Information about Feasibility Support for 2020

The Turkish Republic Eastern Marmara Development Agency (MARKA) has started accepting applications for its new Feasibility Support program for 2020. The aim of the program is to provide financial support for feasibility studies in the Priority Areas listed below, in order to leverage significant opportunities for development and competitiveness in the TR42 Kocaeli Sub-Region (comprising Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, and Yalova), to prevent threats and risks to the regional economy, and to improve the region's innovation and entrepreneurship capacity. Applications will only be accepted through the online KAYS system, the link to which is provided below. Unless requested by the Agency, no printed documents other than the commitment letter will be submitted to the Agency until the contract stage. It is advisable to have a preliminary meeting with the Project Implementation Unit before applying for feasibility support.

Priority Feasibility Issues:

• Investments specified/recommended in the Regional Plan feasibility
• Feasibility studies for investments planned to be included in the investment programs of public institutions in the region.
• Feasibility studies for projects planned/submitted under the Guided Project Support program.
• Feasibility studies for project proposals aimed at shared use by the private sector in special investment zones in the region, such as the Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) and the Culture and Tourism Protection and Development Zone (KTKGB).
• Feasibility studies for investments aimed at developing sustainable production and service capacity through clean production, industrial symbiosis, energy efficiency, and renewable energy applications, or for the development of planned or existing investments.
• Feasibility studies aimed at increasing the share of high and medium/high technology-based products in the production and exports of the TR42 industry.
• Conducting feasibility studies for public investments that are critical to the implementation of the 2020 Results-Oriented Programs.

Deadline for applications: Tuesday, December 31, 2020 (23:59) (Applications will be reviewed as they are received; there is no need to wait until the deadline.)

Announcement: http://www.marka.org.tr/destek/2020-yili-fizibilite-destegi-programi/39

Online application system: https://kaysuygulama.sanayi.gov.tr/Kays/KaysIstemci/giris.jsp

Who can apply?

• Companies registered in the TR42 Kocaeli Sub-Region, which comprises Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, and Yalova, whose headquarters or legal branch are located in this region, or whose responsible public service is carried out within the boundaries of the region;
  • Local Governments
    • Applicants, including Special Administrations, Metropolitan Municipalities, Municipalities (excluding those who have restructured their debts under Law No. 6111 and those restructured under Law No. 6552 published in the Official Gazette on September 11, 2014), Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who have partially or fully paid their Development Agency shares specified in clauses (d) and (e) of Article 19 of Law No. 5449, cannot receive project or activity support from the East Marmara Development Agency unless they fully settle all their accumulated debts and any other related financial obligations.
  • Provincial and District Special Administrations
    • Applicants, including Special Administrations, Metropolitan Municipalities, Municipalities (excluding those who have restructured their debts under Law No. 6111 and those restructured under Law No. 6552 published in the Official Gazette on September 11, 2014), Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who have partially or fully paid their Development Agency shares specified in clauses (d) and (e) of Article 19 of Law No. 5449, cannot receive project or activity support from the East Marmara Development Agency unless they fully settle all their accumulated debts and any other related financial obligations.
  • Investment Monitoring and Coordination Directorates (YIKOBs)
  • Other Public Institutions and Organizations
    • Under this program, "other public institutions and organizations" include governorships, district governorships, regional directorates, provincial directorates, district directorates, etc., which are eligible applicants. Institutions/organizations operating under a district or provincial directorate, such as schools, hospitals, libraries, and museums, are not eligible applicants.
  • Professional Organizations with the Status of Public Institutions
    • Applicants, including Special Administrations, Metropolitan Municipalities, Municipalities (excluding those who have restructured their debts under Law No. 6111 and those restructured under Law No. 6552 published in the Official Gazette on September 11, 2014), Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who have partially or fully paid their Development Agency shares specified in clauses (d) and (e) of Article 19 of Law No. 5449, cannot receive project or activity support from the East Marmara Development Agency unless they fully settle all their accumulated debts and any other related financial obligations.
  • Universities
    • Applications from faculties, colleges, and institutes must be submitted on behalf of the university, and the university's board of directors' decision must specify which faculty, college, or institute will carry out the project.
  • Civil Society Organizations
  • Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs)
  • Industrial Estates
  • Technology Development Zones (TDZs)
  • Industrial Zones
  • Institutions and organizations such as Business Development Centers
  • Unions and Cooperatives
    • Cooperatives whose bylaws do not contain a provision prohibiting the distribution of profits to their members must decide not to distribute profits to their members for the next 5 years, and this provision must be included in the general assembly resolution.

• An applicant may submit a maximum of 4 applications for Feasibility Support within a fiscal year and may receive financial support for a maximum of 1 project within that fiscal year. Project proposals exceeding these limits and the same project proposals that have been rejected within the previous year will not be considered.

Partnership:

• Applicants may apply individually or as part of a partnership.
• Partners are subject to the same eligibility requirements as Applicants, except for the condition that “the Agency must be legally registered in the TR42 Level 2 Region in which it operates, or its headquarters or legal branches must be located in the Region, or it must be organized to cover the boundaries of the Region in accordance with its legislation”.
• Partnering organizations must complete the Partnership Declaration.
• Being an Applicant in one project under this program does not create any restrictions on participating as a Partner in other projects.

Participants:

• Organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria of applicants and partners may also participate in the project as stakeholders to enhance its credibility and sustainability. Stakeholder organizations will assume roles such as sponsorship and providing technical support.

• However, their expenses are not considered reasonable costs.

• Participating organizations must declare their participation (Application Form/Participant Declaration).

Supporting:

• Indicative budget: 2 million TL

• Maximum support amount per feasibility study:

For projects carried out within a single province in the TR42 Level 2 Region:

§ Maximum: 150,000 TL

§ Minimum: 50,000 TL

For projects carried out in multiple provinces within the TR42 Level 2 Region:

§ Maximum: 200,000 TL

§ Minimum: 75,000 TL

• Support rate:

o Azami: %100

o Asgari: %25

• Co-financing: While beneficiary co-financing is not mandatory in Feasibility Support Programs, project proposals that foresee co-financing will be given priority.

• Ön Ödeme: Sözleşmede belirtilen süre içerisinde, destek miktarının en fazla %60’ı, Yararlanıcıya ait sözleşmede belirtilen banka hesabına Ön Ödeme olarak aktarılır.

Project duration:

• Maximum: 1 year
• Minimum: 6 months

Project implementation location: Projects must be implemented in the TR42 Level 2 Region (Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) where the Agency operates.

Supported expenditure items:

* The budget should be prepared including VAT for projects submitted by non-profit institutions and organizations; and excluding VAT for projects submitted by technology development zones, business development centers, etc., which are legal entities established or partnered with by non-profit institutions and organizations.

**Cost of the Feasibility Report to be procured as part of the project: In addition to the content of the Feasibility Report, its digital design and printing must also be included in the specifications. If approved by the Agency, the prepared Feasibility Report, with its final design completed, must be submitted to the Agency as a digital report and in the number of printed copies requested by the Agency.

Evaluation criteria:

• Following the feasibility report, is there any investment planned; if so, what is its size?
• Does the feasibility report align with the objectives stated during the bidding phase?
• Was sufficiently qualified personnel involved in the feasibility study?
• Has sufficient research and investigation been conducted for all the headings included in the feasibility report format?
• Have generally accepted analysis techniques, expected to be included in feasibility reports, been used?
• Are the data and data sources used in the feasibility study reliable?
• Is this study a repetition of a study previously conducted by other institutions and organizations?
• Do the studies conducted involve unethical elements (forgery, plagiarism, distortion, republication, unfair authorship, fabrication, etc.)?
• Have the other requirements regarding the content specified by the agency been met?

Feasibility Report Template:

• For projects benefiting from Feasibility Support, a "feasibility report" will be prepared at the end of the project, in accordance with the Feasibility Study format included in the 2020-2022 Investment Program Preparation Guide, based on the cost of the project.
• The Ministry or Agency may specify different formats if deemed necessary. For feasibility studies prepared to benefit from European Union and international organization support, the formats requested by these organizations may be used, if the Agency deems it appropriate.
• The agency checks the report for suitability in terms of format, content, and quality. As part of the suitability check, the submitted feasibility study is also verified to conform to the format requested by the agency.

Points to consider:

• Before applying Application Guide It is recommended to review this.
• Applications for this program will be accepted throughout the announcement period, without waiting for the final application deadline. The Agency will evaluate the proposals, and successful ones will be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. Those accepted will sign contracts without waiting for the final application deadline.
• An applicant may submit a maximum of 4 applications for Feasibility Support within a fiscal year and may receive financial support for a maximum of 1 project within that fiscal year. Project proposals exceeding these limits and the same project proposals that have been rejected within the previous year will not be considered.
• The following documents are required during the contract phase:
  • Document Confirming No Tax Debt: A document obtained from the relevant tax office or a barcoded internet printout confirming that the applicant and, if applicable, project partners, have no overdue or unpaid tax debts, that their obligations have been fulfilled, or that any existing debts have been restructured and are being paid regularly.
  • Document Confirming No Outstanding Social Security Debt: A document obtained from the relevant Social Security Institution (SGK) provincial directorate or a barcoded internet printout confirming that the applicant and, if applicable, project partners, have no overdue or unpaid social security premium debts, that the relevant obligations have been fulfilled, or that any existing debts have been restructured and are being paid regularly.
  • Kamu kurum ve kuruluşları haricindeki Başvuru Sahipleri için sözleşmeye bağlanacak toplam destek tutarının %10’u tutarında teminat yatırıldığına dair banka dekontu veya bu tutarda teminat mektubu (Teminat mektubunun süresi 24 aydan az olamaz. Ajans gerekli gördüğü sözleşmelerde 24 aydan uzun süreli teminat mektubu isteyebilir.)
  • After the contract is signed by the Agency, a receipt showing that stamp duty has been paid on the total project budget or a document stating that the project is exempt from stamp duty will be required.
• Applicants are required to submit their project applications through KAYS by the deadline and time specified in the Agency's program announcement. Each application is completed by signing the commitment letter generated through KAYS. Signing the commitment letter with an e-signature is essential. The e-signature must be completed within a maximum of 5 business days from the application deadline. If the commitment letter is not signed with an e-signature, it must be submitted in person with a wet signature by the applicant to the Agency within a maximum of 5 business days from the application deadline. Application Guide The submissions must be delivered to one of the addresses in section 2.2.2 (p. 16). In this case, those who deliver their commitment letters in person will be given a signed and dated receipt. Each application is recorded with its acceptance date, time, and reference number. Project proposals sent by other means (e.g., fax or email) or delivered to a different address will be rejected.
• All outputs (research reports, feasibility studies, etc.) resulting from projects for which support applications have been submitted must be presented to the Agency in full detail along with the Project Final Report. The Agency reserves the right to use these documents for its own purposes without seeking the owner's further consent. In such a case, personal information and information of a professional confidential nature belonging to the individuals and legal entities involved in the project will be kept confidential.
• Applications must include technical specifications and at least three proforma invoices (or offer letters) for each item exceeding 10,000 TL for goods and services procured under the Project. (It is essential to clearly indicate which goods or services each proforma invoice pertains to, and each item must be grouped together with its corresponding budget item. Technical specifications must be signed by the bidding firms.).
• The budget should be prepared including VAT for projects submitted by non-profit institutions and organizations; and excluding VAT for projects submitted by technology development zones, business development centers, etc., which are legal entities established by or partnered with non-profit institutions and organizations.
• While beneficiary co-financing is not mandatory in feasibility support programs, project proposals that foresee co-financing are given priority.

Application Address: See. Application Guide Section 2.2.2 (p. 16)

For your questions: fizibilite@marka.org.tr (Answers to questions will be provided within 10 days at the latest after the date the Agency receives them.) On the agency's website (will be published.)