Clean-up of Contaminated Sites at the Former OHIS Factory in Skopje – remediation of the “small dump” (delta-HCH dump)

New clarification added: Question 1:Schedule 0.10 Dispute Details—if there are no legal disputes whatsoever regarding the bidder in connection with а contract and а procedure in which they are participating, and there are no arbitration or other disputes in which they are involved, either as a client or as a service provider, for which the bidder will declare the necessary circumstances in Schedule 0.1 and Schedule 0.12, should the bidder complete Schedule 0.10 Dispute Details, and if so, in which field of the “Document Checklist” section should it be attached, since there is no separate field for attaching this file?Answer 1: If there are no disputes as defined in Schedule 0.10, please write this in the Schedule and upload it together in any other section, e.g., Certificate of Incorporation. Question 2:Should Schedule 0.12 be completed once for the joint venture, separately for each participant in the joint venture, and separately for each subcontractor, given that Schedule 0.12 is specifically used to declare BIDDER ELIGIBILITY, which, pursuant to Article 4 of SECTION I: INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS  - The eligibility conditions for bidders under this article also apply to any subcontractor?Answer 2: If the bidder represents the Joint venture, Schedule 0.12 should be provided by all JV members. Schedule 0.12 does not have to be provided by the subcontractors; however, as noted, all subcontractors have to be eligible for working with UNOPS under the same conditions as the bidder itself (sole or JV).Question 3:Regarding Schedule 0.11, “Acknowledgment of the Addenda”—which addenda should the bidder declare in it, and where should the form be attached in the “Document Checklist” section, since there is no separate field for attaching this file?Answer 3: Schedule 0.11 refers to the statement by the bidder that in preparation of the bid, all tender amendments were taken into consideration.The fill-in document can be uploaded in any of the available documents sections, e.g., technical proposal. Question 4:Regarding Form 0.14 Bid Checklist—there is a field labeled “Page # in the bid” to be filled out—given that the bid is not submitted as a single comprehensive document, numbered page by page, but consists of separate files that are uploaded individually to different fields in the electronic system, please confirm whether it is permissible to enter “not applicable” in this field or specify a specific method for filling it out. Answer 4: The Page number column serves the Evaluation team to easily navigate through the submitted bids and complete the evaluation more efficiently and without additional iterations to clarify the bid. For the documents that have separate upload boxes, it is allowed to put any reference, and for the sections that are part of the bidder documents, please provide the document title and page, where applicable. ​

New clarification added: Question regarding EU waste shipment regulationIn the context of the amendment to the European Regulation, which entered into force on 21 May 2026, new obligations now apply.As we understand it, since 21 May 2026, all imports or exports within or from the EU for the purpose of waste disposal are prohibited. Furthermore, North Macedonia is not an OECD member, which may further complicate any import into the EU.In these circumstances, what is the position of the Macedonian government? Has an agreement in principle already been reached with the EU on this matter?We are interested in responding to this tender, but this regulatory obligation is critical for the proper execution of the contract.Answer:As far as UNOPS has information, the recent revision of EU directives did not affect the current eligibility for exporting the chemical waste from North Macedonia to EU countries as signatory of Basel Convention

New clarification added: Q16: Please confirm whether failure or malfunction of critical environmental control equipment, including NPUs, HEPA/activated carbon filtration, sluices, water collection/treatment or monitoring equipment, shall require immediate suspension of affected operations unless an approved backup system is available.A16: Yes. Failure of malfunction of critical environmental control equipment shall require immediate suspension of the affected remediation activities until the equipment is repaired, replaced or a separate back-up system is approved.Q17: Please clarify whether bidders shall include standby costs, backup equipment, emergency repair capacity and response procedures for critical equipment failureA17: Yes, for a standby caused by a third party (OHIS, EVN, enclosure operator…)Q18: Please clarify the decision-making procedure in case air monitoring results exceed applicable limits, warning thresholds or historical/background values.A18: Reference to Annex 13 of the SoW Annexes and photos_January 2026:Q19: Kindly confirm if the documentation required to be provided by the future contractor (e.g. health and safety plan, remediation plan etc.) must be translated in any other languages apart from English.A19: Yes. However, this requirement shall apply only after contract award. The successful Contractor shall ensure that all required technical and contractual documentation, including the Site Remediation Plan and other documents requiring approval by the competent national authorities, is available in both English and Macedonian prior to its submission for review and approval. Translation of the bid documentation submitted as part of the tender is not required.  Q20: Kindly confirm the revised date for the delivery of the original Bid Security.A20: The Bid Security details have not changedWith relevance to the enclosure:Q1 Previous clarification replies indicate that the existing environmental enclosure and NPUs are not part of this tender, shall not be priced by bidders, and will be addressed under a separate UNOPS arrangement. Please clarify how responsibilities and liabilities will be allocated between the future Remediation Works Contractor, UNOPS/Supervision Company and any separate enclosure/NPU operator or service provider.A1: The responsibilities and liabilities between the Remediation Works Contractor, Supervision company and the Enclosure Operator shall be governed by their respective contracts. Each contracting party shall be responsible for the performance of the activities within its own contract and for any liabilities arising therefrom. The respective contracts will also establish the requirements for coordination, cooperation, information sharing and management between the parties, mediated/coordinated by UNOPS, to ensure the safe and effective implementation of the remediation works. Q2: Please clarify whether the future Remediation Works Contractor will be required to maintain insurance covering third-party liability, environmental liability/pollution events, damage to third-party property/equipment, damage to the existing enclosure and NPUs, worker exposure, community claims and incidents arising from its activities inside or around the existing enclosure.A2: Reference to SoW page 19 points vii and viii: vii. The Contractor shall arrange for, either directly or through a specifically described and licensed subcontractor, the adherence to all national  and international regulations including Customs, EC Directive No. 1013/2006 of the European Council concerning the shipments of waste, ADR/RID/IMDG regulations, the Basel and Stockholm Convention norms for transboundary movement of the HCH waste and HCH contaminated soil from North Macedonia to the destination country including all handling, transportation and disposal according to BAT/BEP standards and including provisions for insurance, i.e. financial guarantees, as well as coverage of fees for export, transit and/or import permits; possible rental costs for sea containers, possible hazardous waste storage charges, bank guarantees etc. viii. The Contractor shall provide either directly or through a specifically described and licensed subcontractor enough cargo means of sufficient capacity ratings for international carriage of shipping containers, packing materials, tools and equipment to avoid interruptions in the work performance due to the lack of vehicles and other media. Ensure the necessary cargo insurance during transportation, which shall include environmental liabilities for the transport of HCH and any emergency situations resulting from inappropriate handling of cargo, inclusive of force major. Q3: Please clarify the procedure and allocation of costs in case urgent repair of the existing enclosure, NPUs, filters, airlocks, sluices, anchoring systems or other associated systems is required during the remediation works due to bad weather, storm events, equipment movement, excavation activities, accidental damage, operational misuse or any other eventA3:  All incidents arising from the operations conducted by the contractor are the responsibility of the contractor for remediation works, except the replacement of the saturated activated carbon filters, which are the responsibility of the enclosure operator under a separate contract. The regular maintenance of the equipment and the enclosure are subject to another contract.

New clarification added: Q9: Please specify the type of required medical examinations and biological monitoring, including whether blood, urine or other tests are required for HCH isomers, mercury or other relevant contaminants, and confirm whether bidders shall include all related costs in their technical and financial offers.Q9; The Contractor shall provide the necessary occupational medical; examinations for all project personnel involved in the remediation works, in  accordance with the applicable national legislation and occupational health requirements. In addition to the medical examinations, the Contractor shall provide biological monitoring through blood and urine analyses for all directly involved personnel. Blood and urine samples shall be collected prior to the commencement of excavation and packing activities and again upon completion of these activities to assess potential exposure to HCH contaminants. All costs associated with the required medical examinations, biological monitoring, sample collection, laboratory analyses, and reporting shall be included in the Contractor's technical and financial proposal. Q10: Please confirm whether bidders shall include standby, demobilization/remobilization, extended storage, personnel and equipment inactivity costs arising from weather-related stoppages or restrictions.A10: The bidder should be aware that unforeseen circumstances may require the temporary suspension of the remediation works. Such works shall resume once the circumstances leading to suspension have been resolved.  Any unforeseen circumstances are to be resolved through change management as provided in the UNOPS Contract templateQ11: Please confirm whether the Contractor shall include, in its technical and financial offer, baseline and operational air monitoring at the outlet/exterior side of the HEPA/activated carbon filtration units of the negative pressure system.A11: The complete  NPU maintenance, including the replacement of the saturated activated carbon filters, is the responsibility of the enclosure operator under a separate contract. However,  the packing and disposal of exhausted activated carbon filters remains within the SoW of this tender. Q12: Please confirm whether bidders shall submit the acceptance criteria of the proposed final treatment/disposal facilities for each waste stream, including maximum acceptable concentrations of chlorine, mercury, heavy metals and any restrictions regarding large objects, debris, moisture, packaging, particle size or other physical/chemical parameters.A12: As indicated on SoW page 20, the Bidder shall provide type and full description of the final treatment method for HCH waste, the HCH contaminated soil and Hg contaminated soil, including: Technology; Evaluation of residual POPs content in solid and liquid residuals and discharges resulted of the disposal operation; Emission and residue control equipment; Compliance with emission/releases standards in a country of disposal; Annual capacity for general hazardous waste, and separately for chlorinated HCH/wastes and soils; Description of the quality systems (and quality control) and emission monitoring practices applied during disposal operations.The final treatment/disposal operator’s acceptance criteria are to be submitted, but the physical parameters should be adjusted by the contractor (bidder).Q13: Please confirm whether the Contractor shall provide LEL meters/detectors, in addition to any PID or general gas monitoring equipment, for monitoring potentially explosive atmospheres in enclosed or hazardous working areas.A13: Yes, the Contractor should provide appropriate gas monitoring equipment including a PID gas detector equipped as a minimum with CO, O2, LEL, CO2 sensors, capable of providing continuous real-time measurements. Where required, the Contractor shall also provide appropriate respiratory protection, including full-face masks fitted with ABEK2HgP3R gas filters. During the remediation works,  TSP, gases and negative pressure shall be monitored on a daily basis. Remediation activities shall be carried out only when environmental monitoring confirms that atmospheric conditions inside the enclosure are safe and in accordance with the approved HSSE procedures. Appropriate engineering controls, including fan dust suppression units and powered respiratory equipment, shall be implemented as required by the site conditions. Remediation activities shall be carried out only when environmental monitoring confirms that atmospheric conditions inside the enclosure are safe and in accordance with the approved HSSE procedures. Appropriate engineering controls, including fan dust suppression units and powered respiratory equipment, shall be implemented as required by the site conditions. Q14: Please clarify the required procedure in case of complaints from neighbours, authorities or third parties regarding odour, dust or suspected emissions during the works. Please confirm whether such complaints may trigger suspension or restriction of works, additional monitoring, investigation, corrective measures or public communication actions, and whether bidders shall include the associated standby and response costs in their offers.A14: Complaints received from neighbouring residents, authorities, or other third parties regarding odour, dust, or suspected emissions shall be promptly assessed by the UNOPS Project Team in coordination with the Contractor and the relevant supervision personnel. Depending on the nature and validity of the complaint, additional monitoring, investigation, or corrective measures may be required. Where necessary to protect human health, the environment, or public safety, remediation activities may be temporarily restricted or suspended until the issue has been adequately addressed.To support evidence-based decision-making, the project includes a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme implemented both by the Contractor and by a separate UNOPS-contracted monitoring entity. Monitoring stations are located inside and outside the environmental enclosure, around the enclosure, and at two locations within the nearby residential area, providing independent verification of air quality throughout the remediation works.Bidders shall take into account the possibility of temporary work interruptions and the implementation of reasonable corrective measures when preparing their technical and financial proposals.Q15: Please clarify the required controls for machinery operation inside or around the environmental enclosure, including exclusion zones, SIMOPS control, traffic supervision, protection of the enclosure structure, emergency response arrangements and liability for any damage to the enclosure or associated systems. Please confirm whether bidders shall include such controls in their technical and financial offers.A15: Since the Enclosure Operator is liable for damage caused by Structural breaches: Rips, unsealed joints, or failed airlocks allowed air to escape. It is therefore recommended that the Contractor include in its technical and financial proposal all necessary measures for the safe operation of machinery within and around the environmental enclosure. 

New clarification added: Q1: The pre-bid meeting Q&A states that any excavated material presenting a concentration of sum HCH above 10,000 mg/kg is classified as HCH waste, while materials containing HCH in excess of 10,000 ppm, up to and including pure lindane, are classified as waste. At the same time, the Appendix “Requirements for the Technical Offer” refers to HCH-contaminated soil with concentrations up to 5,000 mg/kg in relation to the minimum processing/disposal capacity requirement. Please confirm that the  2,613 tons of HCH-contaminated soil included in the BoQ shall be understood as material that may contain sum HCH concentrations            up to 10,000 mg/kg, and not only up to 5,000 mg/kg;A1: The 2,613 tons of HCH–contaminated soil is up to 10,000 mg/kg.Q2:Please confirm whether bidders shall include in their technical and financial offers the full cost of baseline, execution-phase and final air monitoring, including sampling equipment, consumables, accredited laboratory analysis, reporting and corrective-action follow-up.A2: Yes. Everything should be included in their technical and financial offer. Q3: Please also confirm the minimum number of monitoring locations, sampling frequency and parameters to be included.A3: (6) six monitoring stations were operated during the  previous lots, of which (1) one inside the environmental enclosure; (2) two outside the enclosure on the South-West and North East sides of the enclosure; (2) two at the area of the Negative Pressure Units (NPUs) and (1) one at the border of the site. The sampling should be carried out in accordance with an internationally recognised standard such as EPA (method TO 10A), UNEP GMP under the Stockholm convention on POPs, or equivalent.  The following parameters are to be  monitored:Sum HCH, alpha-HCH & beta HCH, gamma-HCH, delta-HCH and epsilon HCH   in the air in the following places of interest:  Q4: Please also clarify whether bidders shall include routine inspection, maintenance and replacement of HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, intermediate filters and contaminated used filters, including the cost of packaging and disposal of spent filters as hazardous wasteA4: The complete  NPU maintenance, including the replacement of the saturated activated carbon filters, is the responsibility of the enclosure operator under a separate contract. However,  the packing and disposal of exhausted activated carbon filters remains within the SoW of this tender. Q5: Please clarify the minimum rainwater and wastewater temporary storage capacity that bidders shall include in their technical and financial offers.A5: The Contractor should Install a rainwater collection and transfer system, including at  least (3) three storage polythene water storage  tanks, each with a minimum capacity of 25m3 each and a filtration system using fine sand and activated carbon. . Q6: Please clarify whether excavation, repacking, loading or water discharge activities must be suspended pending analytical results in cases where classification, discharge compliance, air exceedances or suspected unexpected contamination are identified.If yes, please confirm that bidders shall include in their programme and financial offer the potential standby time, storage requirements, equipment inactivity, personnel costs and schedule impacts associated with such suspensions.A6: The bidder should be aware that unforeseen circumstances may require the temporary suspension of the remediation works. Such works shall resume once the circumstances leading to suspension have been resolved. Any unforeseen circumstances are to be resolved through change management as defined in the provided Contract template. Q7: Please clarify the minimum sampling and analysis requirements for HCH waste, HCH-contaminated soil, mercury-contaminated soil and any newly created soil piles.In particular, please confirm whether bidders shall include on-site screening such as XRF and accredited laboratory analysis for each created pile or waste stream, and whether classification shall be confirmed before packaging, shipment or disposalA7: The Contractor shall implement a sampling and analysis programme for HCH waste, HCH-contaminated soil, mercury-contaminated soil and any newly generated soil piles during the remediation works. Daily monitoring of TSP, gases and negative pressure measurements. Homogenized samples of HCH waste and the mixed material shall be collected and submitted for analysis by accredited laboratory/s.. During the excavation and packing activities, in-situ screening using a portable XRF analyzer shall be used for monitoring and segregation purposes. Furthermore, homogenized samples shall be collected from each excavated soil layer for laboratory analysis, as appropriate. As noted on page 19 of the SOW, the Contractor shall engage an accredited national laboratory to perform the required analyses.  All monitoring costs and costs related to the sampling, sample transportation, laboratory analyses, and sample disposal shall be covered by the Contractor.The Contractor shall establish the appropriate classification of the waste streams based on the analytical results and in accordance with the applicable legislation and the requirements of the receiving treatment or disposal facility prior to final packaging, shipment, or disposal. Q8: Please confirm the procedure to be followed if excavated material initially expected to be HCH-contaminated soil is found to contain mercury or other contaminants beyond the HCH identified pollutants.A8: If excavated material initially identified as HCH-contaminated soil is found to contain mercury (Hg) concentrations above 50 mg/kg, the material shall be separated and temporarily stored inside the enclosure for further instructions. It should be placed on and under a geomembrane cover to prevent secondary contamination and exposure.The final classification is to be determined by sampling and chemical analysis of excavated soil by accredited laboratories. 

New clarification added: Q1: Although Annexes 7 and 8 provide the layouts of the existing electrical and water supply networks, they do not specify the available electrical and water supply capacities within the designated Contractor's work area. In particular, information on the available electrical capacity (kW/MW), available water supply capacity (flow rate and pressure), and the corresponding connection points is required to assess whether the existing infrastructure is sufficient to support the proposed water treatment plant, personnel and material airlock systems, drum filling station, ventilation and air treatment equipment, and other temporary facilities necessary for the execution of the works. Could you please provide this information?A1: With reference to Annex 8 of the Scope of Works, it is stated that electricity may be brought from outside the OHIS plant to the remediation site and subsequently used to establish the enclosure. It should be noted that this service is already in place, as the environmental tent has been installed and the necessary electricity connection has been provided and is operational. Furthermore, the current works primarily involve off-site treatment activities, which are described under the Point 3, Scope of the Proposed Services of the SoW. The reference in Annex 8 should not be interpreted as a requirement for the installation and operation of an on-site soil treatment plant. During the previous remediation works, there was no need for a dedicated transformer or generator, as the available electricity supply was sufficient and reliable to meet the operational requirements at that time. Q2: Could you please confirm whether the existing environmental enclosure is equipped with personnel and/or material airlock systems that enable the segregation of clean and contaminated zones? If no airlock systems are currently installed, please confirm whether the existing enclosure has been designed to accommodate the installation of such airlocks by the Contractor without requiring major modifications to the structure or compromising its integrity and negative-pressure operation. A2: Yes. The existing environmental enclosure is equipped with personnel and container airlock systems, designed to maintain the segregation of clean and contaminated zones and prevent cross-contamination during remediation activities. Specifically, the enclosure includes: two decontamination units, PVC double-faced dust curtains, three stage compartment airlocks for materials/ equipment and for personnel, wet and dry boots stations and wheel washing stations for the machineries.  It also includes: access doors and personnel airlocks, equipment entry/exit systems, emergency exits, electrical penetrations and ventilation duct penetrations.Q3:Could you please confirm whether the existing Negative Pressure Unit (NPU) is connected to an emergency backup power supply to ensure uninterrupted operation in the event of a power failure? If so, please provide the generator capacity, autonomy, and the available spare capacity for additional Contractor-installed equipment A3: No emergency power supply unit has been provided for the NPUs. Nevertheless, during the previous remediation works, there was no need for a dedicated transformer or generator, as the available electricity supply was sufficient and reliable to meet the operational requirements at that time.

New clarification added: Q1: We kindly request an extension of the tender submission deadline, preferably until 17 July 2026, to ensure the comprehensive preparation and submission of a complete and fully compliant proposal.A1: Based on the request from several potential bidders, UNOPS extended the deadline for submission of offers until 17 July 2026. Due to the project timeline, all options for further extensions are allready exhausted.

New clarification added: Q1: Dear UNOPS team, we would like to doublecheck the following: Is the bidder expected to fill and submit any information in the schedules from:1. Section III Conditions of the contract.2. Section IV Schedule 2; 2.2 Site plan3. Section V RequirementsAnswer 1: Section III, IV and V are not to be filled-in by bidders.

New clarification added: Question: 37.Please provide all available technical documentation for the existing environmental enclosure, Negative Pressure Unit (NPU), and Filter Unit(s) including as-built drawings, structural drawings and calculations, equipment datasheets, manufacturer and model details, operating manuals, electrical and control diagrams, filtration configuration and capacities, airflow and pressure specifications, commissioning and performance-test records, inspection and maintenance history, records of previous failures and repairs, current equipment condition, expected remaining service life, recommended preventive-maintenance schedule, consumables and spare-parts requirements, and contact details of the original manufacturer or installer. This information is required so that Bidder can identify foreseeable maintenance and repair requirements and include adequate allowances in our bid. Please also clarify which preventive maintenance, corrective repairs, component replacements, structural repairs and system upgrades will be the Contractor’s responsibility during the Contract period, and which will (if any) remain UNOPS’ responsibility.Answer 37: The bidder/contractor shall not be responsible for the environmental enclosure (tent) and NPU maintenance.

New clarification added: Q27. According to the Scope of Works for Remediation Activities (p. 14) “Other rainfall within the Contractor's site area must be led to a temporary storage and settling basin. Following analysis, if the water is fulfilling the permitted discharge concentrations, it may be discharged into the atmospheric sewer that leads to the Vardar River. If these limits are not met, the water must be treated. If the concentration is below the applied remediation criteria, the discharge may be processed; otherwise, the treatment of the water on the site is required. Please describe the Contractor’s site boundaries and if different from the OHIS site. Should we consider the whole OHIS site as described in Annex 1 Site Layout map (from ENACON report) with overview on former production and storage areas A-E, as the contractor's site boundaries, or not?Answer 27: The contractor’s site boundaries are limited to the areas required for execution of the works, which is just a part of the entire former OHIS site. The site boundaries and the zones within it are shown in the figure below. The picture also shows part of the former OHIS factory.The marked SW and NE points have the following coordinates (UTM):SW – 539184.14 m E; 4646012.07 m NNE – 539486.29 m E ; 4646207.53 m N Q28. In addition, kindly provide the water permitted discharge concentrations and the location where the discharge to the atmospheric sewer can take placeAnswer 28: The effluent limit concentrations are published in the Rulebook on the conditions, manner and emission limit values ​​for the discharge of wastewater after its purification, the manner of their calculation...(OG RM 81/11) https://slvesnik.com.mk/Issues/C7A5EBA121C1ED42BFE128BC26F7B163.pdfQ29. Please confirm whether the instruction “Packaging of stored or staged materials cannot come into contact with the site soil or site floors” (indicated at Scope of Works for Remediation Activities ch,5 point 20, p. 28) refers to the areas within the confined spaceAnswer 29: Yes. The requirement applies to the areas where the packaging activities are undertaken, including the environmental enclosure. During the packaging work, every (UN approved) drum shall be fitted with a polyethylene liner to prevent contamination of the packaging. The packaged drums shall be stored on a low-permeability surface and shall not come into direct contact with site soil or unprotected ground by being placed on a wooden pallet.  Q30. Please confirm that packaging of HCH waste, HCH  impacted waste, and Hg contaminated waste can be temporarily stored outdoors when properly packed in UN approved packaging, and for how long, if different than the provisions of local NMK legislation. If it is not allowed and as an alternative, please consider approving outdoor storage of aforementioned packed waste in sea Container Transport Units (CTUs). Furthermore, please provide specifications of the areas that would be considered suitable for indoor storage of packed wasteAnswer 30: During the previous remediation works, the area was marked in three Zones including: Green Zone – used for entry and placement of vehicles for off-site transport of the packaged materials. Yellow Zone - used for final handling, labelling, staging, storage and removal of repacked HCH wastes and clean materials. Red Zone  - the area inside the environmental enclosure. The same or a similar site zoning arrangement shall be applied during the further remediation works. According to the SoW requirements, the waste and soil shall not be temporarily stored on the site for more than three (3) months. Q31. Finally, and as far as it has to do with air monitoring of the storage area, please confirm if you want periodical or continuous air monitoringAnswer 31: The air monitoring of the storage area shall be conducted on a continuous sampling basis.  Q32. Since the contract is a "Measure and Pay" model, and the Contractor must arrange for weighing, will the weight recorded at the OHIS site weighbridge (owned by Chemical Engineering) be the sole binding value for payment, or will UNOPS require the final disposal facility's weight certificates to trigger payment milestones?Answer 32: Weighting of the packed waste shall be carried out at the OHIS site using an available calibrated scale, and the measurement should be recorded in a logbook for operational control. In addition, the final weight recorded at the receiving disposal facility, which should be documented through an official weight certificate.  Q33. The SoW notes that the neighboring HCH dump (which is not in this SoW) is a major source of ongoing emissions. Will the Contractor be held liable for absolute air emission limit values (Annex 12/13) at the site border, or only for the "delta" (increase) in emissions specifically caused by their remediation activities? And if yes to the latter, how is the distinction going to be proven? Answer 33: The emissions from ɑ-HCH and ꞵ-HCH dump are generally constant. Emissions from the d-HCH dump (the small dump) will differ as a result of the operation intensity and efficiency of the filters. Q34.The ITB lists six (6) distinct Key Personnel roles. Given the scale of "Small Works," will UNOPS permit the combination of roles?Answer 34: The contractor may combine the roles providing the personnel fulfil the requirements stipulated in the SoW.Q35. Table 6 defines soil treatment levels. Please clarify who is responsible for the costs of independent verification sampling of the basin floors and "aside" soil once target depths are reachedAnswer 35: The contractor will be responsible for the verification sampling. UNOPS reserves the right for ad-hoc supervision.  Q36. Does the current electrical infrastructure at OHIS provide redundancy/dual-feed, or is the Contractor required to provide a standby generator sized to supply 100% of the critical electrical load, including starting currents and auxiliary equipment?Answer 36: During the previous remediation works, there was no need for a dedicated transformer or generator, as the available electricity supply was sufficient and reliable to meet the operational requirements at that time.

New clarification added: Q18: Please confirm that the replacement of any saturated active carbon filters of the NPO is out of the scope of the tender and confirm that wastes from the activated carbon filters are excluded from the SoWAnswer 18: The complete  NPU maintenance, including the replacement and packing of the saturated activated carbon filters, is the responsibility of the enclosure operator under a separate contract. However,  the disposal of exhausted activated carbon filters remains within the SoW of this tender. Q19: While the document “Scope of Works for Remediation Activities” indicates (2.1 p. 8) that at Annex 5 we may find a 2017-2018 detailed site investigation and its summary, at Annex 5 of the document “SoW Annexes and photos” at Annex 5 it is indicated that Additional Site Investigation related to the Clean-up Activities of Delta HCH waste dump was conducted in February 2025. Site Investigation report is attached in UNOPS eSourcing. Pleas. e clarify and provide a copy of these reports since they are not retrievable so farThis is TAUWs report they are requesting for Answer 19: The Tauw site investigation report is available through UNOPS eSourcing platform. The document name is: Site investigation report.pdfQ20. Considering your understanding of the waste nature, kindly elaborate on the pretreatment activities that are considered valid for the onsite operations. Please clarify if the separation of the soil from the chemical is expected to take placeAnswer 20: Since the HCH-contaminated soil is on top of the basins, it will be removed layer by layer until the hand-held analytical instrument (X-ray) shows a HCH concentration close to 10000ppm.The only other on-site pretreatment is crushing the excavated lumps.  Q21. In the document “Site visit report: OHIS remediation,” it is mentioned that no stones at the site are anticipated, though solid structures (soil combined with chemicals) need to be crushed. Please specify if the contractor is obliged to provide a crusher for the purposes of the project. It is to be noted that the crusher might break the solid fractures, though the separation of the soil from the chemical will not be achievedAnswer 21: Hard materials may occasionally be encountered, while significant quantities of stones are not expected. Any stones identified may require crushing prior to further handling; therefore, a crusher at the site will be needed.Q22. Furthermore, please confirm that any pretreatment operation is expected to be quoted at (reference is to the BoQ) items 2.1.1 at 2.2.1 as part of excavation and separation and 2.4.1Answer 22: In the Column H Details/Justification of the BoQ, next to the predefined text by UNOPS, the bidders can add an explanation of what is included in the offered price per item.Q23. Moreover, from our understanding, you don’t anticipate any separation to take place at Hg contaminated waste, even though it seems that it consists of contaminated earth, plastics and plywood; please confirmAnswer 23: The material stored in Basin 1 consists predominantly of mercury - contaminated soil. Limited quantities of HDPE sheeting and plywood were used to line and protect the basin walls. No separation of these materials from the mercury-contaminated waste is expected during the on-site works; however, the final classification of the already excavated materials will be confirmed through sampling and chemical analysis by accredited laboratories.Q24. Please clarify that the materials between and around the basins are not include in the scope of works, since at the document “Scope of Works for Remediation Activities” (ch 3.1 p. 13) is indicated that “The work intended to be provided by the Contractor is to remediate the δ-HCH waste dump by disposal of the δ-HCH waste and treatment of the HCH-contaminated soil at the top, inside and aside of the δ-HCH dump.”Answer 24: The 1781 tons of soil between and around the basins are not included in the SoW. This material, according to the 2025 TAUW sampling report, is considered to originate from the surrounding environment and is characterized predominantly as Alpha-HCH contamination, rather than the Delta-HCH contamination associated with the δ-HCH dump. . Q25. According to the tender documents, the Contractor is required to carry out the packing and transportation of HCH waste from the mini-dump located outside the Delta dumpsite. Since packaging activities must only be performed within a contained and enclosed environment, please confirm that the mini-dump area is already located within – or outside of – the covered area and that bidders should not consider any additional enclosure or additional negative pressure unit (NPU) for dealing with the 280 tons of HCH-contaminated waste, located outside the Delta dumpsite.Answer 25: The 280 tons of HCH-waste are not located within the footprint of the existing environmental enclosure. They are stored outside the δ-HCH dump, at a distance of up to 100m from the environmental enclosure (p.13 of the SoW). The Contractor shall first return the HCH waste to the tent and subsequently pack it into UN-approved  drums in accordance with the SoWQ26. From our understanding, within the Delta-HCH dump there are 5 basins made of concrete and the surroundings are earth, with no concrete present. On the other hand, according to the Scope of Works “the locations where wastes are handled shall have a solid foundation to ensure stability of the hoisting equipment, stored materials and vehicles”. Please confirm that the covered / contained area corresponds to the Delta-HCH dump area and that all areas where waste handling, packaging, lifting, temporary storage, and vehicle loading will take place are already equipped with a suitable solid foundation. In particular, please clarify whether the contained area is provided with a continuous concrete slab or other suitable load-bearing surface, or whether bidders should include any additional temporary foundation / working platform in their offer Site Boundaries, water discharging criteria and waste storageAnswer 26: The area outside the environmental enclosure is provided with a concrete surface suitable for waste handling, packing, temporary storage and vehicle loading. Inside the enclosure there is a metal platform with rails used for moving specialized containers within the enclosure. However the rail system and associated handling equipment belong to the previous contract and are not included in the SoW. The bidders are expected to prepare their own assessment about temporary working platforms or handling equipment required for their proposed methodology. 

New clarification added: Q16: A canopy and negative pressure unit (NPU) are already installed. The SoW requires the Contractor to "test and prove the functionality" of this system to ensure zero odor and dust emissions. If the existing environmental enclosure or NPU filters fail to meet the performance standards required during the first test phase, will UNOPS be responsible for the structural repairs or upgrades, or is the remediation contractor expected to include the cost of potentially replacing or augmenting the existing system in their bid?Answer 16: The existing enclosure and NPU system are maintained under a separate contract with the enclosure operator. Prior to the start of the remediation works, the enclosure operator, in the presence of the Contractor, is required to test and verify the functionality of the system. Any inadequacy shall be a responsibility of the Enclosure Operator. The enclosure operator will be held liable for failures of the existing enclosure and NPUs  caused by:loss of negative pressure: Failed to maintain the required vacuum inside the tent provided it is     not due to a damage caused by the clean-up operatorStructural breaches: Rips, unsealed joints, or failed airlocks allowed air to escape.Filtration failure: Faulty HEPA or active carbon filters or poorly maintained Ventilation Units (VUs).Q17: Please clarify if the NPO is equipped with activated carbon filters pretreated with Sulfur (for filtering Hg emissions)Answer 17: All maintenance activities related to the NPU system, including the activated carbon filters, are the responsibility of the Enclosure Operator under a separate contract.

New clarification added: Q7: With reference to the HCH waste described in the tender documents and the TAUW site report, could UNOPS please clarify the expected concentration range of HCH in the material referred to as “HCH waste”? In particular, please clarify what is the maximum expected HCH concentration, expressed as % w/w or mg/kg, for the material described as “HCH waste”. The highest value mentioned is 21.000,0 ppm, and no values are given for Basin 3. This clarification is important because the co ncentration and quantity of high-concentration HCH waste significantly affect incineration efficiency, kiln feeding arrangements and eventually overall project costsAnswer 7: Materials containing HCH in excess of 10.000 ppm, up to and including pure HCH, are classified as waste. The TAUW report does not include information for Basin 3, as previous evidence-based works indicate that only approximately 150 tons of HCH waste remain within the basin. The accuracy of the provided calculation is estimated to be within +/- 10 %. However, it is classified as HCH waste, meaning that the HCH concentration exceeds 10000 ppm.Any excavated material presenting a concentration of sum HCH above 10.000 mg/kg was classified as HCH waste and packed in UN-approved drums prior to further off-site treatment, whereas any excavated material presenting mercury (Hg) concentration above 50 mg/kg was temporarily stored inside the enclosure for further instructions. The final classification was determined by sampling and chemical analysis of excavated soil by accredited laboratories. Based on the previous excavation experience and the 2025 TAUW sampling results, it is not anticipated that pure HCH will be encountered or excavated within the small δ-HCH dump.Q8: The Tender requires “After the Contract is signed, the disposal of the HCH waste and the HCH contaminated soil shall be completed within 30 (thirty) months, confirmed with the Certificates of Disposal and performed at intervals set by the Contractor.” as well as “After the Contract is signed, the packing and transportation of the HCH waste and HCH contaminated soil shall be completed within 24 months and...”. Given that Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 allows the final disposal facility a period of up to 12 months from receipt of the waste to complete the disposal operation, we would like to request that the previously proposed project timeframe be extended from 30 months to 36 months.Answer 8: UNOPS is not allowed to extend the time frame for this intervention beyond the project implementation period.Q9: Mercury Contaminated Wastes. Photos from Basin 1 in the TAUW report indicate earth material and some plastic which according to TAUW seems to be HDPE sheets (used to protect the walls of the Basin 1 and will be considered as contaminated waste) and plywood. Please confirm the waste nature of the content of Basin 1. Are we dealing with soil rocks etc contaminated with Hg or we should expect also debris and other material contaminated with Hg?Answer 9: Up to 70 tons of mercury contaminated soil  stored in Basin 1. Prior to the storage of the mercury-contaminated soil, the basin walls were lined with HDPE sheets and protected with plywood to prevent contamination of the concrete walls. The material consists predominantly of mercury contaminated soil, thus no stones, concrete debris or other hard structural materials are expected to be present. Q10: Mercury speciation. Please clarify  the chemical condition of Hg. Are we dealing with elemental metallic Hg or other types (such as Inorganic Hg (II), Inorganic Hg(I), Organic mercury, methylmercury, Mercury Sulfide etc) expected too? As you may understand  Hg speciation is vital for a comprehensive H&S and Environmental Monitoring PlanAnswer 10: With regards to the mercury concentration in the contaminated soil, based on the previous Contractor’s analyses, material containing mercury (Hg) concentrations above 50 mg/kg was temporarily stored inside the environmental enclosure. According to the current estimates, approximately 70 tons of mercury-contaminated soil are stored under a geomembrane cover inside Basin 1. No analyses show whether mercury is present in a metallic or chemical compound form. According to its origin (electrolysis of salt), it is most probably in a metallic form (very small condensed vapour particles or droplets adhered to larger soil ones).Q11: Are the 70 tons of Hg contaminated soil expected to remain within the SoW of the Tender? Answer 11: Yes. The +/- 70 tons of mercury-contaminated soil remain within the Scope of Works of this Tender. Q12: Please clarify the max concentration of Hg found in materials within Basin 1. Please confirm the max and average concentration of Hg of the materials outside the Basin 1, but within the scope of worksAnswer 12: No specific analyses have been made. However, during an early investigation, a maximum Hg concentration of 330 ppm was detected near the electrolysis plant,  while a maximum concentration of 110 ppm Hg was found near the HCH dumps.Q13: Please clarify whether the existing enclosure has been designed and verified to safely accommodate all activities and equipment required for the execution of the Works, including the operation of heavy machinery within the enclosed area, throughout the entire Project duration. If not, please specify any operational restrictions, limitations or required modifications to the enclosureAnswer 13: The existing environmental enclosure (tent) provides sufficient space for the operation and maneuvering of the equipment anticipated for the works , including a forklift, wheeled excavator with digging bucket, filling station connected to a conveyor belt, closed heavy-duty screw conveyor and personnel. Note: All above equipment should be provided by the Contractor.No specific operational restrictions or modifications to the existing enclosure have been identified so far. However, the contractor will remain responsible for ensuring that its selected equipment and work methodology are compatible with the available spaces and the existing enclosure.Q14:  Please provide any available inspection, maintenance or condition assessment reports for the existing enclosure, including any identified defects, repairs or strengthening works undertaken since its installation. Answer 14: Inspections, maintenance or condition assessments of the existing enclosure have been, and remain the responsibility of the enclosure operator under a separate contract. Accordingly, UNOPS does not have inspection or maintenance reports available to share under this Tender.Q15: Should the Contractor conclude that modifications to the existing enclosure are necessary due to limitations of the existing structure rather than the Contractor's chosen methodology, please clarify how such modifications will be evaluated, approved and compensated under the ContractAnswer 15: Inspection, maintenance or condition assessment of the existing enclosure have been, and remain, the responsibility of the enclosure operator under a separate contract. Based on the previous remediation works experience,  no  modifications to the existing enclosure (tent) are considered necessary for the execution of the works.

New clarification added: Q1. Schedule 3.11 (Insurance Requirements) is not populated and does not specify liability limits, validity periods or minimum coverage amounts. Kindly confirm the minimum required limits for: Public Liability Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Environmental/Pollution Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity Insurance (if applicable), Any insurance required for hazardous waste transportation and transboundary shipment under the Basel ConventionAnswer 1: The requested liabilities are defined in Small Works - 6 Solicitation - ITB 04 Sections II, III, IV, V, Point 3.11Q2: The Scope of Works states that UNOPS will initiate a separate tender for the removal of the concrete structure and that the remediation contractor must provide access and maintain the environmental enclosure for them. Could UNOPS provide the finalized scope and timeline for this separate concrete tender? Furthermore, please clarify if the contractors of both tenders will operate simultaneously and if so, what is the area within the covered area that will be needed for the purposes of the operation of the contractor of the additional tender. Answer 2: The clean-up and treatment of the concrete will be processed under a separate tender, expected to be launched later this year or in early next year. These activities can only commence once the basins have been fully excavated and cleared. In addition, several preparatory activities, such as project design , will need to be completed before the concrete dismantling and treatment works can commence, all of which require the basins to be clean and empty. Therefore, no interference between the two contractors is anticipated, as the concrete treatment phase is dependent on the completion of the excavation and waste removal works.Q3:The sources acknowledge that HCH was still detected at the maximum sampled depth of 1.8m and that it is "currently not possible to determine the contamination" below that point. However, volume estimates are calculated to 3.3m. If actual excavation reveals that contamination extends beyond the estimated 3.3m depth, will the additional volumes be treated as a Variation under Clause 9, or is the Bidder expected to bear the risk of these undetermined quantities within the "Measure and Pay" framework and the +/- 10% accuracy margin?Answer 3: The contract is based on the measurement and payment of the actual quantities of work executed. Basically the quantities included in the BoQ are estimates derived from the available 2025 investigation data and represent the best estimates of the anticipated excavation volumes. The 2025 sampling report identifies predominantly Delta-HCH contamination beneath the basins, consistent with leakage from the basins, while HCH is still detected at the maximum investigation depth of 1.8m. As a result the full extent of contamination below this depth remains uncertain.  If excavation reveals contamination extending beyond the BoQ provided estimates, such additional works and quantities will be assessed in accordance with the Contract provisions., including Clause 9 where applicable. The bidder/contractor is not expected to account for unlimited or unknown contamination beyond the documented investigation results. Q4: The Contractor is responsible for bringing electricity to the site and installing a meter. The NPU and filtration systems must operate 24/7 throughout the implementation period. To allow for accurate budgeting of fixed site-management costs, can UNOPS provide the technical specifications and current power demand (kW) of the existing negative pressure system and filtration units? Additionally, is there a reliable high-voltage connection point nearby, or should Bidders include the cost of a dedicated transformer and generator?Answer 4: The existing NPUs are Deconta G700 units. During the previous works they operated at an average power setting of 70-80%, maintaining an average negative pressure of 9-14 PA and an average airflow of 29,500-31,500m3/h. However, no information of the actual electrical power consumption (kW) of the NPUs and filtrations units is available. The environmental enclosure (tent) along with the NPUs will be under management of a different contract. During the previous remediation works, there was no need  for a dedicated transformer or generator, as the available electricity supply was sufficient to meet the operational requirements at that time.  Q5: The project timeline is 30 months, with a strict requirement that waste cannot be stored on-site for more than 3 months. The Contractor is responsible for obtaining all Basel Notification permits. Given that the issuance of transboundary permits involves multiple sovereign governments and can be delayed by factors outside the Contractor's control, will UNOPS grant an Extension of Time without Delay Damages if the 3-month storage limit is exceeded solely due to regulatory processing times – with evidence duly provided – by the North Macedonian or destination country authorities?Answer 5: Should delays occur due to circumstances beyond the Contractor’s control, the timeframe may be reviewed and adjusted where duly justified and in accordance with the applicable UNOPS General Conditions of Contract. Q6: The Scope of Works (Section 3.2) states that the existing environmental enclosure (1,240 m²) covers the 'entire planar area of the δ-HCH dump'. Can UNOPS confirm that the 280 tons from the external dump are located entirely within the footprint of this existing canopy or not?Answer 6: No. The 280 tons of HCH-waste are not located within the footprint of the existing environmental enclosure. They are stored outside the  δ-HCH dump, at a distance of up to 100m from the environmental enclosure (p.13 of the SoW). The Contractor shall first return the HCH waste to the environmental enclosure (tent) and subsequently pack it into UN-approved  drums in accordance with the SoW

New clarification added: Question:Dear UNOPS team, I received the notification for the extension of the deadline. I know that the clarification period is closed, but pls explain is this extension influencing the bid submission deadline after 30.09.2026 as we already have it from the bank. Answer:The extension of the deadline for submission of offers does not affect the Bid security validity period, at this moment. 

New amendment added #4: - Extension of the deadline for submission of the offers until 14.00 CEST on 17 July 2026

New amendment added #3: Publishing pre-bid meeting minutes held on 16. June 2026.

New clarification added: Questions:1.      Question regarding waste quantities and technical requirements in the Appendix “Requirements for the Method Statement”When reviewing the tender documentation, we identified several apparent inconsistencies between the Scope of Works and the Appendix “Requirements for the Method Statement”, which may affect the preparation of the Technical Offer and Method Statement.According to the Scope of Works, the scope of the present procurement consists of:·         Excavation, separation, packing, temporary storage and shipment of 916 tons of HCH waste from the δ-HCH waste dump;·         Excavation, separation, packing, temporary storage and shipment of 2,613 tons of HCH-contaminated soil;·         Excavation, separation, packing, temporary storage and shipment of 70 tons of mercury-contaminated soil (from the top, inside, aside and outside of the δ-HCH dump);Furthermore, the title of Table 3 refers to:“Remediation of the HCH contaminated soil from the top, inside and aside of the δ-HCH dump by soil remediation of 300 tons.”In order to ensure the correct completion of the Appendix “Requirements for the Method Statement” and the Technical Offer, could UNOPS kindly clarify:1.      Which quantities are applicable and should be used for each waste stream when completing the Appendix and the associated tables?2.      Which quantities should be considered final and binding for the current procurement:o    636 tons or 916 tons of HCH waste?o    2,191 tons, 2,613 tons or 300 tons of HCH-contaminated soil?o    70 tons of mercury-contaminated soil?3.      In the event of discrepancies between the Scope of Works and the Appendix “Requirements for the Method Statement”, which document should prevail for the purpose of preparing the Technical Offer?This clarification would assist bidders in correctly interpreting the technical requirements and preparing a fully compliant Technical Offer. Question 2:  In the Appendix “Requirements for the Method Statement” in table 3: Remediation of the HCH contaminated soil from the top, inside and aside of the δ-HCH dump by soil remediation of the 300 tons, point 1 a) is written “Description of the treatment technology and process, including information regarding relevant chemical reactions, overall process flow, and the output products from the process of HCH treatment, the name and category (safety data sheets) of the waste such as waste including solvents, residues and by-products, post-treatment to ensure safe disposal or release of such wastes (quantity, quality, reprocessing, disposal, etc.), revitalization/restoration of the plant site, etc.” .If the proposed technology is thermal treatment (incineration) does this make all the of the information required afterwords in the table as not applicable.Question 3: In the Appendix “Requirements for the Method Statement” in table 3, point 2 a) it is written: “A minimum processing capacity of the system of 2 tons/hour for HCH-contaminated soil and the contaminated concrete with the concentrations up to 5,000 mg/kg.Requirement Fulfillment of criteria in Table 6 from the SoW”.3.1 Shall we consider contaminated concrete and related requirements as in the scope of work as it is not included in the other part of the documentation?3.2 If the above answer is “No” does it means that the minimum processing capacity of the proposed technology can be lower than 2 tons/hour if it meets the execution program, and the proposed execution deadline?Answer:The document ‘Appendix 1 Requirements for the Technical Offer.docx’ was revised and published in the ‘Documents’ section. The quantities are aligned with the Scope of WorksThe bidders should provide a detailed explanation on the disposal process, supported by the relevant technical documentation3.1 The concrete is not part of this Scope of Works3.2 The Minimum processing capacity is set to ensure that the selected disposal facility has sufficient capacity for the disposal of waste. This is important, as the low or occupied capacities can incur additional costs if the waste is delayed for transportation and extended storage costs. To comply with this requirement, the bidders need to provide proof that the project quantities can be disposed of within the existing time frame. 

New clarification added: Questions:1)Regarding the additional online pre-bid meeting announced by UNOPS, during which vendors will have the opportunity to raise further questions :- Kindly confirm where on the eSourcing platform the announcement and/or access details for this meeting will be published, and whether a specific date and time have already been scheduled for its conduct.- We also understand that, through the eSourcing platform, all questions may be submitted at any time until 15 June 2026. Please confirm whether this deadline also applies to questions raised during or following the additional pre-bid meeting, or if a separate timeline will apply.2)In relation to the document “0.10 Dispute Details" of the ITB documentation:Could you please confirm whether the required disclosure is limited to material contractual disputes and related legal proceedings, or whether it is intended to cover all legal proceedings involving the bidder, regardless of their nature or materiality?3)With reference to the document "0.13 Bid/No Bid Confirmation", which states “Email: [insert UNOPS contact person’s email and do not enter secure bid email address]”:We kindly request clarification and confirmation of the corresponding UNOPS contact person’s email address that should be used for this purpose, since no contact person is indicated in the "Tender Particulars" section of the platform.Answers:1) The instructions for the Pre-bid meeting are included in the 'Particulars' section. Meeting minutes from the Pre-bid meeting will be published through the UNOPS eSourcing platform and all questions and answers will be available for all interested companies.The deadline for sending requests for clarifications is extended until 14.00 CEST on 01 July 2026 and the companies can ask for a clarification through the eSourcing platform until the deadline. All answered clarifications are published via eSourcing and are available to all interested bidders.2) Bidders shall submit a statement below providing details of any current contract dispute and/or arbitral or legal proceeding involving the bidder.3) The confirmation that the company will submit or will not submit the offer is done in the eSourcing platform under section 'Vendor confirmation'  

New clarification added: Question:Please clarify, it is written in the Scope of Work Photos and Annexes the following: "The Contractor may explore other possibilities in order to be able to use the needed installations (e.g. to communicate with the national electric distribution company- EVN for bringing the electricity from outside of the OHIS plant to the remediation site, then to establish enclosure, e.g. tent that can serve as a temporary storage or for the soil treatment plant, etc.)." Do you mean that the soil treatment plant may be installed and operated on-site? If so, could you please clarify how the bidder will be assured that the necessary environmental permits and approvals for the operation of such a facility can be obtained within the project timeframe?Answer:With reference to Annex 8 of the Scope of Works, it is stated that electricity may be brought from outside the OHIS plant to the remediation site and subsequently used to establish the enclosure. It should be noted that this service is already in place, as the environmental tent has been installed and the necessary electricity connection has been provided and is operational. Furthermore, the current works primarily involve off-site treatment activities, which are described under the Point 3, Scope of the Proposed Services of the SoW. The reference in Annex 8 should not be interpreted as a requirement for the installation and operation of an on-site soil treatment plant. However,should a Contractor propose an on-site treatment solution as part of its methodology, the installation and operation of such a facility shall be subject to the applicable national legislation and the requirements of the competent authorities i.e Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia. The Contractor will be responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals, permits and authorizations. The Contracting Authority cannot guarantee the issuance of permits of the timeframe required for their approval and bidders are expected to consider these requirements and associated risks when preparing their proposals and implementation schedule.

New clarification added: Questions:1. Request for a 30-day extension of the bid submission deadlineConsidering the complexity of the waste streams and the need to obtain formal acceptance from licensed hazardous waste treatment / incineration facilities, would UNOPS consider granting a 30-day extension of the bid submission deadline?This additional time would allow bidders to review the analytical data, submit the information to final disposal facilities, confirm waste acceptance conditions, and prepare a compliant technical and financial offer.2. Analytical data, photographs and details of external HCH wasteCould UNOPS please provide the full available analytical data, photographs and layout details for the external HCH waste dump, described as approximately 280 tons stored outside the δ-HCH dump, up to 100 m away.3. PFASHave PFAS ever been investigated, analysed or screened for at the OHIS site  waste materials?Answers:1. The current project timeline allowed us to extend the deadline for submission of offers until 07 July 20262. The additional site photos referring to the soil outside of the tent are publsihed in the 'Documents' section. At present, no analytical data are available for the external HCH waste dump located outside the environmental enclosure. Therefore, the Contractor shall be responsible for carrying out the necessary sampling and analyses to determine the nature and level of contamination of the materials present in this area. During the 2025 sampling and characterization activity of the δ-HCH dump, the experts involved in the sampling activity pointed out that the external dump contains approximately 1,400 tonnes of material, comprising approximately 1,120 tonnes of contaminated soil and 280 tonnes of HCH waste. These quantities are indicative only and should not be considered as analytically verified values for the external dump area. The HCH waste currently stored outside the enclosure will be required to be transferred back inside the environmental enclosure (tent), where it shall be repackaged and prepared for subsequent handling and disposal in accordance with the Contract requirements.3. PFAS have not been included in any known site investigation, characterization, or monitoring programme conducted at the OHIS site to date. The characterization and monitoring activities undertaken to date have primarily focused on contaminants associated with the historical production and storage activities at the site, including HCH isomers, related POPs, mercury, and other identified contaminants of concern.  

New clarification added: Question 1:We kindly request an extension of the tender submission deadline, preferably until 10 June 2026, to ensure the comprehensive preparation and submission of a complete and fully compliant proposal.Answer 1:The tender is extended until 14.00 CEST on 07 July 2026

New clarification added: Question 1:pls clarify- if the bidder is a Consortiumр created only for the purposes of the particular tender, which still isn't formally registered (there is a consortium contract, the consortium will be registered with VAT number after/if it is awarded) in Schedule 0.2 Bidder's information which company details to fill: The data of the Consortium or the data of the Leading partner? Answer 1:In case companies would like to submit the offer as a Joint venture (JV), the information should be provided for all JV members.All members of the JV have to comply with the eligibility criteria.The company that is to send the offer would also be the lead in case of a contract award, for the contract signing. The contract is awarded based on the evaluation of the tender criteria for the joint venture and therefore, new legal entities should not be part of the contract in case of the award.

New amendment added #2: - Extension of the deadline for submission of the offer until 14.00 CEST on 07 July 2026- Extension of the deadline for clarifications until 14.00 CEST on 01 July 2026- Publishing additional site photos in the Documents section- Publishing the revised version of the document 'Appendix 1 Requirements for the Technical Offer_Rev1.docx'- Added information on the Pre-bid meeting in the Particulars section

New clarification added: Question 1:The Bidder should submit "Permits and certificates issued by the responsible authority for the packaging operator (JV member, subcontractor)".Could you please confirm whether, at the tender submission stage, the bidder is required to provide a repackaging permit issued by the competent authority in the Republic of North Macedonia for all waste types listed in the Scope of Work, namely waste codes 02 01 08*, 07 04 13*, 16 03 05*, 20 01 19*, 17 05 03*, and 15 02 02*?Answer 1:At the tender submission stage, the Bidder (or the relevant JV member/subcontractor acting as the packaging operator) is not required to submit the specific repackaging permit for all listed waste codes, but has to identify the company for the packing intervention, if it is not done by its own capacities. The information on the company that will do packing and excavation needs to be provided, and any existing licenses should be submitted with the offer.Before the commencement of services, the selected contractor must submit the “Waste management permit for treatment of wastes,” issued by the MOEPP, listing the waste codes (02 01 08*, 07 04 13*, 16 03 05*, 20 01 19*, 17 05 03*, and 15 02 02*). . (re-packaging is one example of treatment of the waste) 

New clarification added: Q1:We would like to kindly request an extension of the submission deadline for the tender submission.Considering the complexity of the technical documentation, and the extensive requirements that must be carefully reviewed and addressed, additional time is required to prepare a comprehensive and high-quality proposal that fully complies with the tender requirements.An extension of the deadline would allow bidders to conduct a thorough assessment of the technical, financial, environmental, health and safety, and regulatory aspects of the project, thereby contributing to the submission of more robust and competitive proposals.We would therefore greatly appreciate your consideration of a reasonable extension to the submission deadline.A1:UNOPS plans to extend the deadline for the submission of offers. All bidders who expresed the interest in this tender will be informed of the tender revision once it is approved.

New clarification added: Q1:We hereby kindly request a site inspection to be conducted on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at the project location. The purpose of the inspection is to review the current site conditions and address matters relevant to the ongoing works.We would appreciate your confirmation of attendance and any additional requirements or documentation needed prior to the visit.Please let us know the proposed time after 11.00 for the inspection at your earliest convenience.A1:The UNOPS organized a site visit on 02 June 2026. The information on the scheduled site visit was available in the Section 'Particulars'. The Site visit report was published through the UNOPS eSourcing platform for all potential suppliers to have the same information.UNOPS will additionally organize an online Pre-bid meeting on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 at 11.00 CEST. The information on this meeting will be included in the particulars sections as well as the information on how to register for the meeting. All interested bidders will receive the information on the change of the tender, once approved, and in this change the relevant information on the Pre-bid meeting will be available in Particulars section.

New clarification added: Q1. Question regarding Bid Security and Performance Security for a ConsortiumIn the event that the Bidder is a consortium (joint venture) consisting of two or more legal entities, could UNOPS kindly clarify whether it is relevant which consortium member provides and obtains the Bid Security and the Performance Security?More specifically, would it be acceptable for the Bid Security and/or the Performance Security to be issued at the request of, and on behalf of, any of the consortium members, provided that the relevant guarantee is issued in full compliance with the tender requirements and covers the obligations of the consortium under the procurement procedure and the contract?A1. The requested financial securities can be issued by the members of the Joint Venture; however, next to the Form for Joint Venture, the Joint Venture agreement should be additionally provided, signed by all members of the JV, where it is clearly stated which member will provide the financial securities, and both documents must be duly signed by all JV members. In case of the selection of the JV for the contract award with this scenario, UNOPS will provide detailed instructions on the adjustment to the text of the performance security. UNOPS will, as part of the evaluation process, contact the issuing banks of all bid securities to confirm the authenticity.

New clarification added: Q1: Regarding translation requirements for supporting documentsThe tender documentation states that the bid documentation shall be submitted in English language.Could UNOPS kindly clarify whether official documents originally issued in another language (e.g. permits, certificates, company registration documents, reference letters, contracts, financial documents, etc.) are required to be accompanied by certified/legalized translations into English?Furthermore, please clarify whether it is sufficient to submit:the original document in the language in which it was issued together with an English translation; ora certified/legalized English translation is mandatory for all official supporting documents.This clarification would assist bidders in ensuring full compliance with the submission requirements.A1: The official language of the tender is English and therefore, all documents prepared for the tender need to be in English. The original documents can be submitted in the original language, but the UNOPS evaluation team reserves the right to ask for clarification or translation in case the evaluation team cannot understand these documents. No certified/legalized translation is needed.

New clarification added: Q1. Document 4.1.B – Daywork ScheduleWe were unable to identify a dedicated submission field for Document 4.1.B – Daywork Schedule within the platform's Document Checklist.However, in the document “Small Works - 6 Solicitation - ITB 04 Sections II, III, IV, V” (page 1), it is stated that this document will not be used for the financial evaluation of the tender but may be considered when assessing the reasonableness of the proposed costs.Could you please confirm whether this document is required to be submitted as part of the tender? If so, kindly indicate the appropriate submission field within the platform.A1: As stated in the tender documentation, the Daywork schedule can be used for assessing the reasonableness of the proposed cost. Therefore, this schedule should be filled in and uploaded to section 4.1A together with the Bill of quantities, as the system allows multiple documents to be uploaded to the same placeholder.Q2. Document 0.9 – DRiVE Supplier Sustainability QuestionnaireWe noted that the link provided in the relevant document is not accessible.Could you please share the correct link or advise on the appropriate method for accessing the questionnaire, so that we may review the requirements and supporting documentation to be submitted?A2: The DRiVE Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire is available through UNOPS eSourcing platform in the Section Vendor Submission - Supplier FormsQ3. Document 4.8 – Sources of Naturally Occurring MaterialsSimilarly, we were unable to identify a corresponding submission field in the platform's Document Checklist for Document 4.8 – Sources of Naturally Occurring Materials.Please advise whether submission of this document is required and, if so, under which field it should be uploaded.A3. Document 4.8 is not mandatory to fill in. In case the bidders would like to provide this document, it can be uploaded within the field ‘Technical offer documentation as per Appendix 1’.Q4. Work PlanThe platform's Document Checklist includes a requirement for the submission of a Work Plan. However, we have not been able to locate any further references or instructions within the tender documentation regarding its required content.Could you please provide guidance on the expected scope and content of the Work Plan, or alternatively, indicate the document in which the relevant requirements are described?Thank you in advance for your assistance. We look forward to your clarification.A4: The tender criteria refer to the preparation of the General Work Plan in the given timespan of 30 months as defined in the Scope of Works. In addition to the General Work Plan, the bidders should prepare the detailed Programme and Method Statement, with the definition of the whole process for intervention, standards, Health and safety instructions, subcontractors, division of roles in the process, and any relevant Standard Operating Procedures. The detailed programme and method statement should cover all the relevant aspects of the intervention and respond to all requirements set out in the tender documentation. All of the mentioned documents should be prepared in a free form, but in the systematyzed manner, so the evaluation committee can evaluate relevant plans and programmes against the tender requirements. There are several placeholders for the Programme, Method statements and plan, and if necessary, the documentation can be divided or prepared as a single document and uploaded into one of these placeholders.

New clarification added: Q1:Regarding the tender ITB/2026/61694 - Clean-up of Contaminated Sites at the Former OHIS Factory in Skopje – remediation of the “small dump” (delta-HCH dump),We kindly request the delivery of the following study:"TAUW (2025) North-Macedonia - Provision of services of the additional Site Investigation related to the Clean-up Activities of Delta HCH waste dump, R002-1299623VBE-V01"A1: The Site investigation report from 2025 was added to the Documents section

New clarification added: Q1:Regarding the tender ITB/2026/61694 - Clean-up of Contaminated Sites at the Former OHIS Factory in Skopje – remediation of the “small dump” (delta-HCH dump),we kindly request the delivery of "Section I: Instructions to Bidders".Could you please provide us with this specific section or guide us on how to access it directly, as we are preparing our submission.A1:The "Section I: Instructions to Bidders" added to the Documents section

New amendment added #1: - Added Site visit report held on 02 June 2026 in the Documents section- Added Section I Instruction for tenderers in the Documents section- Added Additional Site Investigation Report in the Documents section

New clarification added: Dear Vendors,Thank you for your interest in our tender.Please be aware that for entering the environmental enclosure, proper Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used. In case vendors do not have the PPE, the representatives can only attend the intro session in front of the site.Best regards,UNOPS Team

New clarification added: Question:With relevance to the conduction of the site visit on Tuesday, 2nd of June, we hereby would like to declare our company's participation. Answer:UNOPS thanks you for your interest in our tender and the site visit. Please take into consideration that for the site visit, all participants have to be properly dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE should be provided by the bidders that express the interest for the site visit. 

New clarification added: Question 4 – Dismantling / demobilization4.1 Please clarify whether the future Contractor will be required to dismantle, remove or demobilize the existing environmental enclosure / tent structure and/or NPUs at the end of the Works under the current Scope of works.4.2   In case the future Contractor will be required to dismantle, remove or demobilize the existing environmental enclosure / tent structure and/or NPUs:a) please clarify the legal basis for such dismantling, if the equipment is owned by a third party;b) please confirm that the future Contractor will have the owner’s consent (a prior written agreement with the lawful owner), and the future Contractor will not be required to dismantle or interfere with equipment owned by a third party without the owner’s consent;c) please indicate under which BoQ item the relevant cost should be priced.Answers:4.1   No. The dismantling, removal or demobilisation of the existing environmental enclosure, NPUs or any other third-party equipment currently on site is not included in the Scope of Works and does not form part of this contract. The future contractor is required to demobilise only the equipment and materials it has itself deployed for the execution of the remediation works, as specified in the SoW and BoQ.4.2  a)  Not applicable. The future contractor will not be required to dismantle, remove, or demobilise the existing environmental enclosure, NPUs or any other third-party equipment. No such obligation exists under this contract. As previously responded in previous questions, the dismantling, removal, and demobilization of the existing enclosure is subject to another UNOPS contract.       b)   Same as the answer above.       c)   As previously stated, this is not applicable, as such, there is no BoQ item in the current tender.  Question 5 – Contractor’s own equipmentIf the existing environmental enclosure / tent structure and NPUs are not Employer-supplied equipment/facilities and are not available to bidders, please confirm that each bidder shall:(a) provide its own enclosure / containment solution (if required by its methodology);(b) provide its own negative pressure system, air treatment system and water treatment system;(c) be fully responsible for installation, operation, maintenance, insurance and demobilization of such equipment at its own cost.Answers: a)  The SoW does not require the future contractor to provide an environmental enclosure or containment solution as a deliverable under this contract. Bidders must prepare their methodologies and offers in accordance with the SoW and BoQ as published. The provision of the environmental enclosure and NPU will be subject to another UNOPS contract.b)  See Reply 5(a)c)  See reply 5(a)Question 6 – Equal treatment of biddersFor the purpose of ensuring equal treatment of bidders and comparability of offers, please clarify whether all bidders shall prepare their offers on the basis that no existing third-party-owned equipment located at the OHIS site is available for use, unless expressly listed in the tender documents as Employer-supplied equipment/facilities or they have secured the owner’s prior written consent.Answers In the interest of equal treatment for all participants, please note that costs for the enclosure and the NPU should not be included in your financial submission. In accordance with the tender documents (SoW and BoQ), please provide pricing exclusively for the remediation activities.

New clarification added: Question 1 – Existing environmental enclosure and NPUs - Availability to biddersThe tender documents refer to the environmental enclosures/temporary enclosures, negative pressure arrangements and air treatment / monitoring requirements.1.     Please clarify whether bidders are entitled to assume, in their technical and financial offers, that the existing environmental enclosure / tent structure, NPUs, air treatment systems, negative pressure systems or any associated equipment currently located at the OHIS site will be available for use during the execution of the Works.2.     If the existing environmental enclosure/tent structure and Negative Pressure Units (NPUs) currently installed at the OHIS site can be used by the future contractor, kindly clarify whether they are included in the assets, equipment or facilities made available by the Employer to the future Contractor.3.     Please confirm whether such equipment is owned by the Employer / UNOPS / Government of North Macedonia or by another third party;Answers:1.     In line with the SoW and accompanying Bill of Quantities, the technical and financial offer should be prepared for the remediation works. The current site setup is provided for the information purpose on the current state of affairs.2.     The existing environmental enclosure and Negative Pressure Unit are subject to another UNOPS contract, and as such the asset treatment of the existing equipment is not subject to this tender and future contractor for this tender.3.     For the preparation of the offers for this tender, the bidders should include only costs related to the SoW and BoQ. The provision of the environmental enclosure and NPU is subject to another UNOPS contract.Question 2 – Cost / fee for use1.     If the use of the existing environmental enclosure / tent structure and/or NPUs and/or other equipment is intended or permitted, please clarify whether the future Contractor will be required to pay any rental fee, usage fee, maintenance fee, access fee, insurance cost, reinstatement cost or any other compensation for such use.2.     If yes, kindly define such costs3.      Please also clarify under which BoQ item such costs should be included.Answers1.      The existing on-site equipment is not the subject of this tender and does not form part of this contract. The question of fees or costs for its use does not arise. No such costs are included in the BoQ and bidders must not factor any assumption regarding this equipment into their financial offers.2.      Not applicable. As confirmed in Reply 2.1, no such costs exist under this contract.3.      Not applicable. As confirmed in Replies 2.1 and 2.2, no such costs are defined in or should be added to the BoQ.Question 3 – Operation, maintenance and liability3.1        If the existing environmental enclosure / tent structure and/or NPUs and/or other equipment are to be used during the works execution, please clarify who will be responsible for:(a) operation; (b) maintenance; (c) periodic inspections and certifications; (d) structural integrity; (e) negative pressure performance; (f) air treatment performance; (g) damage, malfunction or breakdown; (h) insurance coverage;  (i) health, safety and environmental (HSSE) risks and liabilities; (j) environmental compliance and emissions.3.2        Please also clarify how liability will be allocated in case of incidents or non-compliance. Answers3.1     As confirmed in previous replies, the existing environmental enclosure, NPUs and associated equipment are not the subject of this tender and do not form part of this contract. The future contractor is solely responsible for all equipment, personnel and operations it deploys in the execution of the remediation works, in full compliance with the SoW, applicable law, and HSSE requirements.3.2     The allocation of liability under this contract (Construction Contract for Small Works) is governed by the General Conditions of Contract and the applicable provisions of the SoW.