Institution that advertises: Ministry of Health
Application deadline: 09/04/2023
Based on Article 16, paragraphs (2) and (3) of the Health Care Act (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” no. 43/12, 145/12, 87/13, 164/13, 39/14, 43/14, 132/14, 188/14, 10/15, 61/15, 154/15, 192/15, 17/16, 37/16, 20/19, and “Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” no. 101/19, 153/19, 180/19, 275/19, 77/21, 122/21, 178/21, 150/22, and 236/22), in connection with the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023 (“Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” no. 32/2023 of 13.02.2023), the Internal Procedure for Planning, Preparation, and Implementation of the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection as well as the Procedure for Disbursing Financial Resources to the Implementers of Activities from the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection financed by the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023, and the Decision to Conduct a Public Call for Selection of Associations and Awarding Funds to Associations that will Implement Activities Determined in the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023, the Ministry of Health publishes:
PUBLIC CALL
for the selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023 (Official Gazette of RNM no. 32/2023, 13.02.2023)
I. Subject of the public call:
Selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023 (Official Gazette of RNM no. 32/2023 of 13.02.2023).
II. Contracting authority:
Ministry of Health, headquartered at: ul. “50 Divizija” no. 14, 1000 Skopje, phone +389 2 3 11 25 00, website: www.zdravstvo.gov.mk
Contact person at the Contracting Authority – Aleksandra Ristovska Evtimova, phone +389 2 3 11 25 00, fax +389 2 3 11 30 14, email aleksandra.evtimova@zdravstvo.gov.mk
III. Contract duration
Contracts concluded between the Ministry of Health and selected associations are concluded for a fixed term, until the end of the fiscal year 2023.
IV. Costs to be financed through the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023:
V. Conditions for participation in the public call
To participate in the procedure for the public call for selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023, interested associations must meet the following conditions to prove their capability and submit evidence thereof:
Mandatory documentation for participation in the Public Call
– Computer-filled unified form, signed by the association’s representative and stamped with the association’s seal (on the prescribed form which is part of the public call);
– Detailed financial plan (submitted as a separate document);
– Current status from the Central Registry (not older than 6 months);
– Copy of the association’s statute;
– Work program or strategic framework of the association;
– Copy of the latest financial report (2022);
– Proof of implementation of at least three projects, or one multi-year project, with a total duration of no less than three years providing stationary and/or field services for prevention and support related to HIV among key populations, independently or in partnership (copy of signed contract(s) for project implementation and copy of implementation reports);
– Proof of fulfillment of appropriate staffing requirements: declaration of the association regarding engaged personnel; professional CVs of persons to be engaged in project implementation (on the prescribed form which is part of the public call);
– At least one opinion/reference from partners or donors on implementation of previous projects;
– Written support from other organizations or institutions planned to participate in project implementation (if the project is implemented in partnership with another organization/institution).
VI. Types of activities to be supported
Within this Public Call, program activities will be financially supported in the following fields of action:
HIV prevention among key populations – MSM programs in Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid, Shtip, and Strumica
This program aims to cover a total of 2,700 individuals with a basic service package (condom, lubricant, and educational material); funded activities should focus on increasing coverage of this target population, activities related to running a counseling center in Skopje: direct counseling, via info line and web portal, psychosocial support, as well as stationary and field services by outreach workers and HIV education in Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid, Shtip, and Strumica. Activities in this area should also include the application of communication tools, including innovative approaches for greater mobilization of target group members to use prevention and HIV testing services.
A total of 2,500,000.00 MKD including VAT is allocated for this field of action.
HIV prevention among key populations – PWID programs in Skopje, Gostivar, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, Gevgelija, Veles, Prilep, Kichevo, Tetovo, Struga, Kavadarci, Shtip, and Kumanovo
These programs are planned to cover a total of 2,900 individuals with a basic service package (one needle and one syringe set, condom, and educational material) within already established harm reduction programs, including needle and syringe exchange, distribution of condoms, lubricants, and educational material, stationary and field services by outreach, social, and medical workers, psychosocial support, HIV education, motivation for addiction treatment, and other activities in the mentioned locations.
A total of 5,700,000.00 MKD including VAT is allocated for this field of action.
HIV prevention among key populations – SW programs in Skopje (2), Gostivar, Tetovo, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, and Gevgelija
These programs are planned to cover a total of 900 individuals with a basic service package (condom, lubricant, and educational material) within already established stationary and field programs including outreach and social workers, peer education, and other activities in the listed cities.
A total of 3,669,000.00 MKD including VAT is allocated for this field of action.
Positive prevention and psychosocial support for people living with HIV and their partners with prevention among MSM
Activities include prevention services focused on people living with HIV and their partners and community support (peer counseling, sociotherapeutic groups, positive prevention training, accompaniment and assistance in accessing health services and therapy, home or hospital assistance, informational and educational materials); psychosocial support (counseling, covering travel costs for therapy pick-up and medical HIV check-ups, providing basic food and hygiene products, assistance to incapacitated or hospitalized patients, linking with institutions and services of other associations); training and sensitization of health workers regarding HIV to reduce discrimination in the health sector; producing educational materials; public awareness raising, normalizing HIV services in public, and mobilizing greater social support. This program also includes coverage of men who have sex with men from the target population with basic packages and HIV testing and counseling.
The positive prevention and community support services aim to cover at least 80 people living with HIV, of whom at least 30 are new (covered for the first time), at least 100 people with HIV testing and counseling, and at least 100 people with counseling and support services for PrEP use.
A total of 650,000.00 MKD is allocated for this field of action.
Activities for Field and Stationary HIV Testing and Counseling among Key Populations
This program includes activities related to stationary and field counseling and testing, including self-testing; providing testing materials, monitoring testing, and collecting data on field and stationary HIV testing in services of associations for key populations at the national level; distribution of condoms, lubricants, and educational and informational materials; activities for mobilizing affected community members, awareness raising about HIV testing, and strengthening the capacities of HIV testing service providers. It is planned to cover 900 individuals (men who have sex with men – 400, people who inject drugs – 250, sex workers – 250) with a basic service package (pre-test counseling, rapid HIV testing, and post-test counseling) in Skopje and 13 other cities across the country: Tetovo, Gostivar, Veles, Kichevo, Prilep, Ohrid, Struga, Bitola, Kavadarci, Shtip, Strumica, Gevgelija, and Kumanovo. Counseling and testing should be voluntary and confidential and conducted by persons trained in HIV counseling and testing.
A total of 1,500,000.00 MKD is allocated for this field of action.
Psychosocial Support for People Undergoing Drug Addiction Treatment
This program includes field work in gathering places and homes of people who use drugs (counseling for risk behavior reduction, motivation for treatment or seeking expert help at counseling centers, distribution of educational-informational materials, condoms, and vouchers for free HIV testing); field work for social interventions (mediation and professional help in obtaining documents needed for health insurance, social insurance, etc.); self-help groups; information line (telephone information and advice on issues related to drug use, HIV, HCV, and sexually transmitted infections); confidential and anonymous counseling by professionals – psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychologists, and social workers; creative workshops and psychosocial clubs; syringe patrol (collection of highly infectious waste, HIV prevention and other blood/sexually transmitted infections prevention, raising awareness among people who inject drugs about these infections and reducing stigma). It is planned to cover 250 people undergoing drug addiction treatment with psychosocial support services.
A total of 550,000.00 MKD is allocated for this field of action.
Activities for Diagnosis and Treatment of STIs and Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Key Populations and Young People
This area will support the functioning of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Skopje and the work of a mobile gynecological clinic for SRH, aiming to increase accessibility to quality SRH services among key populations (MSM, PWID, SW, people living with HIV and their partners), young people, Roma women, and women from rural areas. Through stationary and mobile SRH services, the following will be offered: gynecological examinations and counseling (diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections, therapy administration and contraception, vaginal and ultrasound examinations, etc.); dermatovenerological examinations (cryotherapy, diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections, therapy administration); HIV testing and psychosocial counseling; distribution of condoms, lubricants, and educational and informational materials. This activity aims to cover clients from target groups: MSM – 200 people, SW – 300 people, PWID – 100 people, and 250 young people who will undergo STI tests (syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, chlamydia and/or trichomonas) and/or gynecological examination (vaginal exam and ultrasound). This area also includes activities for strengthening the capacities of SRH service providers in youth-friendly SRH services and the mobile gynecological clinic.
A total of 2,400,000.00 MKD is allocated for this field of action.
VII. Right to Participate
The right to participate is granted to all interested associations established in accordance with the Law on Associations and Foundations.
Interested associations may submit an application for one, two, or more activities listed in Section VI of the Public Call, namely:
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HIV prevention among key populations – MSM programs in Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid, Štip, and Strumica.
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HIV prevention among key populations – PWID programs in Skopje, Gostivar, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, Gevgelija, Veles, Prilep, Kičevo, Tetovo, Struga, Kavadarci, Štip, and Kumanovo.
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HIV prevention among key populations – sex workers (SW) programs in Skopje, Gostivar, Tetovo, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, and Gevgelija.
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Positive prevention and psychosocial support for people living with HIV and their partners, including prevention among MSM.
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Field HIV testing and counseling activities among key populations.
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Psychosocial support for people undergoing treatment for drug addiction.
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Diagnosis and treatment activities for STIs and sexual and reproductive health services among key populations and young people.
VIII. Duration of the Public Call
The public call lasts 10 (ten) calendar days, counting from the day of publication in two newspapers.
The public call is also published on the Ministry of Health’s website: www.zdravstvo.gov.mk.
IX. Deadline and Place for Submission of Documentation
The deadline for submitting the required documentation is until 15:00 on the last day of the public call, i.e., 10 (ten) calendar days from the day of publication in two newspapers.
Documentation must be submitted to the archive of the Ministry of Health in a sealed envelope at the address: ul. "50 Divizija" no. 14, 1000 Skopje, with the label – Application for the public call for selection of associations and allocation of funds to associations that will implement activities established in the Program for HIV infection protection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2023 ("Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia" No. 32/2023 dated 13.02.2023).
X. Procedure for Selection of Associations and Allocation of Funds
The procedure is conducted by a commission appointed by the Minister of Health.
Applications must be submitted within the deadline set by the public call.
The commission reviews only applications that meet the conditions specified in this public call.
Incomplete documentation or documentation submitted after the deadline will be rejected as incomplete and late and will not be considered.
The commission may request clarifications or additional documents from associations if there are no significant deviations from the required documentation, within 3 (three) working days from the day the request is sent via the email address provided by the association in the Application Form.
The requested documents must be submitted electronically as a response to the request and in paper form to the archive of the Ministry of Health. The deadline is considered valid based on the electronic submission date.
Applications are reviewed in the presence of all commission members.
The selection will be made based on the conditions established in the Public Call.
All associations that meet the conditions will be selected based on the commission’s proposal, and individual contracts will be signed with them.
The Ministry of Health reserves the right to reject applications from associations that have shown significant or persistent failures in fulfilling key obligations in previous contracts, resulting in unilateral termination of the contract.
The Ministry reserves the right to contract multiple associations for the same activity, provided the total contract amount does not exceed the budget for that activity set in this public call.
Note: If the total value of all acceptable applications for a specific field exceeds the estimated value set in Section VI, the Ministry will proportionally reduce each accepted application within the maximum estimated amount.
The Ministry will notify the association of the change in their budget form electronically. The association has 3 (three) days to accept or reject the proposed correction by submitting a Confirmation of Consent and a Corrected Budget Form according to the proportional reduction.
The association must submit the requested documentation electronically in response to the notification and also in paper form to the Ministry’s archive. The deadline is considered valid based on electronic submission.
If the association refuses to accept the budget correction, the Ministry reserves the right to reject the application as unacceptable.
XI. Notification Method
Associations participating in the public call will be notified within 7 (seven) days in writing about the results of the call for selection and allocation of funds to associations implementing activities under the Program for HIV infection protection for 2023 ("Official Gazette" No. 32/2023 dated 13.02.2023).
The application form, professional biography form of the proposed project staff, and budget form are available on the Ministry of Health website www.zdravstvo.gov.mk.
Funds in the amount of 16,969,000.00 MKD have been allocated for the realization of these activities from Program 57, Budget account item 425.