We would like to inform you that in 2014, the Government of Georgia and the Government of the United States of America signed an agreement on the "transfer of costs and responsibilities related to the provision of a Unified Laboratory System for Highly Dangerous Pathogens, Epidemiological Surveillance and Response, and the Richard Lugar Public Health Research Center in Georgia." The plan was approved by the Parliament, as well as by Resolution of the Government of Georgia No. 446 dated March 15, 2016 (developed in cooperation with the US Government /DTRA and representatives of Georgia).

Based on the above, a decree of the Government of Georgia was issued to simplify procurement, and in 2016, the L. Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health signed a plan for 2017-2019, necessary for the operation of the Lugar Center. An agreement for the purchase of operation and maintenance services, the service life of which expires on December 31 of the current year.
To continue and fulfill this commitment, the Center began procurement procedures for the purchase of services for 2020-2022, in particular, it received approval from the Ministry of Finance of Georgia for multi-year purchases, submitted an application to the State Procurement Agency. In particular, the adjusted maintenance period was set at 2 years instead of 3 years).
After uploading the application, the Procurement Agency contacted us with the following instructions, in particular, in the case of high amounts indicated by the Prime Minister, the prior consent of the Deputy Prime Minister-supervisor (presumably Ms. M. Tskitishvili) is required, in which case the Procurement Agency will be able to make an official decision.
Since the Public Law Legal Adviser cannot personally contact the State Chancellery and the Deputy Prime Minister, this question was sent to Ms. Tamar Gabunia for approval during my business trip. Movement to the State Chancellery and the Deputy Prime Minister.
In view of the above, we ask for your help so that the center can complete the procurement procedures in a timely manner and not jeopardize the proper functioning of the Lugar Center.
We are ready for additional oral explanations if necessary.

Also, please support the following two issues:

• On September 3, 2019, in the approved budget plan "Disease Control and Epidemiological Safety Programs" (program code 27 01 03), in particular, among the elements of the economic classification, in the article on the increase of non-financial assets due to goods and services in article 18.4 thousand. The Lari Center has sent a Letter No. 06/3219 to the Minister (for consent and an appeal to the Ministry of Finance of Georgia).
This change is necessary to purchase a very important medical precision thermomixer for Lugar Laboratory. Please request a change to this plan with your consent.

• LEPL - L. In September 2016, the Sakvarelidze Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed a five-year (09/30 / 2016-09 / 29/2020 ) the mutual program: "Global Public Health Protection and Improvement: impact on the formation and strengthening of public health", which includes various research projects, This includes a training program on field epidemiology in the South Caucasus.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has two employees working through the Center through the Center (Levan Gabelaya has been the project coordinator since April 1, 2017 and Vepkhvia Eliashvili has been the driver since March 15, 2017). The employment contract with them was renewed annually, twice a year, at the beginning of the calendar year ("On determining the number of persons working under an employment contract" according to the relevant annual resolution of the Government of Georgia) until August 31 and subsequently, from September 1 (beginning of December of the fiscal year). This includes the fact that the budget/fiscal year of this donor organization (CDC), as well as other US organizations, is determined by the period September-August.
Please give your consent to the extension of employment contracts with employees until the end of 2019.

With respect,

Amiran