SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Croatia - Meteorological and Hydrological Service Modernization Project
- Notice Date
- 7/9/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, C/O US TDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA, 22209-3901, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-0781017A
- Response Due
- 9/10/2007
- Archive Date
- 9/25/2007
- Description
- POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009, Email: <a href="mailto: ekunene@ustda.gov">ekunene@ustda.gov</a> Please do not contact contracts office. <u>Proposal Submission Place:</u> Mr. Nino Radetic; Technical Director; Meteorological and Hydrological Service; Republic of Croatia; Gric 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Phone: +385-1-45-65-784; Fax: +385-1-48-51-901; E-mail: <a href="mailto: radetic@cirus.dhz.hr">radetic@cirus.dhz.hr</a> <u>Meteorological and Hydrological Service Modernization Project.</u> The Grantee, the Meteorological and Hydrological Service of the Republic of Croatia (MHS), 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 meteorological and hydrological service modernization feasibility study in Croatia. As a consequence of spacious mountainous areas with high precipitation and the presence of a wide valley of lowland watercourses, over 15% of Croatia's inland territory is subject to frequent flooding. The low-lying part of Zagreb area, the Croatian capital, is occasionally flooded by the Sava River, while the upper portion of the city is hit by flash floods originating in storm torrents from the Medvednica Mountains. Split, Rijeka, ?ibenik and Dubrovnik are also subject to frequent flash floods. As a result of these conditions, the MHS of the Republic of Croatia was given the responsibility of developing a comprehensive plan for the modernization of the national meteorological and hydrological observational networks and for modernization of other weather, water and environmental monitoring and forecasting infrastructure. In an effort to protect its citizens and tourism-reliant economy, the MHS is looking to develop meteorological and hydrological monitoring capability to forecast and react appropriately to impending weather conditions. The establishment of an effective national system for forecasting environmental crises and the ability to respond to those crises are major concerns for any country as it tries to guarantee national security and stability. Adverse weather, flooding activity and environmental problems cost the Croatian economy around $218 million annually, severely impacting the quality of life of its citizens and economic development. The impact of flooding in recent years illustrates the need for modernizing Croatia's environmental monitoring and forecast capabilities, including improved sensing systems and reliable high-speed data communications infrastructure. Accurate weather and flood forecasting is especially important for Croatia because of its strategic location on the Balkan Peninsula and its extended coastline on the Adriatic Sea, which is well known for the rapid onset of very dangerous weather conditions, and the mountainous terrain which exacerbates flooding conditions. As a result of the lack of appropriate operational monitoring, warning and forecasting systems, weather conditions continue to cause destruction and disrupt the economy. The MHS's mission is to produce and provide meteorological and hydrological information, particularly the environmental forecasting services and warnings necessary to: (1) ensure the safety of its citizens; (2) permit the efficient operations of the nation's commerce; (3) preserve the nation's natural resources; and (4) permit the efficient operations of rescue, protection and civil defense. The MHS is tasked with developing a comprehensive plan to modernize the national meteorological and hydrological observational networks and to modernize other weather, water and environmental monitoring and forecasting infrastructure. In 2005 MHS had a budget of roughly ?10 million and employed over 400 people. Recognizing the deficiencies of the current system, the MHS has taken steps towards upgrading its meteorological and hydrological infrastructure by liaising with the National Electricity Company for the establishment of lightning monitoring system. The installation of a network of additional air quality observation (about 10 new stations), as well as upgrading and filling the gaps of hydrological network, are currently being considered. The MHS believes the most immediate benefits can be gained by implementing an integrated network of hydrological and meteorological systems consisting of a: warning system; environmental monitoring system; Doppler weather radar network; lightning location network; upper air sounding network; surface hydrological and meteorological observation network; and associated analysis and forecasting systems. Together, these systems would form an integrated Croatian National Monitoring, Nowcasting and Forecasting system which, in conjunction with Croatian information and communication systems, could provide timely alerts and warnings to the government, industry and the general population. Such a system would allow the MHS to better support its sister meteorological and hydrological agencies in the region and allow Croatian emergency personnel to anticipate and respond to weather-related events. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the study would analyze the modernization and expansion requirements of the capabilities of Meteorological and Hydrological Service of the Republic of Croatia. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $495,760 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the TOR, and a background definitional mission report are available from USTDA, at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901. To request the RFP in PDF format, please go to: <a href=https://www.ustda.gov/USTDA/FedBizOpps/RFP/rfpform.asp>https://www.ustda.gov/USTDA/FedBizOpps/RFP/rfpform.asp</a> . Requests for a mailed hardcopy version of the RFP may also be faxed to the IRC, USTDA 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 USTDA 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 USTDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to USTDA 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, USTDA 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 mail room before calling USTDA. Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this USTDA financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors and employees of all participants must qualify under USTDA's nationality requirements as of the due date for submission of qualifications and proposals and, if selected to carry out the USTDA-financed activity, must continue to meet such requirements throughout the duration of the USTDA-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 USTDA grant amount. Details of USTDA'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 <u>4:00 P.M. Local Time</u>, <u>September 10, 2007</u> 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
- SN01337599-W 20070711/070709221831 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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