The Complaint – the next chapter in the year of attempted Library restoration

The procurement procedure to find a company that would carry out the complete restoration of the National Library of Kosovo started a year ago. Two cancellations, one complaint and one re-evaluation were the chapters so far. Meanwhile, the new complaint to the Public Procurement Review Body opens a new chapter. At the end of July, the procedure was canceled for the second time with the justification that after evaluating the bid, the commission found that the economic operator did not meet the technical and professional capacity requirement.

This month marks one year since the Ministry of Culture launched the procedures to find a company that would carry out the restoration of the National Library of Kosovo with an estimated value of 22 million euros. But the procurement procedures are still ongoing. Cancellation of the procedure, appeal to the Public Procurement Review Body, reassessment and second cancellation were the chapters so far. The story continues with the new appeal of the group of economic operators. 

The group of companies “Limitproject SH.PK”, “Rinesa SH.PK”, “Delta - CCD SH.PK” and “Alping SH.PK” that have competed together to realize the project for 21 million 956 thousand 811 euros, now claim that the Ministry of Culture has not implemented the decision of the PRB regarding the experience of the company and also that the list of completed works was accepted with the decision for return for reconsideration by the Contracting Authority itself. The library is a monument that is on the List of cultural heritage under permanent protection.

At the end of July, the procedure was canceled for the second time on the grounds that after evaluating the bid, the commission found that the economic operator did not meet the technical and professional capacity requirement. It was required that in the last three years the group of bidders have carried out architectural and engineering work for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage assets in the amount of at least 5 million euros. It was also required that they meet the condition of construction or renovation of public buildings in the amount of 10 million euros.

"The economic operator must submit a list (also accepted in table form) of completed works, projects, which must also be signed and stamped, including the date of completion, the type of work involved, (contracting authority), the authority that has accepted the work when the latter is a contracting authority according to the LPP, the financial amount of the contract. The list of completed projects must be supported by photos, graphic presentation or other form of clear evidence of the implementation of the project", the justification reads. It is also required that the leading company of the group fulfill at least 60 percent of this requirement.

"The Group of Economic Operators does not meet this requirement, because the evidence provided does not reach the financial value as requested by the contracting authority," it is written, among other things, in the justification. According to the reasoning of the Ministry of Culture, for each member of the group of economic operators, the financial value of similar projects has not managed to meet the financial value of 5 million euros. Evidence has been provided for 4 million and 925 thousand euros. While the request of 10 million turns out to have been proven with only 6 million and 651 thousand euros.

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In April of this year, the Ministry of Culture had canceled this procurement process for the first time. Among other things, with the justification it has now given for the second cancellation. But the companies had turned to the PRB. And this body sent it back for re-evaluation.

“The complaint of EO LIMITPROJECT SH.PK with no. 2026/0240, dated 15/04/2026, regarding the procurement activity 'Work for the implementation of the detailed project [main implementer], of architecture and engineering, for the conservation and restoration of the National Library of Kosovo, in Pristina, in the Republic of Kosovo, with procurement number 207-25-7189-5-1-1' is approved as grounded”, it was written in the first point of the PRB's decision. In the next point, the Public Procurement Review Body had annulled the notification of the decision of the Ministry of Culture through which the entire procurement procedure was annulled.

"Within 10 days, the CA must inform the PRB of all actions taken regarding this procurement activity; otherwise, the PRB has the right to take measures against the CA for non-compliance with the decision as provided for in the provisions of Article 131 of the LPP," it was written in the third point of the decision.

All of the findings of the MCYS were opposed by "Limitproject LLC" and the PRB decided to grant this economic operator the right.

"The Review Panel, after reviewing all facts and arguments, has concluded that the Contracting Authority during the development of this procurement activity has not respected the legal provisions of the LPP, therefore it orders the CA to fully comply with the legal provisions of the LPP during the re-evaluation of this procurement activity," the decision read.

In April, the director of the National Library of Kosovo, Blerina Rogova-Gaxha, said that the tender had been cancelled because the consortium of economic operators, as the only applicant in the tender, did not meet the selection criteria, criteria announced in the public tender dossier by the Ministry.

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"The intervention is necessary, however, given the complexity of the object and its status as cultural heritage under permanent protection, the conservation and renovation process requires a careful, responsible approach based on the highest professional standards, with the aim of preserving the authenticity and identity of the building," she said.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Library of Kosovo, academic Bardh Rugova, had said that it is not necessary to do anything quickly.

"Some of today's problems are a consequence of what was done quickly and quickly at the beginning. However, we hope that the work will be completed as successfully as possible," Rugova had said.

The building of the National Library of Kosovo, designed by the Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjaković, has been in operation since 1982. On 26 May 1982, the National Library of Kosovo began work in the then new building, symbolizing it with academician Esad Mekuli as the first reader. The solemn inauguration of this facility took place on 25 November 1982, on Library Day.

The library is built in a four-story structure, with a total area of ​​16,500 square meters, of which 13,500 square meters are usable areas.

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"The building is characterized by a composition of domes wrapped in a steel skeletal membrane, which in combination with zenithal lighting through the domes provides abundant lighting and protection from excessive insulation. This structure is designed to provide optimal conditions for the storage and access to the library's large holdings," the institution's website states.

Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjaković, in November 2024, was present at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the KCB. In a presentation and conversation with architecture students at the Modelarium of the Faculty of Architecture, academician Mutnjaković said that he has worked on all projects with the human being in mind.