Provision of services for Development of Technical Design (Concept Design and Final Design) of New Elementary School in Stari Aerodrom, Podgorica in Montenegro (UNOPS-ESIM-2026-S-004)

New clarification added: Question: In all RFP forms, we indicated the 7th of September as the submission date. Since the deadline has been extended, can we leave this date in the forms, and submit the documentation according to the new date, in order to avoid re-signing all the forms?ANSWER: Yes, you can submit documentation signed on 7th Sepetember 2026 and do not have to re-sign the forms.

New amendment added #3: 1. Extension of deadline for offer submission until 14 September 2026, 12:00h (noon) Podgorica time.

New clarification added: Question:In the table, Annex 4, School premises program, the square footage for the homebase classroom is 65.m2.Since there are more of these classrooms, the square footage varies.Please clarify how to display the requested area in the table? Should we give the mean value or add rows for as many classrooms whose areas vary?ANSWER: The Offeror must add rows to the table in Annex 4 - Net Floor Area Compliance Table to display each individual classroom and its respective proposed net area, rather than providing a single average value.When adding new rows, the Offeror must apply a sequential numbering system linked to the base room code (in textual and graphical documentation). For example:If there are two "Homeroom classrooms" (base code 01.01), they must be numbered as 01.01.01 and 01.01.02.If there are three "Subject-specific classrooms" (base code 01.02), they must be numbered as 01.02.01, 01.02.02, and 01.02.03.Please apply this numbering logic to all similar spaces and ensure that the room numbering in the table strictly matches the numbering displayed in the submitted graphic attachments and drawings. Detailed individual breakdowns are crucial for the Evaluation Committee to verify spatial and program compliance.

New clarification added: Question: In ToR_Stari Aerodrom Primary School_Rev.2 in section 5.3 Phase III - Final Design (Glavni projekat) there is the line:"The Offeror shall prepare complete Final Design documentation in accordance with Montenegrin legislation and UNOPS requirements.The integral parts of the technical documentation are:●      General documentation and design brief●      Numerical documentation●      Architectural project (also contains the disposition and specification of fixed and mobile furniture; Synchronized plan of external and internal installations, with mandatory characteristic sections of installations);●      Structural engineering project;●      Traffic infrastructure project;●      Hydro-technical infrastructure project;●      Electrical power installations project;●      Electronic communications networks and/or electronic communications infrastructure and related equipment project;●      Automation and electromotive installations project;●      Mechanical installations, plants, devices and equipment project;●      Landscaping project and landscape architecture project;●      Organization and technology of construction;●      Other projects and studies: fire protection, traffic signaling and road equipment, geodesy, soil and object monitoring, geology, geomechanics, seismics, technology, environmental impact assessment, occupational health and safety plan, thermal and acoustic protection of the building, energy efficiency and other projects and studies in accordance with the purpose of the building and special regulations.Which of these design phases within "Other projects and studies" are a mandatory part of the project? This segment is crucial for the formation of the final financial part of the offer, so we kindly ask you to respond as soon as possible.ANSWER: Regarding the specific phases listed under "Other projects and studies" in the Terms of Reference (ToR), they are as follows:Geodesy, Soil and Object Monitoring, Geology, and GeomechanicsFire Protection and Occupational Health and Safety Plan (OHS)SeismicsTraffic Signaling and Road EquipmentThermal and Acoustic Protection of the Building, Energy Efficiency.All of the items listed shall be priced and incorporated into your offer within the corresponding section in the 4.1.A Breakdown of the Fees and Reimbursable cost without changing/adding new columns.

New clarification added: QUESTION: Dear UNOPS Procurement Team,With reference to the previous clarifications concerning the licensing requirements under Section II – Evaluation Method and Criteria, we kindly request one additional clarification specifically concerning the documentation to be submitted at the Proposal Submission Stage by a foreign JV Member established outside Montenegro.We understand from the clarifications already provided that:a JV Member not licensed in Montenegro, which does not formally sign any part of the technical/design documentation in Montenegro and does not assume statutory responsibility as a designer under Montenegrin law, is not required to obtain a Montenegrin company license by 15 October 2026;nevertheless, at the Proposal Submission Stage, such JV Member must submit a copy of a valid company license or equivalent document for the preparation of technical documentation issued by the competent authority in its home country, in order to establish its eligibility and legal status;Our potential foreign JV Member is established outside Montenegro. We understand that, under the legal framework of certain countries, professional design licenses may be issued primarily to individual licensed architects and engineers, while the legal entitlement of a company to provide architectural, engineering and design-related services may be demonstrated through its registered business activities and, where applicable, through the engagement of appropriately licensed professionals, rather than through a single corporate license equivalent in form to the Montenegrin company license.Therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, could you please confirm what documentation would be considered acceptable at the Proposal Submission Stage as a “valid company license or equivalent document” for a foreign JV Member established outside Montenegro, in cases where a corporate professional license equivalent in form to the Montenegrin company license is not issued or is not required under the legislation of the foreign JV Member’s country of establishment? In particular, please confirm whether the following documents would be acceptable and sufficient for that purpose:an official extract from the competent commercial/business register in the foreign JV Member’s country of establishment, confirming the foreign JV Member’s legal registration and registered business activities covering architectural, engineering, design and/or technical consultancy services;copies of valid individual professional licenses of the foreign JV Member’s licensed architects/engineers issued by the competent professional authority/chamber in the foreign JV Member’s country of establishment, where applicable;where applicable, an extract from the relevant law or regulation of the foreign JV Member’s country of establishment, or a statement/explanation supported by publicly available official sources, confirming the manner in which legal entities in that country are entitled to provide design/engineering services;This clarification is important in order to ensure that the documentation submitted for a foreign JV Member established outside Montenegro at the Proposal Submission Stage is fully aligned with the RFP requirements, clarifications, the legal framework of the foreign JV Member’s country of establishment and the applicable Montenegrin legislation.ANSWER: In cases where the legislation of the foreign JV Member's country of establishment does not issue corporate professional design licenses to legal entities, the submission of alternative documentation to establish the entity's legal entitlement and capacity to provide design services is acceptable at the Proposal Submission Stage.Specifically, the combination of:An official extract from the competent commercial/business register in the foreign JV Member's country of establishment, confirming the entity’s legal registration and registered business activities covering architectural and engineering design services;Copies of valid individual professional licenses of the foreign JV Member’s key architects/engineers, issued by the competent professional authority/chamber in their country of establishment; andAn extract from the relevant national legislation (or a detailed statement/explanation supported by official, publicly available sources) confirming that corporate professional design licenses are not issued or required for legal entities in that jurisdiction;will be considered sufficient as an "equivalent document" to satisfy the qualification criteria at the Proposal Submission Stage.However, please be advised of the following strict conditions:Responsibility for Proof: It is the sole responsibility of the Offeror to provide clear, verified, and complete documentation within their Proposal to demonstrate and substantiate this legal equivalence under their home country's jurisdiction. UNOPS will evaluate the submitted documentation on a case-by-case basis during the technical evaluation but will not perform independent legal assessments or interpretations of foreign legislation.Montenegrin Licensing (Critical Deadline): Regardless of the regulatory framework in the foreign JV Member’s home country, all proposed individual Key and Non-Key Experts (engineers and architects) who will actively prepare, sign, or assume statutory responsibility for the design documentation in Montenegro must obtain and submit valid individual professional design licenses issued by the Montenegrin Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property no later than 15 October 2026. Proposing any expert who fails to meet this licensing requirement by the deadline will result in the disqualification of the entire Proposal.

New clarification added: QUESTION: REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF THE PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINEWith reference to RFP/2026/63341 – Newly Built Elementary School in Blok 35–36, Podgorica, and the current proposal submission deadline of 21 September 2026, we kindly request UNOPS to consider a further extension of the submission deadline by two weeks, until 5 October 2026.We highly appreciate the previous extension of the submission deadline. However, after the current submission deadline of 21 September 2026 had already been established, UNOPS issued additional clarifications and revised tender documents which materially affect the basis on which the Technical Proposal, and particularly the required Conceptual Solution, must be finalized.These subsequent clarifications and revisions concern, among other matters:the applicable design and regulatory requirements reflected in the revised Terms of Reference;revisions and clarifications concerning the School Premises Programme, spatial requirements and functional parameters; andfurther clarification of requirements directly affecting the organization, development and verification of the architectural and site-planning solution.In particular, the subsequently issued revised Terms of Reference and revised School Premises Programme, together with the additional clarifications published during the tender procedure, require Offerors to reassess and coordinate several interrelated aspects of the proposed Conceptual Solution.This is particularly relevant considering the significance of the Conceptual Solution within the evaluation methodology. Under the RFP, the Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan carries 42 technical points, of which 40 points relate directly to the Conceptual Solution itself. Its evaluation covers, among other aspects, the architectural concept and functional organization, pedagogical and cluster requirements, materialization, sustainability, investment cost estimate, urban integration, detailed site organization, landscape and open-space design, floor plans, sections and elevations, visualizations, and verification of spatial and programme compliance.Furthermore, the required submission is substantial in scope and includes detailed site and landscape plans, floor plans of all designed levels, sections, elevations, area schedules, 3D visualizations and photomontage, as well as DWG files overlaid on the provided geodetic baseline for verification of spatial dimensions, urban planning parameters and compliance with the School Premises Programme.Consequently, subsequent changes and clarifications affecting the spatial programme, functional requirements, site organization and applicable design parameters may require corresponding review and adjustment of several mutually dependent elements of the Conceptual Solution, rather than merely administrative amendments to the proposal documentation.Considering the cumulative effect of the revisions and clarifications issued after the current submission deadline had already been established, we believe that an additional period would allow all interested Offerors to properly incorporate the latest requirements and finalize coordinated, technically mature and fully compliant Conceptual Solutions.We also believe that providing this additional period would be in the best interest of the procurement process itself, as it would enable all participating Offerors to further develop, coordinate and refine their Conceptual Solutions against the latest clarified requirements. In our view, this would result in higher-quality Technical Proposals and stronger architectural solutions across the competition as a whole, thereby providing the Evaluation Committee with a better basis for a meaningful comparison of the submitted proposals and ultimately supporting the selection of the solution that best meets the functional, technical and architectural objectives of the Project.Such an extension would therefore support not only fair competition, but also the overall quality of the procurement outcome, particularly considering the substantial weight assigned to the Conceptual Solution in the technical evaluation.We therefore kindly request UNOPS to consider extending the proposal submission deadline from:21 September 2026to:5 October 2026.We believe that the requested two-week extension is reasonable and proportionate to the scope and complexity of the required Conceptual Solution and the cumulative impact of the subsequent revisions and clarifications, while still maintaining sufficient time before the anticipated commencement of the assignment.We would highly appreciate UNOPS's consideration of this request.QUESTION/EXPLANATION IN RELATION TO THE ABOVE QUESTION: Please note that, due to an inadvertent mix-up on our side, our previous question was submitted in error.We kindly ask you to disregard the previous question. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.ANSWER: Dear Bidder, thank you for your notification. We noticed that you made a mistake and that the request does not correspond to this tender RFP/2026/63273- Provision of services for Development of Technical Design (Concept Design and Final Design) of New Elementary School in Stari Aerodrom, Podgorica in Montenegro (UNOPS-ESIM-2026-S-004) . We have noted your request to disregard the previously submitted inquiry and confirm that no further action will be taken. 

New clarification added: Question:With reference to the previous clarifications concerning the licensing requirements under Section II – Evaluation Method and Criteria, we kindly request one additional clarification in order to properly structure a potential Joint Venture arrangement and ensure full compliance with both the RFP requirements and the applicable Montenegrin legislation.We understand from the clarifications already provided that:at the proposal submission stage, a foreign JV Member must submit a valid company license or equivalent document issued by the competent authority in its home country, confirming its authorization to prepare technical documentation and execute works, in accordance with the legal framework of that country;all professionals who will prepare and sign design documentation must hold the required Montenegrin licenses issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro no later than 15 October 2026;legal entities and professionals formally preparing, signing, or assuming statutory responsibility for design documentation in Montenegro must be duly licensed/authorized in accordance with the Law on Construction of Structures of Montenegro.For the avoidance of doubt, could you please clarify whether the requirement to provide a valid company license issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro by 15 October 2026 applies to each and every JV Member as a legal entity, irrespective of its actual role in the JV, or only to those JV Members/legal entities that will formally act as designers in Montenegro, i.e. prepare, sign and assume statutory responsibility for the design documentation or any part thereof?More specifically, if a foreign JV Member does not formally prepare or sign any part of the technical/design documentation in Montenegro and does not assume statutory responsibility as a designer under Montenegrin law, but contributes only through international reference experience, technical advisory input, methodology, QA/QC review, know-how transfer, and internal expirinece support to the licensed Montenegrin JV Member, would such foreign JV Member still be required to obtain a Montenegrin company license by 15 October 2026?In such a scenario, the formal preparation, signing and statutory responsibility for the design documentation in Montenegro would remain with the duly licensed Montenegrin JV Member and/or other duly licensed legal entities and proposed witnin the Proposal Montenegrin professionals/experts engaged for the relevant design disciplines, in full compliance with Montenegrin legislation.We would appreciate your confirmation, as this clarification is important for defining the JV structure, the division of responsibilities between JV Members, and the licensing approach to be reflected in the JV Agreement and the technical proposal.Answer:It is confirmed that the requirement to provide a valid company license issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro by 15 October 2026 applies strictly to the Joint Venture Member(s) that will formally act as designers, i.e., prepare, sign, and assume statutory responsibility for the design documentation (or any part thereof) in Montenegro, in line with the relevant Montenegrin legislation.If a JV Member not licensed in Montenegro does not formally sign any part of the technical documentation in Montenegro, and does not assume statutory responsibility as a designer under Montenegrin law, such JV Member is not required to obtain a Montenegrin company license by 15 October 2026.Please note that regardless of the level of responsibility and scope of work, every member of the JV or any Subcontractor engaged in technical design development must comply with mandatory legal requirements in Montenegro.However, the Offeror must strictly comply with the following mandatory conditions:At the Proposal Submission Stage: The JV Member not licensed in Montenegro must still submit a copy of a valid company license (or equivalent document) for the preparation of technical documentation issued by the competent authority in their home country, in order to establish their eligibility and legal status.Company References: In accordance with Section 6.5.3.4 of the UNOPS Procurement Manual, qualification criteria (such as the company's specific reference projects and financial turnover) will be evaluated based on the Joint Venture members combined. Therefore, reference projects from the JV Member not licensed in Montenegro can be utilized to satisfy the company qualification and technical scoring requirements.Individual Professional Licenses (CRITICAL REMINDER): Notwithstanding the company-level licensing, please be advised that all proposed individual Key and Non-Key Experts (engineers and architects) who will be actively involved in leading and signing the design documentation must hold and provide their individual valid professional design licenses issued by the Montenegrin Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property no later than 15 October 2026. Proposing any expert (regardless of their international experience and references) who fails to obtain and submit their individual Montenegrin professional license by this deadline will result in the disqualification of the entire Proposal.

New clarification added: QUESTION: In the project task, it is imperative that the main entrance to the school as well as the pedestrian access are not allowed from the busy "Veljko Vlahović" boulevard.Taking into account that the largest concentration of the population, and therefore children, is from the direction of the inhabited part of the "Stari Aerodorm", just across the mentioned boulevard, is it possible to position the pedestrian access from that side, with an adequate distance from the facility and all contents, with a guarantee that the safety of children will not be endangered?ANSWER: The proposal to position the main pedestrian access to the school from Bulevar Veljka Vlahovića is rejected. The spatial and logistical requirements defined in the Terms of Reference (ToR) remain strictly unchanged.As explicitly stated in the ToR, to minimize traffic impact and ensure student safety, the main school entrance and pedestrian access must not be directly connected to the busy boulevard. All primary vehicular and pedestrian access MUST be organized exclusively from the newly planned local road. Consequently, the entrance plateau must be organized immediately adjacent to this newly planned street.However, please be advised that the Terms of Reference (ToR) allow a specific exception for the outdoor sports area. To encourage different urban approaches and functional layouts, the Offeror is permitted to position the multifunctional sports ground or sports zone directly along Bulevar Veljka Vlahovića, establishing an access point from this direction for external users.

New clarification added: Question: In case of a Joint Venture between a Montenegrin and a foreign architectural office, please clarify whether the JV is allowed to propose two Lead Architects, one nominated by each JV partner, where one Lead Architect holds a valid licence issued in Montenegro and the other holds a valid licence issued in the home country of the foreign JV partner.ANSWER: It is not allowed to propose and have two Lead Architects. As stated in the tender criteria for Key Expert No. 1 - Lead Architect - In the time of bid submission, can provide a Copy of Valid license (or equivalent document) for the preparation of technical documentation and execution of works in the capacity of a responsible designer and responsible engineer for the required architectural proffesion, issued by the relevant institution in the Offeror's home country (equivalent in Montenegro: Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro) must be submitted; However, all engineers must provide valid licenses issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro, which allows them to prepare and sign the design documents, no later than 15 October 2026.Question: In case two Lead Architects are accepted within the JV structure, please clarify whether the second Lead Architect (holding a licence from the home country of the foreign JV partner) is also required to obtain a valid licence by 15 October 2026, as stated in the tender documentation.ANSWER:  It is not allowed to have two Lead Architects. Question: Please confirm whether, in case of a Joint Venture between a Montenegrin and a foreign architectural office, it is acceptable that the remaining proposed Key and Non-Key Experts (other than the Lead Architect, if applicable) are all based in Montenegro and hold the required Montenegrin qualifications and licences.ANSWER: None of the proposed Key and Non-Key experts must be based in Montenegro, but they must hold the required Montenegrin qualifications and licences.

New amendment added #2: 1. ToR_Stari Aerodrom Primary School_Rev.1:In Article 2 Applicable Regulations, Codes and Standards, the following was added: "Rulebook on the Method of Preparation and Content of Technical Documentation (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 084/26 from 16.06.2026)"In Article 4 Design Proposals, 1.1. Subject of the ToR, the following was added: "Rulebook on Detailed Conditions for the Establishment of Institutions in the Field of Education and Upbringing ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro", No. 40/06 of June 22, 2006, "Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 42/26 of March 25, 2026, No. 95/2026 of 11.07.2026.)" AND "Rulebook on the Method of Preparation and Content of Technical Documentation for the Construction of Structures ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 084/26 from 16.06.2026.)"In Article 4 Design Proposals, 1.2. Goal and Purpose of Developing the Technical Documentation, the following was added: "As part of the final design, the designer is obliged to prepare all textual, graphic, and numerical documentation with the necessary content from which the dimensions of all elements, applied materials, structural system, structural protection elements, static and dynamic stability, and safety of the building can be clearly understood, all in accordance with the Rulebook on the Method of Preparation and Content of Technical Documentation for the Construction of Structures ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 19/25, No. 084/26 from 16.06.2026.)."In Article 4 Design Proposals, 1.3. Baseline Documentation for the Technical Documentation Provided by the Investor, the following was added: "Rulebook on Detailed Conditions for the Establishment of Institutions in the Field of Education and Upbringing ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro", No. 40/06 of June 22, 2006, "Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 42/26 of March 25, 2026, No. 95/2026 of 11.07.2026.),"In Article 4 Design Proposals, 2.4. Functional Aspects, 2.4.2. Teaching Space in Relation to Pedagogical Concept and Cluster System, the following was added: "NOTE: While 60 m² is the legal minimum for homeroom classrooms, applying 65 m² is highly preferable. It is strongly encouraged to use the 65 m² area during design development in order to achieve the optimal spatial, functional, and pedagogical standard specifically intended for this facility."2. Annex 4 - School premises program_Stari Aerodrom:In School Premises program tab, the following was added: "NOTE: While 60 m² is the legal minimum for homeroom classrooms, applying 65 m² is highly preferable. It is strongly encouraged to use the 65 m² area during design development in order to achieve the optimal spatial, functional, and pedagogical standard specifically intended for this facility."3. To avoid any confusion and ensure consistency in the documents, homebase and homeroom present the same room and, as of now, will be titled homeroom in the documents. ToR_Stari Aerodrom Primary School_Rev.2 and Annex 4 - School premises program_Stari Aerodrom_Rev. 1 documents have been uploaded in the tender "Documents" section. All changes in the revised documents are marked in RED.  

New clarification added: QUESTION: We kindly request clarification regarding the parking area shown in the Detailed Urban Plan (DUP).Our understanding is that the design proposal must be prepared in accordance with the issued Urban-Technical Conditions. In this regard, we would like to ask whether it is permissible to retain the existing vehicle access while relocating and redesigning the parking area within the parcel using internal network of roads.We could not find any provision in the Urban-Technical Conditions stating that the parking layout must remain exactly as currently shown in the DUP. Could you please confirm whether modifying the parking arrangement, while maintaining the existing access point and complying with all other applicable requirements, is acceptable?ANSWER: Yes, modifying and redesigning the parking arrangement within the urban parcel is acceptable, provided that the new layout strictly complies with all spatial parameters and normatives defined in the Urban-Technical Conditions (UTU).The UTU explicitly states that the graphical representations in the DUP are indicative. Regarding parking, the UTU specifies: "Parking areas are resolved in a way that reserves space for parking, and they will be detailed and designed in the Final Design (Glavni projekat)". Furthermore, the UTU dictates that "based on the regulatory and building lines towards the street or public area, the position and dimensions of buildings, internal vehicular and pedestrian traffic, open spaces, parking lots, and green areas will be determined". Therefore, the Offeror is permitted to reorganize the internal vehicular network and parking layout within the boundaries of UP 30.While the Offeror has the freedom to redesign the parking layout, the proposed design must still strictly comply with mandatory conditions, such as capacity, greenery and plot boundaries. 

New clarification added: QUESTION: We are currently considering participating through a Joint Venture with a licensed Montenegrin company. The foreign JV Partner would contribute the relevant technical experience, reference projects and actively participate in the preparation and coordination of the design documentation, while the Montenegrin JV Partner would also actively participate in the design process and perform the services in accordance with Montenegrin legislation through its licensed professionals.Our question relates specifically to the licensing requirement applicable to the legal entity (Offeror/JV Partner), and not to the professional licenses of individual engineers.In such a Joint Venture arrangement, is it mandatory for the foreign JV Partner to also obtain the license issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro by 15 October 2026, or is it sufficient that this requirement is fulfilled by the licensed Montenegrin JV Partner on behalf of the Joint Venture?ANSWER: In a Joint Venture (JV) arrangement, the licensing requirements for the participating legal entities are defined in Section II (Qualification Criteria) of the RFP, and apply as follows:1. At the Proposal Submission Stage: The tender criteria clearly state that the Offeror must possess a valid license (or equivalent document) for the preparation of technical documentation and execution of works, issued by the relevant institution in the Offeror's home country. Therefore, the foreign JV Partner must submit a copy of this valid company license from their home country at the proposal submission stage.2. Regarding the October 15, 2026 Deadline for Montenegrin Licenses: The RFP specifies the following condition: "Offeror must provide valid licenses issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro, which allows them to prepare and sign the design documents, not later than 15 October 2026".However, since your inquiry explicitly states that the foreign JV Partner will "actively participate in the preparation and coordination of the design documentation", please be advised that the legal right to perform these specific services is strictly governed by the Montenegrin Law on Construction of Structures ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 019/25 from 04.03.2025, 028/25 from 19.03.2025, 049/25 from 20.05.2025).Under this national legal framework, relying solely on the Montenegrin JV Partner's license to cover the foreign partner's active design work is not legally sufficient.The Offeror bears the sole responsibility to ensure that their proposed Joint Venture setup and division of active design responsibilities fully comply with these national regulations. 

New clarification added: QUESTION: Participation of the same Sub-consultant in multiple proposalsRelevant tender provisions:·         Section I: Instructions to Offerors, Article 4 [Offeror Eligibility], states that an entity may not be the Offeror in one proposal and a Sub-consultant in another proposal; however, it also states that this restriction “does not limit the inclusion of an entity as a sub-consultant in more than one proposal”.·         Section VI: Returnable Schedules requires proposed Sub-consultants to be identified in Schedule 4.6 [Sub-consultants], including the description of the Sub-consultant Services and the name of the Sub-consultant.Question: Please confirm that a specialist entity proposed as a Sub-consultant for a specific part of the Services, for example preparation of the Geological Elaborate / geotechnical or geological documentation, may be included as a Sub-consultant in more than one proposal submitted by different Offerors or Joint Ventures under this RFP, in accordance with Section I: Instructions to Offerors, Article 4 [Offeror Eligibility]. Please also confirm that this is permissible provided that the entity does not participate as an Offeror, Joint Venture member or consortium member in one proposal while simultaneously acting as a Sub-consultant in another proposal, and provided that the relevant Sub-consultant is duly disclosed in Schedule 4.6 [Sub-consultants] in each proposal in which it participates.ANSWER: In this case, entity proposed as a Sub-consultant for a specific part of the Services, in your example preparation of the Geological Elaborate / geotechnical or geological documentation, may be included as a Sub-consultant in more than one proposal submitted by different Offerors or Joint Ventures under this RFP, in accordance with Section I: Instructions to Offerors, Article 4 [Offeror Eligibility], under condition that the entity CAN NOT participate as an Offeror, Joint Venture member or consortium member in one proposal while simultaneously acting as a Sub-consultant in another proposal,

New clarification added: QUESTION: During the site visit, you have mentioned that you have pictures from the site. Could you please confirm that you can make them available for the bidders?ANSWER: Photographs are available in the “Site photos” section of the ToR. Additional photographs are available at this link:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rmFboBbZhtJV-jwDNjCI2UVkEFNf0nkm  

New amendment added #1: 1. Site Visit / Pre-bid clarification meeting minutes held 30 June 2026 uploaded.2. Extension of deadline for offer submission until 07 September 2026.3. ToR , article Phase III – Final Design (Glavni projekat) , Scope, "Interior architecture" has been removed, ToR Rev. 1 document is uploaded.4. Document 2 Section II, III, IV, V has been chanded by following: Formal and Eligibility Criteria: Insted of Letter of confirmation from the Bank it is needed to submit  free-form confirmation letter signed by the Offeror that in case the Offeror is selected a performance guarantee will be provided in the amount of 10% of the total contract amount. Qualification Criteria: The following was added: Sub consulting/sub-contracting is allowed, and the Offeror can engage as a sub-consultant any company or individual if there is a need for their services and expertise. It is not allowed to subcontract/ subconsultant only the Key Expert No. 1 - Lead Architect; Offeror must provide valid licenses issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro, which allows them to prepare and sign the design documents, not later than 15 October 2026; Non-Key Expert No. 1 – Electrical Engineer (High Voltage Installations) is required and will be evaluated, Electrical Engineer (Low Voltage Installations) is also required to be in a team but will not be evaluated; All engineers must provide valid licenses issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property of Montenegro, which allows them to prepare and sign the design documents, no later than 15 October 2026. Schedule 1 CONTRACT DETAILS: The expected commencement date is 01 November 2026; Currencies of Payment -United States dollars (USD) Only ; Proportions of Currencies 100 % in USD. ​Document 2 Section II, III, IV, V_Rev.1 has been uploaded.5. Tender Checklist is expanded, allowing additional space for uploading the Conceptual solution filesAll changes in revised documents are marked with RED.                      

New clarification added: QUESTION:  – CV requirements for Key and Non-Key ExpertsRelevant tender provisions:·         Section VI: Returnable Schedules includes Schedule 0.5, entitled “Format for Resume of Proposed Key Personnel”, which is marked “NOT USED”.·         Section II: Evaluation Method and Criteria, under the qualification criterion for staffing, lists “CV” among the documents to establish compliance for the proposed Key and Non-Key Experts.·         Section II, under the technical evaluation criteria for the proposed Key Personnel, also requests a “CV, clearly demonstrating only relevant professional experience in line with the requirements of this ToR”.·         The solicitation package separately provides the document entitled “REFERENCE LETTER (template) (for Key personnel)”, intended to confirm each expert’s personal professional experience and role on relevant assignments.Question: Please confirm whether, for each proposed Key Expert and Non-Key Expert, the completed “REFERENCE LETTER (template) (for Key personnel)”, together with the required supporting evidence, may be submitted in lieu of a CV, considering that Schedule 0.5 “Format for Resume of Proposed Key Personnel” is marked “NOT USED”. Alternatively, if both documents are mandatory, please confirm that the Offeror must submit: (i) a CV for each proposed Key and Non-Key Expert; and (ii) the completed “REFERENCE LETTER (template) (for Key personnel)” with the applicable supporting evidence. In that case, please also confirm whether a CV prepared in the Offeror’s own free format is acceptable, provided that it clearly demonstrates all qualifications, licences, total professional experience, years of licensed practice, relevant assignments, roles and responsibilities required under Section II and the Terms of Reference.ANSWER:  0.5 “Format for Resume of Proposed Key Personnel” is marked “NOT USED”, therefore the Offeror should submit the CV for each proposed Key and Non-Key Expert AND the completed “REFERENCE LETTER (template) (for Key personnel)” with the applicable supporting evidence.CV can be prepared in the free format, provided that it clearly demonstrates all qualifications, licences, total professional experience, years of licensed practice, relevant assignments, roles and responsibilities required under Section II and the Terms of Reference. 

New clarification added: QUESTION: Does a graduate engineer of architecture who graduated and passed the professional exam in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia need to have a design license issued by the Chamber of Architects of Montenegro?ANSWER: Under the Montenegrin legal framework, specifically the Law on Construction of Structures ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 019/25, 092/25, 160/25), all engineers and architects providing technical documentation design services must be formally recognized as licensed professionals.For a definitive and binding legal interpretation regarding the equivalence of these specific historical credentials, or the exact administrative procedure required to formalize them into a valid Montenegrin design license, the Offeror is strictly directed to consult the relevant competent authorities in Montenegro:The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property (Ministarstvo prostornog planiranja, urbanizma i državne imovine)The Chamber of Architects and Planners of Montenegro (Komora arhitekata i planera Crne Gore)The Engineering Chamber of Montenegro (Inženjerska komora Crne Gore).

New clarification added: QUESTION 1: Performance security – conflicting provisions.The Tender Particulars state "Performance security: Not required." However, Section II (Formal / Pass-Fail criteria) requires a letter from a bank confirming its readiness to issue a performance guarantee of 10% of the contract value if the offeror is selected, and Section IV indicates a Performance Security Amount of 10%. Could you please confirm which provision applies, and specifically whether a bank confirmation letter must be submitted together with the proposal, or whether no performance security is required at any stage?ANSWER 1: Please note that the Tender Particulars state that Proposal security is not required, and that there is a difference between Proposal security and Performance security.  Proposal security is not required, but Performance Security is required. Formal / Pass-Fail criteria) requires a letter from a bank confirming its readiness to issue a performance guarantee of 10% of the contract value if the offeror is selected. This requirement will be changed, and instead of bank confirmation, the offeror will provide confirmation that he has checked with his bank, and there is no obstacle to issuing a performance guarantee of 10% of the contract value if the offeror is selected.QUESTION 2. Schedule 0.5 (Format for Resume) – status.Schedule 0.5 is marked "NOT USED" in Section VI (Returnable Schedules), yet it is referenced in Section II as a document to establish compliance for the key personnel. Could you please confirm whether CVs may be submitted in free format, or whether the Schedule 0.5 template is required?ANSWER 2: Schedule 0.5 template is required, and CVs may be submitted in free format. QUESTION 3. Foreign offeror – equivalence of documents.As a company established outside Montenegro, we would like to confirm which documents are accepted as equivalents for (a) the company licence for the preparation of technical documentation and execution of works, and (b) the diplomas and professional licences of the proposed experts (ISCED level 7). Could you please also confirm whether nostrification (recognition) and/or certified translation of these documents is required at the proposal stage?ANSWER 3: "An "equivalent document" must strictly mirror the legal framework, weight, and conditions prescribed by the Montenegrin Law on Construction of Structures.Pursuant to Articles 76, 84, and 107 of the Law, the equivalent document must be a formal license or authorization issued by the competent state authority in the Offeror's home country. This document must explicitly authorize the legal entity to prepare technical documentation.Regarding (b) Equivalence of diplomas (ISCED level 7): The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) framework refers strictly to the educational qualification level, not professional licenses. Therefore, the required document is simply the university-issued diploma confirming that the proposed expert has successfully completed this specific level of education.Please be advised that neither the formal nostrification nor certified translations of these documents are required at the proposal submission stage." 

New clarification added: QUESTION: Related to Financial capability, may we kindly ask you to clarify whether instead of cumulative turnover for 2022, 2023 and 2024, a cumulative turnover for 2023, 2024, 2025 (the last three financial years) can be provided?ANSWER: As stated in the tender, the Offeror must demonstrate a minimum cumulative turnover of EUR 300,000 in three (3) financial years. In the case of a consortium/JV, the JV Lead must meet at least sixty percent (60%) of this requirement, corresponding to a minimum cumulative turnover of EUR 180,000 over the same period. Copy of  three financial statements OR audited reports OR solvency reports for (2022, 2023 or 2024) are required, year 2025 will not be taken into consideration. 

New clarification added: QUESTION: While reviewing the tender documentation, we noticed one of the Formal and Eligibility Criteria, namely:5. Conceptual Solution prepared by the offeror.This requirement obliges bidders to submit, as an integral part of their tender application, content that is almost identical to a Conceptual Design. Given that the subject of the tender itself is the preparation of the Conceptual Design and the Main Design, and considering that these are buildings of significant scale and design complexity, we find it unreasonable to impose such a requirement as a condition for participation.A criterion defined in this manner may call into question the transparency of the tender procedure and will almost certainly affect the number of relevant applications submitted, which we doubt is the intention of UNOPS. In light of the above, we kindly ask you to reconsider this requirement and not expect applicants to advance so deeply into the design process prior to the award of the Contract.ANSWER: UNOPS acknowledges that the preparation of the final Conceptual Design and the Final Design constitutes the subject of the Contract. However, the requested Conceptual Solution should not be understood as the final Conceptual Design, nor is it expected to be developed to the level of detail required for the contractual deliverables.The scope of the required Conceptual Solution is explicitly defined in the Terms of Reference and should not be interpreted as requiring a Concept Design (Idejno rješenje) to be developed prior to contract award.The purpose of this requirement is to enable the Evaluation Committee to assess the quality of the proposed architectural approach, the bidder's understanding of the project brief and ToR, the functionality and overall quality of the proposed solution. Given the significance, complexity and specific nature of the project, and the public importance of the project, UNOPS considers it essential to obtain sufficient insight into the quality of the proposed design concepts as part of the technical evaluation, alongside the assessment of the bidder's organizational capacity and the qualifications and experience of the proposed key experts.The selected Conceptual Solution submitted as part of the successful proposal will serve as the basis for further design development. Following contract award, it will be further refined, elaborated, and adjusted by the successful bidder through close consultation with UNOPS, the Beneficiary, and other relevant stakeholders. The resulting Conceptual Design will subsequently be submitted to the competent authorities for review and verification, in accordance with the applicable national legislation and approval procedures.Accordingly, UNOPS does not consider that this requirement compromises the transparency, fairness, or competitiveness of the procurement process. On the contrary, it enables a meaningful technical evaluation based on the quality of the proposed architectural approach, ensuring that the contract is awarded to the bidder best able to meet the project's functional, technical, and architectural objectives.Therefore, the requirement remains unchanged.

New clarification added: QUESTION: While reviewing the tender documentation, we noticed one of the Formal and Eligibility Criteria, namely:5. Conceptual Solution prepared by the offeror.This requirement obliges bidders to submit, as an integral part of their tender application, content that is almost identical to a Conceptual Design. Given that the subject of the tender itself is the preparation of the Conceptual Design and the Main Design, and considering that these are buildings of significant scale and design complexity, we find it unreasonable to impose such a requirement as a condition for participation.A criterion defined in this manner may call into question the transparency of the tender procedure and will almost certainly affect the number of relevant applications submitted, which we doubt is the intention of UNOPS. In light of the above, we kindly ask you to reconsider this requirement and not expect applicants to advance so deeply into the design process prior to the award of the Contract.ANSWER: UNOPS acknowledges that the preparation of the final Conceptual Design and the Final Design constitutes the subject of the Contract. However, the requested Conceptual Solution should not be understood as the final Conceptual Design, nor is it expected to be developed to the level of detail required for the contractual deliverables.The scope of the required Conceptual Solution is explicitly defined in the Terms of Reference and should not be interpreted as requiring a Concept Design (Idejno rješenje) to be developed prior to contract award.The purpose of this requirement is to enable the Evaluation Committee to assess the quality of the proposed architectural approach, the bidder's understanding of the project brief and ToR, the functionality and overall quality of the proposed solution. Given the significance, complexity and specific nature of the project, and the public importance of the project, UNOPS considers it essential to obtain sufficient insight into the quality of the proposed design concepts as part of the technical evaluation, alongside the assessment of the bidder's organizational capacity and the qualifications and experience of the proposed key experts. 

New clarification added: Question 1. In Section I – Instructions to Bidders, Article 23 "Proposal Sumbission" there is a sentence stating that bidders must ensure not to include any financial or pricing information in the envelope containing the technical proposal. Does this apply to the file upload fields on the UNOPS portal, or does it refer to a physical envelope?Answer 1: This applies to the file upload in the UNOPS eSourcing tender portal. There is no physical envelope and physical submission of the proposals.  Question 2.In the file upload fields on the portal, specifically field number 3, “Conceptual Solution prepared in line with the ToR, article 5.2.1 Technical Proposal Requirements,” the maximum allowed file size is 20MB. Is it permissible to provide a link to the material in case the file size exceeds 20MB? Given that the tender requires working files in DWG format, and that the design report (elaborat) will include technical drawings and visualizations, there is a genuine need for a larger capacity.Answer: It is not allowed to provide a link to the material in case the file size exceeds 20MB. All files must be uploaded to eSourcing. The Procurement Department will revise the tender checklist section, creating several new checklists that will allow additional space for uploading documents. Question 3. In Section II – Evaluation Method and Criteria, under the staffing requirements for Non-Key Expert No. 1, a low-voltage and high-voltage electrical engineer is required. Under the new LAW ON CONSTRUCTION OF OBJECTS ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 019/25 of March 4, 2025, 092/25 of August 7, 2025, 160/25 of December 30, 2025), this phase is clearly split into: 1. Power electrical installations design (high voltage) and 2. Electronic communication networks and/or electronic communication infrastructure and associated equipment design (low voltage). Newly issued electrical engineering licenses specify only one of these two design phases. Accordingly, must there be two independent engineers with the required references, or is it sufficient for only one of them to meet the requested criteria?Answer 3: The Offeror must ensure that both electrical design phases (Power electrical installations and Electronic communication networks) are covered by personnel possessing valid licenses in strict accordance with the Law on Construction of Structures of Montenegro. This requirement can be satisfied by proposing either two independent engineers (each holding one of the required specific licenses) or a single engineer who possesses both valid licenses. The fundamental requirement is that both licensing requirements are fully met to cover the entire scope of the electrical design.Question 4. In Section IV, Form 4, CONTRACT SCHEDULES FROM THE OFFEROR, item 4.1A Breakdown of Fees and Reimbursable cost, the following phases are listed: 1. Geomechanical investigation, 2. Conceptual design, 3. Final Design – Architecture, 4. Final Design – Structural, 5. Final Design – Mechanical, 6. Final Design – Electrical, 7. Fire Protection and Health and Safety at Work. We believe it is necessary to separate the low-voltage and high-voltage phases into two distinct line items. Additionally, based on previous experience, it would be essential to add the following phases: 1.Main Design of Hydrotechnical Infrastructure (Mandatory for all facilities), 2.Main Design of Sprinkler Installations (Mandatory for all facilities with a gross area exceeding 1000m²), 3.Landscaping/Landscape Architecture Design /projekat uređenja terena (Desirable, not mandatory), 4.Main Design of Traffic Infrastructure/Glavni projekat saobraćaja (Mandatory), 5.Traffic Signage Elaborat (Mandatory if there is a road within the plot boundaries), 6.Facility Furnishing/Opremanje objekta (Desirable, not mandatory), 7.Photovoltaic Panels Project/Projekat fotonaponskih panela (Mandatory if solar panels are to be used in the project), 8.Energy Efficiency Elaborat (Desirable, not mandatory).Answer 4: The financial breakdown structure in Schedule 4.1.A Breakdown of the Fees and Reimbursable cost is a consolidated pricing format and must remains unchanged. Offerors are not permitted to add, alter or separate any line items. The Offeror is strictly expected to integrate the cost of all mandatory design phases, elaborates and technical systems required by the ToR and applicable Montenegrin legislation into the existing predefined line items. Any scope that is explicitly excluded by the ToR (such as interior furnishing estimation) shall not be priced.

New clarification added: Question:We kindly request that it would be possible to extend the submission deadline for the tender currently set for July 27th. Since this date falls on a Monday, we would greatly appreciate if the deadline could be moved by at least two days. This adjustment would help ensure that the submission does not fall immediately after the weekend, allowing for smoother preparation and timely delivery.Answer: At the moment, extension of the deadline for offer submission is not planned. If there is any change, information will be shared through the eSourcing system.

New clarification added: Question 1: Could you kindly clarify the requirement within Section II, Evaluation method and criteria of the tender dossier, requesting offerors to provide three financial statements for the years 2022-2024 to establish the compliance with criteria set to minimum annual turnover of EUR 300,00.00.On the other hand, Schedule 0.14. of the Forms-Proposal Checklist, clearly states: Copy of audited financial statements of the [five (5)] years.Answer: Copy of  three financial statements OR audited reports OR solvency reports for (2022, 2023 or 2024) needs to be submitted.Please confirm, in the case of a consortium, whether Lead partner and partner/s are required to submit financial statements for three (3) or five (5) years? and if latter, for which years (2020-2024?). As the criteria is established cumulatively for consortium/JV, our understanding is that all members of the consortium/JV should submit financial statements for the same period. Please confirm. Answer: As stated in the tender this criteria should be verified in the following manner: The Offeror must demonstrate a minimum cumulative turnover of EUR 300,000 in three (3) financial years. In the case of a consortium/JV, the JV Lead must meet at least sixty percent (60%) of this requirement, corresponding to a minimum cumulative turnover of EUR 180,000 over the same period. This means that if there is no consortium or JV the Offeror must demonstrate a minimum cumulative turnover of EUR 300,000 in three (3) financial years. If JV/Consortium apply then all JV members should submit financial statements,  but JV Lead must meet at least sixty percent (60%) of this requirement, corresponding to a minimum cumulative turnover of EUR 180,000.

New clarification added: As an Offeror, we kindly request clarification regarding the requirement for submission of the Conceptual Solution / Concept Design under the RFP and the ToR.Question 1: Considering that the subject of the assignment is a public educational facility, please clarify whether the applicable planning document requires the organization of a public urbanistic-architectural competition in accordance with the relevant Montenegrin legislation, or whether the Conceptual Solution requested under the RFP and ToR is to be prepared, submitted and evaluated solely within the standard technical proposal evaluation procedure of this RFP?Answer 1: The Conceptual Solution requested under this RFP will be submitted and evaluated solely as part of the standard technical proposal evaluation process under this RFP. Please note that, as indicated in the Terms of Reference: the Conceptual Solution submitted as part of the proposal shall be prepared in accordance with the applicable legislation and technical standards of Montenegro; the selected Conceptual Solution will, following contract award, be further developed during the contractual phase into a complete Concept Design (Idejno rješenje), incorporating comments issued during the Conceptual Solution evaluation process conducted within the bidding procedure and further comments received by the Contractor, and prepared for submission to the Chief State Architect’s Office for approval.Question 2. Furthermore, please confirm whether the Conceptual Solution / Concept Design referred to in the RFP and ToR will be scored as part of the technical proposal, and, if so, whether it will be evaluated by the standard RFP Evaluation Committee or by a dedicated jury/commission in a manner similar to an architectural/design competition?Answer 2: Conceptual Solution, requested under the RFP, will be evaluated by the standard RFP Evaluation Committee. No separate architectural competition jury will be established.