Coronavirus Response Rapid Support Program

T.C. Doğu Marmara Kalkınma Ajansı (MARKA), TR42/20/COVID referans numaralı “COVID – 19 ile Mücadele ve Dayanıklılık” konulu proje teklif çağrısını ilan etmiştir. Çağrının amacı, COVID-19 salgını ile mücadeleye katkı sağlayan ve salgının etkilerinin azaltılmasına yönelik acil çözüm sunan projelerin desteklenmesidir. Projeler, başvurunun alınmasından itibaren azami 3 iş günü içinde değerlendirilerek MARKA internet sitesinde ilan edilecek olup son başvuru tarihinin beklenmesine gerek yoktur. Proje Sözleşmeleri, Başvuru Sahibine projesinin desteklenmeye hak kazandığının elektronik olarak bildirimini takip eden 3 iş günü içerisinde imzalanacaktır. Sözleşmede belirtilen süre içerisinde destek miktarının %60’ı, yararlanıcıya ait sözleşmede belirtilen banka hesabına ön ödeme olarak aktarılacaktır.

Priorities: Supply projects that are not directly related to COVID-19 and do not involve the development of products or services for combating the disease, as well as projects whose impact is expected to become apparent in the long term, will not be supported under this program.

· Priority 1: Preventing and controlling the spread of the virus.

· Priority 2: Emergency preparedness and response efforts for public health.

· Priority 3: Developing innovative practices to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on the national and regional economy.

Deadline for applications: Thursday, April 30, 2020 (5:00 PM) (Applications will be evaluated as soon as they are received; there is no need to wait until the deadline.)

Announcement: http://www.marka.org.tr/destek/covid-19-ile-mucadele-ve-dayaniklilik-programi/40

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

Who can apply?

Scope

Explanation

Maximum Number of Applications and Projects to be Supported

For-profit organizations

Private sector businesses of all sizes located in the TR42 Level 2 Region (Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) where the agency operates, and which were established and registered at least 3 months before the call for proposals announcement date, and whose project activities fall within their scope of duties and responsibilities.

• An applicant in the For-Profit Businesses category may apply for support for a maximum of 2 projects to the Agency, and the Agency may provide support for a maximum of 1 of them. If an applicant in the For-Profit Businesses category submits 2 eligible proposals simultaneously and both project applications are deemed successful, support will be awarded to the project that received the highest score in the evaluation process.
• If an applicant submits more projects than the aforementioned application limits, the excess projects submitted will be returned without being considered.

Non-profit institutions/organizations*

• The following institutions, registered in the Level 2 Region (TR42 Region: Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) where the Agency operates, and whose headquarters are located in this region, and which have the authority to open a Project account in their own name, transfer funds to this account, and make expenditures from this account, are within the scope of the Agency's duties and responsibilities:
  • Governorships, District Governorships, Provincial and Regional Directorates and Presidencies of Public Institutions, and the Highest-Level Units of Other Public Institutions Located in the Province
  • District Health Directorates
  • District National Education Directorates
  • Municipalities
    • Belediyeler, 5449 sayılı Kanunun 19’uncu maddesinin d) ve e) bendinde belirtilen bütçe paylarını Doğu Marmara Kalkınma Ajansı’na aktarmadıkça ve bunlarla ilişkili varsa diğer bütün mali yükümlülükleri tamamen yerine getirmedikçe, yararlanıcı veya proje ortağı olarak Ajansla destek sözleşmesi imzalayamaz. Bu durum söz konusu kurumların proje başvurusu yapmalarına engel değildir. Ancak bu halde, başarılı proje sahibi ya da ortağının ödeme güçlüğüne ilişkin kanıtlayıcı belgelerini de içeren gerekçeli başvurusu üzerine, projenin bölgenin sosyal ve ekonomik kalkınmasına etkisinin Yönetim Kurulunca değerlendirilmesinin ardından Bakanlık onayı ile sözleşme imzalanabilir. Bu durumda dahi Başvuru Sahibi ya da ortağının sözleşme imzalanmadan evvel muaccel borçlarının en az %20’sini ödemiş olması şartı aranır.
  • Professional organizations with the status of public institutions, associations, chambers, professional organizations with legal personality, business development centers.
    • Sanayi ve Ticaret Odaları, 5449 sayılı Kanunun 19’uncu maddesinin d) ve e) bendinde belirtilen bütçe paylarını Doğu Marmara Kalkınma Ajansı’na aktarmadıkça ve bunlarla ilişkili varsa diğer bütün mali yükümlülükleri tamamen yerine getirmedikçe, yararlanıcı veya proje ortağı olarak Ajansla destek sözleşmesi imzalayamaz. Bu durum söz konusu kurumların proje başvurusu yapmalarına engel değildir. Ancak bu halde, başarılı proje sahibi ya da ortağının ödeme güçlüğüne ilişkin kanıtlayıcı belgelerini de içeren gerekçeli başvurusu üzerine, projenin bölgenin sosyal ve ekonomik kalkınmasına etkisinin Yönetim Kurulunca değerlendirilmesinin ardından Bakanlık onayı ile sözleşme imzalanabilir. Bu durumda dahi Başvuru Sahibi ya da ortağının sözleşme imzalanmadan evvel muaccel borçlarının en az %20’sini ödemiş olması şartı aranır.
  • Organized Industrial Zones, Cooperatives
  • Civil society organizations with legal personality (Associations, Foundations, Unions, Trade Unions, Federations, Confederations)
  • Universities, Faculties, Institutes
    • In calculating the total number of applications and the number of projects to be supported, if the "Applicant" does not specify "Faculty" or "Institute" in applications submitted by Faculties and Institutes, the application will be considered as having been submitted by the University.
  • Municipal Companies, Technology Development Zone Management Companies, Technology Transfer Office Companies with legal personality

• Under this program, an applicant in the Non-Profit Institution/Organization category may apply for support for a maximum of 3 projects to the Agency, and the Agency may provide support for a maximum of 1 of them.
• If an applicant in the Non-Profit Institution/Organization category submits three eligible proposals simultaneously and all three project applications are deemed successful, the support will be awarded to the project that receives the highest score during the evaluation process.
• If an applicant submits more projects than the aforementioned application limits, the excess projects submitted will be returned without being considered.
• In calculating the total number of applications and the number of projects to be supported, if the "Applicant" does not specify "Faculty" or "Institute" in applications submitted by Faculties and Institutes, the application will be considered as having been submitted by the University.

* The requirement for public administrations within the general budget to obtain permission to open project accounts may pose a risk for this program, which is designed to yield quick results. It is important to consider this when applying.

Partners and Affiliates:

• Applicants may apply individually or as part of a partnership.
• Project Partners may participate in the design and implementation of the project, and the expenses incurred by the Partners may be accepted under the same conditions as the expenses incurred by the beneficiary. Therefore, Partners must meet the same eligibility criteria as stated above for Applicants.
• Organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria for applicants and partners may also participate in the project as stakeholders to enhance its credibility and sustainability. Stakeholder organizations may undertake roles such as sponsorship and providing technical support; however, they cannot directly benefit from financial support, and their expenses are not considered eligible costs. Stakeholder organizations must declare their participation.

Priorities:

Priority

Explanation

Examples of potential projects: The examples given below do not cover all possible project topics; applications can also be submitted for activities not listed above that are in line with program priorities.

Priority 1: Preventing and controlling the spread of the virus.

Projects will be supported that ensure the sustainable implementation of critical "social distancing" and "staying at home" measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, especially for vulnerable groups at highest risk, such as the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, individuals requiring care, and people with disabilities; provide psychosocial support for problems that may arise due to social isolation; and include informative, awareness-raising, guiding, and misinformation-preventing activities regarding the pandemic.

• Developing and implementing organizational and service models to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups (people with disabilities, pregnant women, children, individuals requiring care, refugees, the elderly, etc.) and those who are disadvantaged as a result of the measures taken, including the elderly and individuals with chronic illnesses.
• Developing and implementing organizational and service models for the delivery, monitoring, and reporting of home care and treatment services.
• Implementing measures to create the necessary conditions for high-traffic areas (hospitals, workplaces, factories, transportation vehicles, etc.) to continue their operations.
• Real-time identification of areas with high virus transmission rates and implementation of necessary preventive and protective measures.
• Developing practices to guide the public towards protective and preventive measures.
• Developing and providing psychological support and rehabilitation services for problems arising from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Developing software for monitoring the pandemic and identifying potential risks.
• Developing and deploying critical products, services, and organizations that will enable the prevention and control of the spread of the virus.
• Developing applications to ensure that people currently living in the TR42 region who do not speak Turkish can be informed about COVID-19 and/or access treatment services without problems.
• Developing software and technologies to ensure the continuity of education.
• Developing innovative solutions to support economic activities at the neighborhood and district level through mutually beneficial volunteer organizations.

Priority 2: Emergency preparedness and response efforts for public health.

As part of preventive and protective measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and implementation of urgently needed products, services, and organizations will be supported.

• Producing and supplying personal protective equipment such as masks, caps, goggles, gloves, face shields, protective uniforms, disinfectants, etc., that meet the necessary standards, in areas where they are needed.
• Development, production, and deployment of protective systems such as UV disinfection systems and air sterilizers.
• To develop products and services needed during the pandemic, businesses need to make the necessary changes to their existing production systems (e.g., the needs of a textile company to produce protective clothing).
• Development, production, and deployment of diagnostic kits for the rapid and reliable diagnosis of the COVID-19 virus.
• Increasing the capacity of existing laboratories that will carry out diagnostic activities.
• Development and production of critical materials and equipment needed for treatment, such as ventilators, intensive care units, life support units, etc., and research and development of antiviral drugs and vaccines against the COVID-19 virus.

Priority 3: Developing innovative practices to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on the national and regional economy.

Projects that offer solutions to address current and potential disruptions to economic activity caused by the pandemic will be supported.

• Ensuring the necessary organizational structure in businesses to maintain the sustainability of production activities in sectors more affected by the pandemic.
• Developing model services needed to ensure continuity in supply chains and logistics operations.
• Ensuring inter-sectoral collaborations in areas such as material procurement and supply.
• Developing models to solve unemployment and cash flow problems.
• Developing technologies that facilitate remote work.
• Structuring business processes using digital technologies and flexible working methods such as remote work and rotational work.
• Developing solutions to facilitate access to food and healthcare equipment.

Project topics that will not be supported:

• Projects that are not directly related to COVID-19 and will not contribute to preventing the spread of the pandemic or improving social isolation and quarantine conditions.
• Procurement projects that do not involve the development of products and services for combating COVID-19, and projects whose expected impact will become apparent in the medium and long term.

Supporting:

• Indicative budget: 3 million TL
• Support amount per project:
  • Maximum: 300,000 TL
  • Minimum: 100,000 TL
• Support rate:
  • For-profit organizations:
    • Azami: %50
    • Asgari: %25
  • Non-profit organizations:
  • Azami: %100
  • Asgari: %25

Eligible project expense items to be supported:

• Relevant direct costs:

• • New equipment and service purchases
  • Consumable costs
  • If any, the distribution and logistics costs of the products to be produced with the project.
  • Subcontractor costs (printing, event organization, etc.)
  • Projenin uygulanması için mutlaka gerekli olması ve Ajanstan talep edilen destek tutarının %30’unu geçmemesi koşuluyla küçük ölçekli yapım işleri
  • Final audit costs (The Agency requests an audit report for all projects. This audit is conducted by independent auditors and independent audit firms authorized by the Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Board, as well as by certified public accountants and chartered accountants.)
  • Visibility costs

• Indirect costs: A lump sum determined to cover general administrative expenses, not exceeding %2 of the total eligible direct costs of the project.

• For expenses that will not be supported, see:. Application Guide Article 3.3. (pp. 21-22).

• • Value Added Tax for Technology Development Zone Management Companies, Technology Transfer Office Companies, Municipal Companies, and for-profit businesses and cooperatives.

Project duration:

• Maximum: 3 months
• Minimum: 1 month

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

Points to consider:

• Before applying Application Guide It is recommended to review this.
• For details on application system (KAYS) usage, signature authority, undertaking, etc., please see below. Application Guide Article 4. Application Process (pp. 23-27).
• For Project Performance Indicators Application Guide Article 7. (pp. 37-39).
• The commitment letter generated by KAYS must be signed electronically or scanned with a wet signature and sent to pub@marka.org.tr by the end of the next business day (5:00 PM) at the latest, following the submission of the project application through KAYS. No printed documents will be accepted by hand delivery to the Agency.
• For-profit individuals and legal entities that have entered into a contract within a calendar year may not reapply to the Agency during the project implementation period and for one year following the termination of the contract.
• It will not be possible to include costs for activities not listed in the application form in the budget.
• For budget items with a unit cost of 20,000 TL and above, and for budget items with a total cost of 50,000 TL and above, regardless of the unit:
  • For the procurement of goods and services: A Technical Specification and Market Research report containing all details constituting the total cost must be submitted.
  • In construction projects: The application project, bill of quantities (material/quantity and bill of quantities list), and cost estimate must be submitted.
• In projects submitted by Non-Profit Organizations where co-financing is not mandatory, the applicant's provision of co-financing is considered a facilitating factor for project acceptance. The amount of the budget not covered by the Agency's support must be covered by the applicant as co-financing, due to their status as a signatory to the contract. The applicant may cover the project co-financing through monetary contributions from project partners, participants, and/or third parties. In any case, as a signatory to the contract, the co-financing obligation is considered the beneficiary's own commitment, and the beneficiary will be solely responsible if it is not fulfilled. In-kind contributions are not accepted as co-financing.
• In-kind contributions made by the beneficiary or its partners, which must be presented as a separate list in the Application Form, do not reflect actual expenses and are not considered eligible costs. Therefore, these contributions cannot be considered as co-financing provided by the beneficiary. However, if the support is granted, the beneficiary is obliged to undertake these contributions as stated in the Application Form.
• Kâr amacı güden işletmelerden her bir proje için sözleşmede öngörülen toplam destek miktarının %10’u teminat alınır. Ajans tarafından teminat olarak kabul edilebilecek değerler şunlardır:
  • Turkish currency in circulation (Cash collateral cannot be accepted by the Agency. A receipt proving that these have been deposited into the bank account number to be provided by the Agency must be presented.)
  • Letters of guarantee issued by banks or participation banks
• Sözleşmede belirtilen süre içerisinde, kabul edilebilir nitelikteki teminat şartının yararlanıcı tarafından yerine getirilmiş olması kaydıyla, destek miktarının %60’ı, yararlanıcıya ait sözleşmede belirtilen banka hesabına ön ödeme olarak aktarılır. Ajans tarafından ön ödeme sonrasında yapılacak diğer ödemeler, projelerin ilerlemesine ve hak ediş esası ve projenin ilerlemesine göre gerçekleştirilir. İlk ödeme proje sözleşmesinin imzalanmasının ardından, gerekli görüldüğü takdirde ara ödemeler ve son ödeme ise desteğe ilişkin dönem raporunun sunulmasının ardından ve dönem değerlendirmesinin tamamlanmasından sonra yapılır. Buna göre, ön ödeme tutarının ve aynı oranda yararlanıcının eş-finansman tutarının usulüne uygun harcandığını gösteren belgelerin ara/nihai raporlarla birlikte Ajansa sunulması, ilgili raporların Ajans tarafından incelenip uygun bulunması ve onaylanmasından sonra; (sözleşmede aksi belirtilmediği takdirde) ara ödemede destek miktarının %30’u ve son ödemede %10’u destek yararlanıcısının banka hesabına 30 gün içerisinde aktarılır. Bununla birlikte, Ajans yararlanıcının ve projenin risk ve ihtiyaç durumuna göre ön, ara ve nihai ödeme miktarlarında değişiklik yapma hakkını saklı tutar. Yararlanıcı tarafından ilgili raporlar sunulmadan ve usulüne uygun ödeme talebinde bulunulmadan, yararlanıcıya hiçbir ödeme yapılmaz.

Application and Evaluation Process:

• Application deadline: April 30, 2020
• Projects will be evaluated within a maximum of 3 business days from the receipt of applications and announced on the MARKA website; there is no need to wait until the final application deadline.
• Preliminary Review: Only projects submitted on time will be considered for preliminary review. During the preliminary review phase, the applicant, its partners, and the project topics will be examined to ensure they meet the criteria specified in the application guide. The details regarding the preliminary review are outlined below:
  • Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria specified in the application guide will be rejected. Furthermore, projects will be rejected if these issues are identified at any stage of the evaluation process; if these issues are identified after the contract has been signed, the contract will be terminated.
  • During the preliminary review and evaluation process, the agency may request information and documents from the applicant regarding the application and accompanying documents.
  • The undertaking must be signed by the applicant's authorized representative. Applications found to have been submitted by unauthorized persons will be rejected.
  • On the other hand, the Agency may specify additional criteria in the application guide, such as requiring the submission of certain information and documents beyond the application form, or submitting approvals from the relevant authorities during the application process if the process requires approval. In such cases, failure to meet the defined additional criteria will lead to the rejection of the project during the preliminary review phase. Apart from this, the Agency may request documents from the Applicant at any time during the preliminary review and evaluation phases that it deems will not affect the evaluation process. The Applicant is obliged to submit the information and documents requested by the Agency in a timely manner. Applications from Applicants who fail to submit the requested information and documents within the time specified by the Agency in the application guide will be rejected.
  • If any deficiencies are found in the application documents during the application process, the applicant will be asked to complete the missing documents within 3 business days. Projects for which the applicant fails to complete the missing documents within the specified time will be rejected.
• Panel Evaluation: Projects deemed to meet the necessary criteria are compiled into a list and submitted to the Panel Evaluation process. Applications that are later found not to meet the necessary criteria are considered eliminated in the Preliminary Review, regardless of the stage of the evaluation process.
  • Projects will be evaluated through a panel. Project applicants will be invited to the Agency at a specified date and time, or will present their projects remotely. The panel may be conducted remotely if necessary. Panelists will evaluate the projects based on the applicants' oral presentations and application documents.
  • Applications, including the proposed budget, will be evaluated according to the criteria in the Evaluation Table below. The evaluation will consider, in order: the project's relevance to the program's aims and priorities, its impact on combating COVID-19 and its contribution to pandemic prevention, the project's feasibility, the applicant's institutional capacity, and the quality and suitability of the proposed methodology.
• Applications are ranked starting with the highest-scoring proposal, and support is distributed according to this ranking within the total program budget specified in this guide.
• Projects deemed successful will be supported within the limits of the Agency's program budget. The Agency reserves the right to suspend new applications during the year, in which case this will be announced on the Agency's website.
• Contracts are signed within 3 business days following the electronic notification to the Applicant that their project has been deemed eligible for support. Applicants who fail to sign the contract within this period will be considered to have forfeited their right to support.

For more information and questions: (Questions regarding the program can be sent by email to the following address, clearly stating the program reference number (TR42/20/COVID), up to 20 days before the deadline for receiving proposals: pub@marka.org.tr. Answers to questions will be provided to the Agency within 10 days of receipt.) In the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section (will be published.)

Kind regards,

Huseyin Ozgur Unsal

Expert, Gebze Liaison Office

Kocaeli Investment Support Office

Republic of Turkey Eastern Marmara Development Agency