20.04.2022

PROGRAM BG16RFOP002-6.002 RECOVERING SMES BY IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Directorate General for European Competitiveness Funds at the Ministry of Innovation and Growth - Managing Authority of the Operational Program "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020, announces a project selection procedure: BG16RFOP002-6.002 Recovering SMEs by improving energy efficiency.

The purpose of the procedure is to provide focused support to Bulgarian small and medium enterprises to recover from the economic consequences of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic by improving their energy efficiency.

The total amount of the grant under the procedure is BGN 136,226,120 (EUR 69,651,309.16) from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the REACT-EU Instrument.

The minimum amount of the requested grant for an individual project is BGN 25,000, and the maximum - BGN 150,000. The maximum aid intensity under the current procedure is 50%.

Support shall be granted under the de minimis regime in accordance with Regulation (EU) № 1407/2013.

Under the procedure are eligible costs for acquisition of machinery, equipment, systems, construction and installation works, representing fixed assets included in the List of eligible categories of assets, as well as costs for consulting services for introduction and certification of energy management systems in enterprises according to the requirements of standard BDS EN ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems) / EN ISO 50001.

The submission of the project proposal is done entirely electronically by filling in a simplified web-based application form and submitting the form and accompanying documents through the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Structural Instruments in Bulgaria (UMIS 2020) only using a valid Qualified electronic signature (QES), through the E-application module at the following Internet address: https://eumis2020.government.bg.

IMPORTANT: The starting date from which project proposals can be submitted is 10:00 on 03.05.2022.

The procedure has a deadline for submitting project proposals 16:30 on 23.05.2022.

Applicants may ask additional questions and request clarifications regarding the Conditions for application up to 14 (fourteen) days before the deadline for submission of project proposals. Additional questions can be asked in UMIS 2020 through the Electronic Application module, procedure BG16RFOP002-6.002 Recovering SMEs by improving energy efficiency.

The answers to the candidates' questions are published in UMIS 2020 and on the website of the Managing Authority (www.opic.bg) within 7 days of receiving them. Clarifications are given regarding the Conditions for application, which cannot contain an opinion on the quality of the project proposal and are mandatory for all applicants. No answers to questions asked by phone will be provided. Individual answers to questions asked by candidates in the procedure will not be sent.

The full package of documents on the procedure (Conditions for application, Conditions for implementation and annexes to them) is published in UMIS 2020: https://eumis2020.government.bg, on the website of the operational program: www.opic.bg, as well as on The single information portal for general information on the management of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund of the European Union in the Republic of Bulgaria: www.eufunds.bg.

For more information and assistance in connection with project proposals you can contact the Consultancy Center - Berkovitsa.