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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To provide financial support through cost refunds for development services (training and consulting) aimed at enhancing the competencies and qualifications of staff within organizations that offer such services.
Target recipient type: Entities registered in the Baza Usług Rozwojowych (Podmiot BUR) and individuals operating sole proprietorships who provide services through Podmiot BURs (Podmiot współpracujący).
Target recipient size: All sizes, including SME (Micro, Small, Medium) and ENTERPRISE (Large), with micro and small enterprises receiving preferential points.
SECTOR-SPECIFIC/SECTOR-AGNOSTIC: SECTOR-SPECIFIC (specifically targets providers of 'Usługi rozwojowe' / development services, for the purpose of improving their staff's or owner's training, consulting, mentoring, or coaching skills, or new competencies related to their services).
Geographic scope: PL (entire Poland).
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Must be a Polish entity or sole proprietor involved in providing development services, seeking to upskill their personnel in relevant areas. Must not have received prior support from this specific call.
Grant frequency: Recurring, with multiple application rounds until June 2026.
Program context: This project is part of the broader 'Fundusze Europejskie dla Rozwoju Społecznego 2021-2027' (European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027) program, under Priority I 'Skills', Action 01.03 'Workforce for a Modern Economy'.

Financial Structure

Maximum eligible cost per participant: The maximum gross cost of 'Usługi rozwojowe' (development services) per project participant (Uczestnik/Uczestniczka Projektu) that can serve as the basis for calculating the refund is 28,000.00 PLN.
Funding Rates (Refunds):
- 80% of the gross cost of the development service when the service focuses on developing or acquiring trainer, consultant, mentor, or coaching skills, aligning with specific thematic areas outlined in Załącznik nr 11 of the Regulations.
- 50% of the gross cost of the development service when the service focuses on developing or acquiring new competencies or qualifications related to the thematic scope of development services currently provided or planned for provision in BUR.
Wkład własny (Own Contribution): The difference between the total gross cost of the service and the granted refund amount constitutes the applicant's own contribution.
- 20% of the gross service costs for services with an 80% refund rate.
- 50% of the gross service costs for services with a 50% refund rate.
- This own contribution must not be sourced from public funds, including preferential loans, interest subsidies, guarantees, or funds from EU structural funds or the Cohesion Fund.
Eligible Costs: Expenditures directly related to the 'Usługa rozwojowa'. The gross amount of the expenditure, including VAT (Value Added Tax), is considered eligible for refund, irrespective of whether the VAT is recoverable under national tax laws.
Ineligible Costs: Expenditures incurred for development services completed or purchased before the support agreement is signed with the Beneficiary. Also, costs related to fixed assets transferred to the applicant or participants are ineligible. Services delivered via e-learning or as postgraduate studies are explicitly excluded.
Payment Mechanism: The applicant must first cover 100% of the cost of the 'Usługa rozwojowa' using their own funds. Upon completion of the service and submission of a successful refund application, the Beneficiary will issue a refund for the eligible portion. The refund will be transferred to the bank account from which the initial payment was made.
Budget Adjustment: If the actual cost of the development service exceeds the amount specified in the approved application, the applicant is responsible for covering the excess amount, and the refund will not be increased. If the actual cost is lower than the approved amount, the refund will be proportionally reduced. Any difference arising from costs exceeding the approved amount will not be considered for refund calculation.
Aid Type: All support provided under this project is granted as 'de minimis aid'. The total de minimis aid received is equivalent to the cumulative refund amount.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organization Types

Podmiot BUR: Any entity that holds an active registration in the Baza Usług Rozwojowych (BUR) and is authorized to publish development services that are eligible for public co-financing.
Podmiot współpracujący (Cooperating Entity): An individual who operates a sole proprietorship and:
- Directly provides 'Usługi rozwojowe' (development services) via the BUR system, based on an agreement with a 'Podmiot BUR'.
- Has personally completed a minimum of 5 development services for the same 'Podmiot BUR' within the last 3 years prior to submitting their application.
- Issues accounting documents (excluding accounting notes) for these services.
Note: If a 'Podmiot współpracujący' also holds an entry in the BUR, they will be considered and treated as a 'Podmiot BUR' for the purpose of this grant.

Eligible Participants for Training

The owner of a 'Podmiot współpracujący'.
An employee ('Pracownik/Pracownica Podmiotu BUR') of a 'Podmiot BUR' who has been employed for a minimum of 3 months prior to the application submission date and maintains this employment status throughout their participation in the project.
The term 'Pracownik' (employee) is defined according to Article 3, Section 3 of the PARP Act and includes:
- Individuals employed under a labor contract (as per the Labor Code), including temporary workers.
- Individuals performing work under an agency contract, a mandate contract, or a contract for specific work, only if such a contract is with their direct employer or if they perform work for their employer under that contract.
- Owners who perform managerial functions (i.e., involved in making economic, human resources, or other practical decisions for the entity).
- Partners who actively conduct regular business activities within the enterprise and derive financial benefits from it.

Exclusion Criteria

Entities that have previously received support for staff competency development from any other beneficiary under the same overarching call (FERS.01.03-IP.09-002/24) or in a prior round of this specific project.
Entities that are currently serving as a service provider ('Wykonawca Usług rozwojowych') for other applicants within the same overarching call (FERS.01.03-IP.09-002/24).
Entities or individuals who are directly or indirectly connected, either personally or financially, with the Beneficiary (CERTES Sp. z o.o.) or any Project Partner.
Entities that intend to purchase a development service from a provider who is personally or financially related to them.
'Podmiot BUR' entities whose BUR entry is suspended or blocked, preventing them from publishing development services.
Entities that function as an operator or a partner of a Subjective Financing System in any Regional Program for the 2021-2027 financial perspective or within the Fundusze Europejskie dla Rozwoju Społecznego (FERS) 2021-2027 program.
Entities that do not meet the eligibility conditions for 'de minimis aid', including those who have exceeded the maximum de minimis aid limit (300,000 EUR over three years) or operate in sectors excluded from de minimis aid (e.g., primary production of fishery/aquaculture products, certain agricultural sectors, export-related activities, or aid contingent on the use of domestic products).
Entities or individuals directly or indirectly supporting military actions of the Russian Federation or listed on relevant sanctions lists.

Application Process

Application Process Timeline

Recruitment Rounds: Applications are accepted in specific rounds. The latest application window is:
- Nabór VII: from 2026-06-29 9:00 to 2026-06-30 12:00.
Submission Adherence: Applications must be submitted strictly within the specified dates and times of the active recruitment round.
Submission Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation once your application is successfully submitted.
Correction/Supplementation Period: If your application requires corrections or additional documents, you may be requested to provide them within 7 working days. Failure to meet this deadline will result in your application's rejection for the current round, though you retain the option to reapply in subsequent rounds.
Application Verification: Submitted applications, along with all required documentation, will be verified within 7 working days of their submission.
Premium Criteria Verification: Verification of criteria qualifying for premium points will also be completed within 7 working days.
Result Notification: You will be informed of your application's verification outcome via email.
Agreement Signing: A positive verification result will lead to the signing of a support agreement between you and the Beneficiary.

Required Documentation and Submission Materials

Mandatory Forms (Templates Provided as Attachments):
- 'Wniosek o udzielenie wsparcia' (Application for Support) - Zał 1.
- 'Indywidualny Plan Rozwoju' (Individual Development Plan) - Zał 2 (one for each project participant).
- 'Karta Usługi rozwojowej' (Development Service Card) - Zał 3 (one for each development service).
- 'Formularz zgłoszeniowy Uczestnika/Uczestniczki' (Participant Application Form) - Zał 4.
- 'Oświadczenie o braku powiązań z Beneficjentem i Wykonawcą' (Declaration of no ties with Beneficiary and Provider) - Zał 5.
- 'Formularz informacji przedstawianych przy ubieganiu się o pomoc de minimis' (De minimis aid information form) - Zał 6.
- 'Oświadczenie dotyczące otrzymanej pomocy de minimis' (Declaration on received de minimis aid) - Zał 7.
- 'Oświadczenie dotyczące zakazu w związku z agresją Rosji na Ukrainę' (Declaration regarding ban due to Russian aggression) - Zał 8.
Applicant's Own Documents (Required for Submission):
- Copies of offers, screenshots from price lists on websites, or other documents that verify the market research conducted for the proposed development services.
- For 'Podmiot BUR' applicants: Employment contract (electronic or certified copy) or an employment certificate for each participant employed by your entity, proving employment for at least 3 months prior to the application date. Additionally, ZUS RCA documentation for the last 3 months concerning these participants.
- For 'Podmiot współpracujący' applicants: References, or alternatively, copies of contracts/invoices and 'Karty Usług rozwojowych' (Development Service Cards) from BUR, confirming the scope of cooperation with a 'Podmiot BUR' (specifically, personal execution of at least 5 development services for the same 'Podmiot BUR' within the last 3 years).
- A power of attorney, if an authorized representative is acting on behalf of the applicant.
Submission Format: All required documents must be either completed electronically or uploaded as electronic attachments. If original documents require a handwritten signature, a scan of the signed document should be uploaded. Documents can also be signed with a qualified electronic signature.
Submission Platform: All applications and supporting documents must be submitted exclusively through the dedicated IT System accessible at https://ewnioski.certes.pl.

Project Implementation Timeline (Post-Award)

Start of First Service: The first approved development service must commence within 3 months from the date of signing the support agreement.
Start of Subsequent Services: Any additional approved services must commence within 6 months from the date of signing the support agreement.
Overall Service Completion: The entire realization of development services cannot extend beyond 12 months from the date the support agreement is signed. Extensions are possible only in exceptional cases and require explicit consent from the Beneficiary.

Reporting Obligations (Post-Award)

Service Location Notification: For stationary or mixed-mode services, you must notify the Beneficiary of the service location (address) at least 7 days before the start date. For remote services, the access link must be provided at least 24 hours before the start date. For mixed services, both notifications apply.
Participant Attendance & Verification: Participants are required to attend a minimum of 80% of the service duration and must undergo verification of learning outcomes as stipulated in the 'Karta Usługi rozwojowej'. Failure to meet these requirements may lead to refusal of refund for that service.
Documentation for Refund Application: To receive a refund, you must submit:
- The 'Wniosek o refundację' (Refund Application) - Zał 10.
- The original invoice/receipt for the service, issued by the provider to your entity.
- Proof of payment for the service (e.g., bank transfer confirmation for 100% of the invoice amount).
- A certificate or other document confirming completion of the service by the participant. This document must specify the service title, date, duration in hours, acquired competencies/qualifications, participant's and applicant's details, and, if applicable, the qualification code from the Integrated Qualifications Register (Zintegrowany Rejestr Kwalifikacji).
- Attendance lists (for stationary/mixed services) signed by both participants and the trainer/consultant, or login reports (for remote/mixed services) for the entire service duration.
- Documentation proving the participant's submission to the learning outcome verification process (e.g., a certificate from the provider, an attendance list for verification, or login reports from the verification module).
- For consulting services, a consulting report or analysis ('produkt doradztwa') must be provided.
Refund Application Deadline: The refund application, along with all supporting documents, must be submitted within a maximum of 30 days from the completion date of the development service.
Post-Project Participant Monitoring: You are obligated to provide information regarding the employment status of project participants for up to 4 weeks after their participation in the project concludes (e.g., an updated ZUS RCA form).

Evaluation Criteria

Application and Eligibility Assessment

Merit-based evaluation: A thorough assessment of the recruitment documents submitted by potential support recipients, including the application form and declarations regarding de minimis aid.
Eligibility verification: Confirms that the support recipient ('Odbiorca wsparcia') meets specific qualification criteria, including:
- Possessing a valid BUR entry that allows for the publication of services eligible for public co-financing.
- For 'Podmiot współpracujący', verification of a minimum of 5 development services provided within BUR for the same 'Podmiot BUR' prior to application.
- Confirmation that the 'Podmiot współpracujący' actively provided services to a BUR-registered entity within the last 3 years before application submission.
- Verification for any circumstances or grounds for exclusion from receiving EU funds, particularly regarding sanctions against entities/individuals supporting the Russian Federation's war efforts.
- Verification of capital or personal ties to ensure the service provider ('Wykonawca Usług rozwojowych') is not associated with the support recipient or the Beneficiary.
- Confirmation that the service provider is not also a support recipient within the same overall call.
- Verification that the service provider does not act as an operator or partner of a Subjective Financing System in any Regional Program (2021-2027) or the FERS 2021-2027 program.
- Confirmation that the 'Podmiot BUR' is not subject to a change in its BUR entry (e.g., blocked or suspended from publishing services).
- Cross-referencing lists of support recipients and service providers (from PARP) to ensure no conflicts of interest where a support recipient is also a service provider for others in the same call.

Premium Points (for competitive advantage)

Self-employed, Micro or Small Enterprise status: +10 points. Verification based on declarations, public KRS/CEIDG data, and business intelligence reports.
Delegating a minimum of 1 person with a disability: +5 points. Verified through an employment certificate and a disability certificate or health opinion issued by a doctor.
Delegating a minimum of 60% women to the project: +5 points.

Tie-Breaking Criteria

In case of a tie in points, priority is given to 'Podmiot BUR'/'Podmiot współpracujący' that have not utilized public support for development services for themselves or their employees within the last 12 months.
If a tie persists, the application submission order ('kolejność zgłoszeń') will serve as the final tie-breaker.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

De minimis aid regulations: The support is granted as 'de minimis aid' and is subject to Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831. This includes adherence to the maximum aid ceiling of 300,000 EUR over a three-year period (for the enterprise and any related entities). Certain sectors are excluded from receiving de minimis aid, such as primary production of fishery and aquaculture products, processing and marketing of these products under specific conditions, primary production of agricultural products, and processing/marketing of agricultural products where aid is based on price/quantity or passed on to primary producers. Aid directly linked to exports or conditioned on the use of domestic goods/services is also prohibited.
Anti-Russian Aggression Sanctions: Applicants must declare that they do not directly or indirectly support the Russian Federation's war efforts and are not listed on any relevant sanctions lists.
Public Funds Exclusion: Applicants must not be legally excluded from accessing public funds (e.g., due to a court ruling against a collective entity).
BUR Status: 'Podmiot BUR' entities must maintain an active and valid registration in the Baza Usług Rozwojowych (BUR) that permits the publication of publicly co-financed development services throughout the project's duration. Entities with suspended or blocked BUR entries are ineligible.

Relationship and Conflict of Interest Rules

Prohibition of Ties: Applicants are prohibited from having personal or financial ties with the Beneficiary, any Project Partner, or the chosen service provider ('Wykonawca Usług rozwojowych'). This includes, but is not limited to:
- Participation as a partner in a civil or personal company.
- Ownership of 10% or more of shares or stock.
- Holding supervisory, managerial, or proxy positions.
- Any legal or factual relationship (such as marriage, direct lineage kinship/affinity, collateral kinship/affinity up to the second degree, adoption, guardianship) that could raise doubts about impartiality.
No Dual Role: An applicant ('Podmiot BUR' or 'Podmiot współpracujący') cannot simultaneously function as a service provider for other recipients within the entire overarching call (FERS.01.03-IP.09-002/24).
Single Support Per Call: An entity is eligible to receive support only once under the entire FERS.01.03-IP.09-002/24 call, irrespective of the specific beneficiary.

Quality and Performance Standards

Market Research (Rozeznanie rynku): For each development service, applicants must conduct market research. This involves obtaining at least three offers or price lists from potential providers. If the service is unique or highly tailored, a single offer may suffice, provided there is robust justification. This research must be conducted no more than 3 months prior to the application submission, and the selected price must be rational, effective, and market-based.
Service Quality: The development services must be delivered consistently with the details outlined in the 'Karta Usługi rozwojowej' (Development Service Card) and must meet minimum quality standards, including verification of learning outcomes and provision of a completion certificate.
Provider Qualifications: The qualifications and experience of the service provider (trainer/consultant) must be appropriate for the subject matter of the service and must be thoroughly described in the 'Karta Usługi rozwojowej'.
Participant Engagement: Participants must attend a minimum of 80% of the service duration.
Learning Outcome Verification: Participants must undergo and adequately document the verification of their acquired learning outcomes.

Monitoring and Control

Cooperation with Audits: Applicants and their chosen service providers must agree to and facilitate monitoring visits (which can be on-site or remote) and controls carried out by the Beneficiary, the Intermediary Institution (Polska Agencja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości - PARP), or other authorized supervisory bodies. Failure to comply with monitoring or control requirements may lead to the refusal of refund for the associated service costs.
Record Keeping: All documentation pertinent to the received support, including support agreements, proofs of payment, and de minimis aid certificates, must be retained for a period of 10 years from the date the support was granted (i.e., the date the agreement was signed).

Data Protection and Privacy

GDPR Compliance: The collection and processing of personal data will adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and national data protection laws. Data is primarily used for project implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and financial management.
Voluntary Data Provision: While providing personal data is voluntary, it is a necessary condition for receiving support under the project.
Data Subject Rights: Individuals whose data is processed retain rights, including the right to access their data, request rectification, request erasure, restrict processing, data portability, and lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO).

Grant Details