Dear Kim,

In order to prevent the spread of a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Georgia’s occupied territory, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia in the framework of the grant provided by the international organization is planning to purchase personal protection itemsand diagnosis tests (PCR-test; antibody quick test - IgM/IgG RDT). It should be noted that recently the epidemiological situation on the occupied territory of Abkhazia has worsenedwith dozens of new confirmed COVID-19 cases being reportedevery day.

The Ministry studied the capacities of the Georgian relevantinstitutions, the requirements of the procuring organizations and the material and technical data of the medical institutions operating on the occupied territory of Abkhazia.

The Ministry contacted the leading medical institutions and laboratories in Tbilisi who independently provide COVID-19testing process including LEPL “L. Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health”; “NEOLAB” Ltd.; “Aversi Clinic” Ltd.;   “National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease” (NCTBLD) and JSC “Research Center for Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology” in order to share their experiences and receive recommendations.

The Ministry studied the market of the test suppliers and contacted each of them: “Ermed Georgia” Ltd.; “Bio-Medi”Ltd.; “STD Company” Ltd.; “Primamedi” Ltd., “Irise” Ltd.;“KPI-Georgia” Ltd.; “EMD Group” Ltd.; “GN Invest” Ltd. and others. 

It should be noted that the prices of tests on the Georgian market are constantly changing and fluctuate with large intervals, for example: the price of an antibody quick test ranges from 1 to 6Georgian Lari (GEL) taking into account where it is produced and its authenticity.

Apart from that, the Ministry has constant telephone communication with the representatives of medical institutions, laboratories and sanitary epidemiological station operating on the occupied territory of Abkhazia.

As a result of such communication with the staff working there, the Ministry studied the technical capacities of these institutions and the types of testing systems used by them on the ground.Based on the received information, the Ministry identified the COVID-19 Real time PCR: Bio Red CFX 960 and Rotor-Gene 6000 analyzers used for PCR testing in Abkhazia. Therefore, the tests purchased by the Ministry should be matched with these analyzers. The detailed research and analysis of the market shows that most of the tests available on the Georgian market do not match with these analyzers.

In addition, the Ministry focuses on a high-quality, internationally certified, valid test systems compatible with theequipment used on the occupied territory of Abkhazia. The diversity of the market requires a thorough research and selection of the test systems due to the fact that the cheap tests available on the market are not reliable and can give falsepositive results.

Personal protection items will also be purchased under the grant. There are various offers and probably no difficulties should occur in the purchase process.

The Ministry has consulted with several agencies and organizations including the State Procurement Agency.Procurement under the grant will probably be in 2 phases taking into account the capacities of the suppliers:

During the first phase, the tests will be purchased for the amount of 134 951.25 Georgian Lari (GEL) in accordance with the amounts of money of positions 23, 24, and 25 that requires the adjustment (reduction) of the numbers of the same positions indicated in the grant program.

We are sending you the information we have obtained about the tests to be purchased under the tender (see the schedule).

Amount of money: 39 750 EUROS = 134 951.25 Georgian Lari (GEL)

During the second phase, personal protection items will be purchased without any changes.

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 Sincerely,