B -- YEMEN: TRANSMISSION UPGRADE AND EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY

Notice Date

April 9, 2001

Contracting Office

USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

May 9, 2001

Point of Contact

POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009

Description

The Grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the "Proposal") from interested U.S. firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a feasibility study for a proposed Ma'arib-Sana'a transmission line project in Yemen. In August 1999, Yemen's Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) commissioned an international firm to examine competing proposals submitted from several companies regarding building and operating a 400MW natural gas-fired power plant at Ma'arib, to address the country's growing power demands and take advantage of gas resources in central Yemen. The plant would be located near oil and gas fields operated by Yemen Hunt Oil Company, and could be commissioned as early as 2003. One of the primary requirements for implementing and financing the new IPP is the interconnection of the new power station in Ma'arib to the main load center in Sana'a by installing a 400kV transmission line, and reinforcing the grid system in other respects, including adding new high voltage capacity, to handle this major new generation capacity. The objectives for the required engineering and other feasibility services are to analyze the proposed 400kV transmission project between the new station site and Sana'a by carrying out a power system study and the subsequent services required to implement the project. The selected consultant will work with the MEW and the Public Electricity Corporation to: (a) Study required 400kV transmission line parameters and performance in terms of existing and proposed transmission system expansion, (b) Analyze transmission system expansion in order to meet the planned growth of the generation system, (c) Identify the existing 132kV substations and lines that should be upgraded to 400kV voltage level, (d) Define the main parameters of the new 400kV line and substations in order to meet requirements of transmitting power from new power station, (e) Perform system stability, power flow and short circuit study in conjunction with the new power plant operating normally at baseload, and recommend necessary system upgrades, (f) Prepare cost estimates that include all necessary and expected items, and an economic and financial analysis that includes identifying the most likely financing strategy and viable alternatives for the project, (g) Prepare bidding documents (technical specifications) for the transmission line Sana'a-Ma'arib and substations, and for all the upgrades required pursuant to the recommendations of the study. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $310,800 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background terms of reference report are available from TDA, at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131. Requests for the RFP should be faxed to the IRC, TDA at 703-875-4009. In the fax, please include your firm's name, contact person, address, and telephone number. Some firms have found that RFP materials sent by U.S. mail do not reach them in time for preparation of an adequate response. Firms that want TDA to use an overnight delivery service should include the name of the delivery service and your firm's account number in the request for the RFP. Firms that want to send a courier to TDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to TDA before scheduling a pick-up. Please note that no telephone requests for the RFP will be honored. Please check your internal fax verification receipt. Because of the large number of RFP requests, TDA cannot respond to requests for fax verification. Requests for RFPs received before 4:00 PM will be mailed the same day. Requests received after 4:00 PM will be mailed the following day. Please check with your courier and/or mailroom before calling TDA. Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this TDA financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors and employees of all participants must qualify under TDA's nationality requirements as of the due date for submission of qualifications and proposals and, if selected to carry out the TDA-financed activity, must continue to meet such requirements throughout the duration of the TDA-financed activity. All goods and services to be provided by the selected firm shall have their nationality, source and origin in the U.S. or host country. The U.S. firm may use subcontractors from the host country for up to 20 percent of the TDA grant amount. Details of TDA's nationality requirements and mandatory contract clauses are also included in the RFP. Interested U.S. firms should submit their Proposal in English directly to the Grantee by 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at the above address. Evaluation criteria for the Proposal are included in the RFP. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection, and therefore, cost proposals should NOT be submitted. The Grantee reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The Grantee also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The Grantee is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals. *****

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010411/BSOL005.HTM (W-099 SN50I6Z5)