The European Ukraine Facility Program provides 50 billion euros to support reforms and restore Ukraine by 2027. But despite European funding, tenders for these projects are conducted under Ukrainian legislation - which opens up space for "technical filtration" of participants through requirements for experience, equipment, staff, etc.
Our money journalists explored the conditions of two tenders for reconstruction of medical institutions in Kiev. Both - under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, both at the EU expense, and both - by almost the same amount (about UAH 700 million each). But the requirements for participants are radically different.
Tender # 1: Endocrinological Center
Customer-State Enterprise "Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center of Endocrine Surgery" under the guidance of Alexander Tykay.
Participants' requirements are moderate:
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Availability of 4 pieces of equipment.
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Several key workers (engineer, estimate, precinct).
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Confirmation of experience - construction, reconstruction or repair, without additional restrictions.
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Financial capacity - at the level of 25% of the purchase value.
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Security - 0.5% bank guarantee + low collateral in the contract.
Tender # 2: Children's Cardio Center
The customer is the NPMC of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, which is managed by the Excellent Ilya Yemets.
Conditions are much tougher:
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The requirement to provide 179 pieces of equipment at the time of participation in the auction - with all the documents.
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22 employees with complete packages of documents - from diplomas to certificates of labor protection.
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Experience is only reconstruction, with a table for 37 types of work with exact volume.
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Financial capacity - not less than UAH 698 million (ie the entire cost of the project).
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The whole set of ISO certificates, including anti-corruption and fire.
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Provision of the contract is an electronic guarantee of 5%.
Formally everything is legitimate, but ...
In both cases, purchases occur within the EU program, which is based on the principles of transparency and equal access. But the actual load on participants is significantly different. In the Cardio Center - a barrier in the form of resource requirements before the work begins. This reduces the number of potential contractors and "cuts off" small but conscientious companies.
Results for today:
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The tender of the endocrine center was attended by 5 companies, the price fell by 15%.
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The Cardio Center is only a start, but participants already challenge the conditions due to discrimination.
Despite international funding, Ukrainian customers store a wide space for the "fit" of tenders under their own. And while the EU declares equal opportunities, in practice the starting conditions often determine who will come to the finish line.
