United States Funding Support for Humanitarian Demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness and productivity of demining efforts funded by the United States in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the U.S. Department of State has decided to channel its funding in the future to those demining organizations that are capable of efficiently and effectively executing larger projects, or a greater number of smaller projects combined, than has been the case in the past.

As part of this initiative to conserve funds and increase the humanitarian benefits derived from U.S. support to Bosnia, the Department of State commissioned Quality Solutions International (QSI), an international humanitarian mine action firm, to conduct an independent assessment of demining organizations accredited by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BH MAC). The purpose of this assessment was to determine those organizations that have the management structure, personnel and equipment to perform demining tasks of the size and complexity that the United States has decided to fund in the future.

This assessment has been completed and the United States has decided to limit the pool of candidates for contracts/grants involving U.S. matching funds to those demining organizations that have been assessed as having the capabilities to safely and cost-effectively carry out projects of the magnitude and complexity that the U.S. will fund during the coming demining season. Those organizations are listed below:

• Anphibia
• CIDC
• BH Demining
• Demira
• Eksploring
• ELS
• Handicap International
• Intersos
• MDDC Konjic
• MECHEM
• MineWolf
• N&N Ivsa
• NPA
• Pro-Vita
• STOP Mines
• Tehnoelektro
• UEM
• UG ZOM
• UXB Balkans

The United States believes that the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center-accredited organizations that are not included on the list above are capable of demining to Bosnia and Herzegovina mine action standards, but do not have the capabilities desired to perform as prime contractors on U.S.-funded projects.  They are, however, capable of performing as sub-contractors.

All demining projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina are funded by the United States through the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF), a non governmental organization based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with local offices in Sarajevo and other mine-affected countries in the region. The Department of State has informed the ITF of its decision regarding the capabilities assessment and the United States' plans for demining in the future. The ITF will carry out the United States' instructions beginning with the first demining tender for Bosnia and Herzegovina involving U.S. funds which will be carried out in Sarajevo during April 18-20, 2007.

The Department of State will conduct another assessment in March 2008 to determine if any demining organizations should be added to or taken from the list of those considered credible and capable of competing for U.S. matching funds.