administrations and authorised bodies to work in the Beneficiary Country with EU funding for at least 12 months. During their mandate, they remain in paid employment in their own institution or in the authorised bodies to which they belong. This expert, who is a national of a Member State, is also responsible for the implementation of the project while working on a daily basis in the Beneficiary Country with the relevant beneficiary organisation. In addition, there is the RTA Counterpart, who is a public official of the Beneficiary Country and works in close co-operation with the RTA on the execution and overall management of the project.
The Basic Training Programme for Resident Twinning Advisers is a two-day training seminar held in Brussels. Participants are invited to the training by the EU Commission. Participation of the Member State Project Leader and the Resident Twinning Adviser as well as the Beneficiary Country Project Leader or RTA Counterpart is possible under certain conditions.
Following the start of the implementation of the twinning contract, the Member State partner must apply for a VAT Exemption Certificate. The RTA should apply personally to the Revenue Administration. Firstly, the information form provided by the CFCU should be filled in and submitted to the CFCU for approval. The RTA should apply to the Revenue Administration with the information form approved by the CFCU.
For more detailed information, please contact the Revenue Administration.
• Twinning Manual:
• List of Mandated Bodies:
https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/list-mandated-bodies-manual-revision-2017_en
• Visibility Guideline:
• Current daily per diem rates:
All payments realized on EURO basis and EURO accounts.
Payment documents must be signed by authorized persons or the person who signed the contract.
Financial Identification Form, Invoice/Request of Payment, Final Reports and Report Approvals.
Payment documents must be submitted before the deadline which stated on Special Conditions of the Contract and its annexes.
Although taxes are considered as ineligible costs according to the general conditions, they cannot be covered from the project budget except for the exceptions specified in the special conditions. After the signing of the contract, a tax exemption certificate is obtained by applying to the Provincial Tax Office Directorate with the necessary documents. You can access the video we have prepared on VAT exemption via the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag6XlH2JS6Q
Unless otherwise stipulated in the contracts, the goods to be supplied must originate in the countries designated by the EU Commission. However, this rule may vary on a contract-by-contract basis and exemptions from the rule of origin may be applied for the goods to be supplied.
In addition to the PRAG rules, the provisions of the National Legislation and the relevant provisions of the contract are also taken into account.
Unless otherwise stated in the contract, expenditures must be realised within the implementation period.
While there are specific rates set for all contracts, projects are usually financed by the EU at a rate of 75% per cent or more.
Irregularity is a wilful or negligent act of an economic operator that causes a breach of a provision of applicable rules and/or contracts by charging an unaccountable item of expenditure to the EU general budget, which has or may have the effect of causing damage to the EU general budget.
Fraud means any intentional act or omission relating to: the use or presentation of false, incorrect or incomplete statements or documents, which has as its effect the misappropriation or wrongful retention of funds from the general budget of the Union or budgets managed by, or on behalf of, the European Union, non-disclosure of information in violation of a specific obligation with the same effect or the misapplication of such funds for purposes other than those for which they were originally granted.
It is possible to speak of a conflict of interest when the impartial and objective fulfilment of the duties and functions of a financial actor or any other person becomes suspect for any reason, including family or emotional relationships, political or national affiliation and economic interest or common interest with any other individual.
If you are in opinion that a matter (an action or process) arises an irregularity, you can directly contact with the contracting authority (or operating structure) by informing the matter and why you think the matter consists an irregularity.