SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Uzbekistan: Irrigation Water Conservation Demonstration Project
- Notice Date
- 7/18/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, TDA, ATTN: Irrigation Water Conservation Demonstration Project--Uzbekistan, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA, 22209-2131
- ZIP Code
- 22209-2131
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-0280038A
- Response Due
- 8/15/2002
- Point of Contact
- Evangela Kunene, Procument Data Manager, Phone 703-875-4357, Fax 703-875-4009,
- E-Mail Address
-
ekunene@tda.gov
- Description
- In Uzbekistan, agriculture is an economic mainstay that accounts for 30% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Cotton, the predominant agricultural product, is cultivated in western Uzbekistan. Due to the arid climate that prevails in western Uzbekistan, irrigation plays a key role in its economy. Uzbekistan draws its irrigation water from the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, the two common sources of water for the five countries of Central Asia. Despite the importance of irrigation and drainage systems to the population of Uzbekistan, there has been a minimum investment in their operation and maintenance (O&M) over the last ten years. As a result, there is an imminent threat of a total breakdown of the irrigation infrastructure. In addition, high rates of water losses are documented for all components of the irrigation systems, including the lack of drainage channels for the recovery of unused water. In response to the unsustainable level of water losses from its current irrigation system, aging and obsolescence of water pumping equipment, and uncharacteristic hydro-meteorological conditions, the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources (MAWR) is embarking on an effort to improve the operational conditions of its irrigation and water conveyance system, including improving efficiency of irrigation techniques. According to the Irrigation and Drainage Sector Strategy Study prepared for the MAWR and the World Bank, current levels of water use for irrigation are at least 40% higher than other major irrigation countries in the vicinity, such as Pakistan and India, which, recommend investigating the feasibility of introducing irrigation water saving techniques such as drip and spray irrigation. These irrigation techniques can serve to reduce soil and salinity and reduce pumping costs. The introduction of non-traditional irrigation water savings techniques is a national priority, as it would be effective to promote the reduction of water losses on the order of 20%. In addition, the water conservation demonstration project would provide ample opportunity for the introduction of irrigation water saving technologies manufactured in the U.S. that are currently not an option in Uzbekistan. The Feasibility Study aims at the assessment of the irrigation infrastructure needed to optimize the cost-effectiveness of plausible irrigation methods applicable to the different crops grown in Uzbekistan. The core of the assignment involves the selection of the optimal irrigation method for the goals and objectives of irrigated agricultural development. As part of the Feasibility Study, the contractor would prepare the technical specifications and bid documents for the implementation phase of the project. The Feasibility Study would assess the technical, environmental, financial, and economic feasibility of the project. The Feasibility Study would generate the specific technical information to meet the loan requirements of the Government of Uzbekistan. The U.S. firm selected to conduct this feasibility study will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $148,000 grant to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP) is 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 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources c/o TDA by 4:00 P.M., August 15, 2002, 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 Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals.
- Record
- SN00120735-W 20020720/020718214429 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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