Training in EDF tender and contract procedures for Dutch OCT TAO Staff

Contract Description

According to Article 198 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), has the objective to promote the economic and social development of the countries and territories and to establish close relationships between them and the Union as a whole. The detailed arrangements of the association have been laid out in consecutive Council Decisions on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OAD) with the European Community. Under previous programs funded under the 9th EDF the implementation was managed under a Contribution Agreement entered with SONA (Stichting Ontwikkeling Nederlandse Antillen) who delegated the actual implementation to USONA (Uitvoeringsorganisatie Stichting Ontwikkeling Nederlandse Antillen) who are responsible for the management of the Dutch funds allocated to the islands. Programmes funded through the 10tth EDF and the upcoming 11th EDF however call for decentralise management and as a result the islands’ Technical Authorising Officers (TAOs) will be responsible for the management of the implementation of the 10th and 11th EDF. Given that the islands have no prior detailed experience with the EDF procedures there is an eminent need for the staff from the TAO offices, assigned to work on the implementation, to receive training in all tendering and contracts management procedures, to facilitate the successful implementation of the programs. Hulla & Co Human Dynamics have been contracted and prepared training course and corresponding teaching materials for the following modules in English which was also the language of the delivery of the training course.

The course had the following outline:

• Module 1. Introduction to the 10th and 11th EDF
• Module 2. Procurement procedures (services, supplies and works) under the 10th EDF
• Module 3. Financial management of EDF contracts

In this light support was provided to 34 participants in total and a maximum of 10 participants travelling from Saba and Saint Eustatius to St Maarten for the training taking place from 24 November to 28 November 2014 in St Maarten. Furthermore a maximum of 12 participants will be travelling from Bonaire and Curacao to Aruba for the training taking place from 1 December to 5 December 2014 in Aruba.

T&T Executive provided logistical support and tasks completed were:

• Travel arrangements
• Hotel reservations and payments
• Assistance with visas
• Management and payment of Daily Allowance
• Local Transport