Regarding the latest Articles and the audio recordings disseminated in public media, both the Supervisory Board and the Management Board of M-NAV GOJSC Skopje which acts as Joint-Stock Company owned by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and carries out affairs of public concern, would like to inform the public about the following:
The air traffic safety level is kept at the highest level regarding the services that M-NAV delivers.
M-NAV GOJS follows the prescribed procedures related to all events and after they are appropriately investigated by both in-house services and external Committees, M-NAV implements them.
In respect of the event that occurred in the month of September 2018, loss of radar picture, we would like to inform you that it occurred due to participants` failure to comply with the prescribed system test protocol and with the procedures for system integration.
We would like to highlight that the Air Traffic Controllers who were on duty that day as well as the technical personnel that was called to make intervention, intervened properly by following the procedures prescribed for such events and taking into account that they are properly trained, the problem was successfully overcome in a relatively short period
Procedures on system testing and integration have been conducted regularly since the month of September 2018 till today and they have been safely performed in compliance with the test procedures and with integration procedures.
The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Civil Aviation Agency and the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee was promptly notified about the said event. The Final Report about the event has already been submitted and reviewed at a closed session of the Government and we have already obtained the Conclusions that we follow and according to which we act immediately.
Also in future M-NAV GOJSC will continue to follow the procedures and to implement adequately all recommendation that will arise from the investigations of the reported events.
Regarding the recorded discussion from the meeting held between representatives of M-NAV GOJSC and Leonardo S.p.A. on 18.10.2018 in the premises of the General Secretary of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, the same one disclosed by the person who is evident from the second audio recording, with using extracts from the recording the whole public of the Republic of North Macedonia was misled, thus making damage and harming the reputation of M-NAV in both national and international public. During the meeting, three items of the agenda previously agreed, were discussed: an upgrade and maintenance of the existing Leonardo ATM system, having an aim of improving its performances, then the second item was maintenance of the existing Leonardo`s radar which is one of the radars used for provision of air navigation services and the last item of the agenda was information on the status of the procurement of the new ATM system, on request of the Company Leonardo.
The procurement of ATM system as the most crucial component of the Loan Agreement made with EBRD was conducted in compliance with the EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules and it commenced in the year of 2013 while EBRD Experts, an independent Consultant from France and Eurocontrol were involved continuously in the whole process. The Evaluation Committee of M-NAV GOJSC made the selection of the lowest evaluated substantially responsive tender that meets the tender requirements and it was submitted to the Management Board on 25.05.2017. The Decision on acceptance was made by the previous Management of M-NAV GOJSC on 30.05.2017. The Contract was signed by Leonardo S.p.A., legal successor of Selex ES on 28.11.2018 while the three Executive Directors of M-NAV GOJSC, members of Management Board of M-NAV GOJSC signed it on 14.12.2018. The overall Tender remained unchanged from 25.05.2017, the date when the Evaluation Report was submitted by the Evaluation Committee up to 14.12.2018, the date of Contract signature.
Related to the procurement of the ATM System, M-NAV confirms all the facts presented by the General Secretary of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on the press conference held on 02.07.2019 and more detailed chronological presentation of the whole tender procedure is given below:
o European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a strategic financial partner of M-NAV GOJSC that has financially supported M-NAV`s development cycles since the year of 1994. Following previously conducted procedure for long-term debt to international financial institutions, the same one conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport and Communication, on 24.09.2013 M-NAV GOJSC Skopje signed a non sovereign Loan Agreement with EBRD for providing funds for the “M-NAV Modernization Project/Macedonian Air Navigation System Upgrading, in the amount of EUR 11.150.000,00, the same being the fourth credit line concluded with EBRD whereby all project procurement processes and procedures are implemented in accordance to the EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules.
o The Loan Agreement that was reached in the year of 2013 covers several project components for supply of communication systems, radar aids and meteorological equipment, but the supply, installation and commissioning of ATM system including technical-operating room is its primary component.
o ATM System is a primary system that is used by M-NAV GOSJC Skopje in order to perform its core activity – a provision of air navigation services over the Airspace of the Republic of North Macedonia, having an aim to provide safe, smooth, regular and efficient conduct of flights, due to this the Executive Director of Air Navigation Services has been selected to be assigned as Project Manager.
o Due to the complexity of the system, following the instructions given by EBRD and in compliance with EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules, the procurement of the new ATM system was carried out in accordance with the open procurement procedure in two stages.
o Perpetually collaborating with both the independent Consultant from France and with Eurocontrol, M-NAV GOJSC prepared the First Stage Tender Documents and on 30th of July, 2014 an official approval i.e. “No Objection” was received from EBRD, after which the First Stage Invitation for Submission of Tenders i.e only technical bids, was issued on 1st of August 2014. Fourteen (14) Tender Documents were acquired and four (4) Technical Bids were received in accordance with the published Invitation.
o The evaluation was conducted by continuous cooperation and coordination with the Consultants and with Eurocontrol. In July, 2016, the First Stage Tender Evaluation Report with proposal of three (3) selected companies to participate in the Second Stage was sent to EBRD for final approval and for obtaining “No Objection”.
o On 25.10.2016, final approval of the First Stage Tender Evaluation Report and proceeding with the Second Stage of the Tender Procedure was obtained by EBRD, thus on 31.10.2016 a Second Stage Invitation for Submission of Tenders (technical and financial) was submitted to the selected three companies. Two (2) companies responded to the invitation and the evaluation of the two received second stage tenders was also conducted in continuous cooperation and coordination with the Consultants, EBRD and with Eurocontrol.
o On 30.05.2017, the Management Board of M-NAV GOJSC approved the Second Stage Tender Evaluation Report prepared by the M-NAV`s Evaluation Committee and the same, including a proposal the Tender submitted by LEONARDO S.p.A to be accepted as the Lowest Evaluated Substantially Responsive Tenderer that fully meets the tender requirements was sent to EBRD on 6th of June, 2017 to be approved.
o At the same time, on 7th of June 2017 the independent Consultant also sent a Letter to EBRD fully confirming that the whole evaluation process (first and second stage) was conducted in accordance with EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules including the confirmation of the proposal of accepting the Tender submitted by LEONARDO S.p.A. On 31.07.2017, final approval i.e. “NO OBJECTON” regarding the same one was obtained by EBRD.
o In the meantime, on its 63rd Session held on 10.04.2018, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, regarding the item 68, passed a Conclusion on the Procurement of the new ATM System to be Retendered with excluding the building (technical-operating room) from the same one and the building to be built from M-NAV`s funds on a new location. But after receiving the Report from the Bureau for Forensic Expertise stating that the amount of the offered price for the ATM technical-operating room is within the limits of the market price, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, on its 96th Session held on 22.10.2018 passed Conclusion that all conclusions made on 63rd Session regarding the item 68 for the Project on Procurement of ATM System including Technical-Operating Room cease to apply.
o Letter of Award (Letter for accepting the tender), M-NAV GOJSC submitted to LEONARDO S.p.A on 31.10.2018 during the period of tender validity, following the Conclusions of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia according to which a Contract on Procurement of ATM System including Technical-Operating Room was signed by LEONARDO S.p.A on 28.11.2018, while the same was signed by the three M-NAV GOJSC`s Executive Directors on 14.12.2018.
o Consequently and in accordance with EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules and with the requirements stipulated in the tender documentation as well, on 18.12.2018 M-NAV GOJSC sent an Notification (Letter) of Not Award to the other Company which participated in the Second Stage of the tender procedure and at the same time they were invited for a consultative meeting which was held on 23.01.2019. The reasons for rejecting their Tender were explained during the meeting and on 06.02.2019 the said Company sent an official Letter confirming that there were some omissions in the preparation of their Tender, at the same time expressing hope for further cooperation regarding the future M-NAV GOJSC`s projects, thus formally the whole process was closed. Due to accepting the remarks, the second company that participated did not lodge a complaint.
M-NAV GOJSC Skopje will collaborate with all authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia and it will submit all required documentation either during the current procedures or during the procedures that will be carried out.
M-NAV, GOJSC will use all legal means and will undertake appropriate measures against the persons who have harmed or will harm the reputation of the Company in both the national and international public at the most significant moments of European integration processes of our country. At the same time, we reserve the right to conduct procedures for compensation of damages in case the same ones are inflicted to us.
With respect
M-NAV, GOJSC