In October 2014, in the framework of the project “Feasibility Study for Trans-border Biosphere Reserve Osogovo”, Ref. Nr. 007CB16IPO007-2013-3-047, Project Acronym TRANSBIORES, co-financed by the European Union through IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Bulgaria – the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, a competitive negotiated tender procedure for provision of external expertise has been conducted.
The tender procedure is related to the implementation of the activities of the Lead partner in the project, namely BBF-Belasitsa Branch.
The tender has been divided into lots and in total 12 professionals and specialists have been invited to participate, in following areas: Cultural and Historical Heritage, Tourism, Economics and Sociology.
In the last day of October 2014 a three membered evaluation committee (Rossen Vassilev, Stefan Avramov and Vladimir Milushev) has examined the received offers. Experts from the Joint Technical Secretariat in Kyustendil supporting the implementation of the projects financed under IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Bulgaria – the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have also attended the meeting.
After a careful evaluation, the Committee selected 4 offers (fully valid and meeting the stated criteria) and invited following experts to sign a contract:1. Stanislava Zahova – Expert Cultural and Historical Heritage
2. Simana Markovska – Expert Tourism
3. Dimitar Sabev – Expert Economics
4. Stanislava Zahova - Expert Sociology
The experts’ work will begin in November 2014; the implementation period for Lot 1-3 is 6 months and for Lot 4 - 9 months. The geographical scope of experts’ surveys is the whole territory of Osogovo: Municipalities of Kyustendil and Nevestino (District of Kyustendil, BG), Municipalities of Kriva Palanka, Kratovo and Rankovce (NorthEast Region, MK) & Municipalities of Kocani, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Probistip, Makedonska Kamenica and Delcevo (East Region, MK).
Soon we expect our partnering organization from the Macedonian side - the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius – Skopje, represented by its regional office in Strumica, to conduct the respective procurement procedure for provision of external expertise in following areas: Flora, Fauna, Forestry, Agronomy and Analyses and editing of feasibility study. The latter should determine the potential of Osogovo to become a trans-border Biosphere Reserve.
Bulgarian and Macedonian experts will have the possibility to coordinate their work during the three common meetings together with the administrative project team. The first meeting will take place after the accomplishment of the selection procedure of Macedonian experts.