Competence

The Contracting Authority shall be responsible for executing public procurement procedures, contracting, executing payments, accounting, monitoring of contract implementation and financial reporting with regards to the procurement of services, supplies, works and grants financed by the European Union under Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).

The Contracting Authority shall be responsible for:

• Planning, preparing and executing public procurement procedures for the purpose of implementing sector supports and/or projects funded through Annual National Programmes under IPA Component I, II and III;
• Contracting, implementing and managing contracts, as well as verifying the fulfilment of contractual obligations, either directly or by delegating the tasks to another body;
• Planning financial resources based on the Procurement and Grants Plan, preparing Requests for Funds, and executing payments to Contractors;
• Implementing the accounting standards and procedures in compliance with the requirements of the European Commission;
• Reporting on irregularities, implementing and monitoring the implementation of corrective measures and recovery of funds from Contractors due to irregularities;
• Implementing follow-up actions in response to the internal and external audit findings and implementing the corrective measures;
• Ensuring an audit trail and complying with the requirements related to reporting and providing information to the European Commission, the National IPA Coordinator, National Authorising Officer and National Fund in accordance with the Manuals of procedures regulating the operational activities and execution of delegated tasks;
• Performs other activities set out in the Manuals of procedures regulating the operational activities and execution of delegated tasks.

The Contracting Authority shall execute its tasks in accordance with the principles of responsible financial management.