Mr. Angel Dimitrov, General Director, Bulgarian State Railways, 3 Ivan Vazov Str., 1080 Sofia, Bulgaria; Tel: 011-359-2-873045; Fax: 011-359-2-877151

C -- TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND MIS FEASIBILITY STUDY DUE 042895 POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) invites the submission of qualification and proposal data (collectively referred to as the ''Proposal'') from interested U.S. firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and performance to perform a telecommunications feasibility study for MIS needs. The objectives of the study are to evaluate BDZ's telecommunications system, hardware and software configuration requirements for a BDZ MIS (passenger traffic information system, freight traffic information system and financial management information system), make recommendations for training, and prepare feasibility report. Specific tasks will include the following: 1) Review BDZ's current telecommunications system and determine the need for improved data transmission. 2) Determine location and telecommunications hardware configuration for passenger traffic information system, freight traffic information system and financial management information system. 3) Determine location and telecommunications hardware configuration for traffic control system. 4) Recommend training for BDZ's telecommunications staff. 5) Estimate costs and benefits of recommended improvements and prepare financial projections. 6) Prepare final report. A Definitional Mission (DM) Report is available from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (''USTDA''), Room 309, SA-16, Washington, DC 20523-1602. Requests for the DM should be faxed to the IRC, USTDA (fax: (703) 875-4009). Please include: your name, company name, address, and telephone number. No telephone requests will be honored. If you would like the report sent to you via courier delivery service, include the name of the courier company and your firm's account number. The selected U.S. firm will be paid in U.S. dollars from a U.S. $128,000 grant to BDZ by USTDA. All goods and services to be provided by the selected firm and its subcontractors must have their nationality, source, and origin in the United States or Bulgaria. In no case shall goods or services having their nationality, source or origin in Bulgaria exceed twenty percent (20%) of the amount of the grant provided by USTDA. Interested U.S. firms should submit by mail five copies of their proposal in English to Mr. Angel Dimitrov, General Director, Bulgarian State Railways, 3 Ivan Vazov Str., 1080 Sofia, Bulgaria. TDA does not require a copy of the submission. Proposals will be due by close of business April 28, 1995. Evaluation criteria will consist of the following: (1) General experience (size of firm, demonstrated ability to provide qualified people, overseas experience with special emphasis in the Balkan Region or other former CMEA nations, demonstrated ability to complete the study in time) 30%; (2) Special experience and expertise in railways MIS studies, economic and financial feasibility analysis 30%; (3) Professional staff qualifications and capability (years with firm, overseas experience directly related to the project scope, relevant experience in Bulgaria or Region) 30%; (4) Understanding of the problem and responsiveness of the proposal to the technical scope requirements of the project 10%. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection, and, therefore, cost proposals are not required. The BDZ reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The BDZ reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The BDZ or USTDA are not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals. Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this USTDA-financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors, and individuals (including employees of such firms and subcontractors) 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. Firms agree by their response to this announcement to abide by the procedures established for the procurement. (0072)

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