The U.S. Department of State (DoS) places a strong emphasis on transparency in its procurement processes to ensure fair competition and ethical practices. All contracting activities are guided by clearly defined regulations that uphold accountability and integrity. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) serves as the primary regulation for all executive agencies in acquiring supplies and services with appropriate funds.
For the fiscal year 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Skopje managed a procurement budget of $3.4 million, which was allocated through 1,640 procurement actions involving 389 different vendors. On a broader scale, the Department of State requested $67 billion for FY 2023, underscoring the extensive opportunities available for businesses to engage with United States Government contracts.
Registration with SAM.gov is mandatory for U.S. companies to receive government awards. Also, for companies from other countries, including North Macedonia, registration is required before being awarded contracts exceeding $30,000. However, it is strongly recommended that all local companies register with SAM.gov.
SAM.gov serves as a verified data bank of eligible companies and offers access to contract opportunities, solicitation data, contract award data, and assistance listings. This registration ensures that businesses are reliable and meet United States Government (USG) ethical standards, enabling them to receive USG awards and benefit from streamlined procedures.
Evaluation factors for source selection include delivery period, quality, technology, licenses or training, personnel, financial resources, past performance, and ethical record. The Technical Evaluation Panel assesses bids, and the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable criteria are used for selection.
The session was held on May 30, 2023, at AmCham’s premises.
If you need additional information about SAM.gov registration, please reach out to us for access to the brochures prepared by the U.S. Embassy. The brochure is available in Macedonian, Albanian, and English.