Link to the National Chamber of Architects and/or Professional Associations:https://komarch.sk

Link to the Competition and Procurement Platforms:https://komarch.sk/sutaze

Link to the main ADCs Regulations:
Legislatíva

Short description of the legal framework based on Study 0:
Architectural design competition (ADC) is a legal public procurement procedure whose main legal framework is set by Act No. 343/2015 on public procurement, Section 4. Specific provisions regarding the ADC are further defined by Decree No. 157/2016, laying down details on the types of design competitions in the field of architecture, spatial planning or civil engineering, on the ADC’s further conditions and on the work of the jury.

At the request of the ADC organizer, the Slovak Chamber of Architects may further inspect the ADC by adjusting the brief and its conditions in accordance with the Chamber’s Competition Regulations “”Súťažný poriadok Slovenskej komory architektov”” (SP SKA). The ADC that complies with the SP SKA is “verified”. A specific number of verification is issued for the ADC and must be entered into the final brief. Although this process is not legally required, it is preferred by the organizing entities as well as architects and expert juries. This procedure is a tool to ensure a fair and transparent ADC process for all parties involved. The Chamber also recommends its members participate only in verified competitions.

Definition of Architectural Competition:
Architectural design competition is a process by which either a public or a private entity seeks to obtain architectural services and the best possible design for their future development. The ADC organizer is offered a selection of several submitted design proposals and therefore ADC enables to obtain the highest quality solution the architectural community is able to offer at a given time and place. According to the type of future proposal, ADCs can be architectural, urban-planning, landscape, artistic, structural engineering, or a combination thereof.

Professional Qualification Criteria:
Requirements to (fully) practise the profession:

• Academic degree: Masters or Engineer in Architecture, Urban Planning or Landscape Architecture
• Practical experience of minimum 3 years (after the completion of the academic degree; the experience must be under the supervision of an authorized registered architect)
• Successful completion of the professional exam
• Membership in the Slovak Chamber of Architects or its equivalent within the EU
• Professional liability insurance

Usually, the ADCs require professional authorization of one member of a competition team. Alongside it a participant can be only an entity that meets participation terms referring to a personal status as specified in Article 32, par. (1) of the Procurement Act and is authorized to provide services that are required by a special regulations for performance of activities to which the participant is to be undertaken in submitting the contract and the content of which depends on the nature of the assignment and the solution offered by the participant in their design.

All mandatory or recommended requirements for participation in the ADC are always stated in the ADC’s brief or terms and conditions. Participants shall declare that the prerequisite for participation is met by submission of a signed affirmation document which is submitted alongside the design proposal. The verification of professional qualification and compliance with the requirements of the ADC is carried out prior to the signing of the contract.

For the negotiation process following an ADC, additional suitability criteria are usually required. In particular, personal status within the meaning of the Procurement Act needs to be proven (in principle, confirmation of professional qualification and of good repute; compliance with tax obligations; liability insurance; etc.)

Other useful links:https://www.archinfo.sk/sutaze