Mr. J.T. Mkatshwa; Principal Secretary; Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy; Mhlambanyatsi Road; Mbabane, Swaziland; Telephone: ( 268) 46244; Fax: (268) 42436.

C -- SWAZILAND/MOZAMBIQUE POWER TRANSPORTATION INTERCONNECTOR DUE 121595 POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy in Swaziland (''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 power transmission interconnector project between Swaziland and Mozambique. Interconnection appears to be the least cost option to meet Swaziland's power needs. In recognition of this, the Joint Declaration on Power Co-operation between Mozambique and Swaziland on an interconnector between the two countries was signed by the Ministers of Energy of the two countries. Therefore, the Swaziland Electricity Board and the Electricidade de Mozambique will review an earlier pre-feasibility interconnection study carried out in 1987. The objective of the proposed study is to review and upgrade the earlier pre-feasibility study, with particular emphasis on the interconnector between Swaziland and Mozambique taking into account developments in the SADC region since the preparation of the previous study. The review will update the information on the basis of latest developments; review basic economic and technical criteria used in the Master Plan; analyze the alternatives proposed to meet Swaziland's demand; and recommend least cost options for the system development. Specific tasks of the feasibility study will include the following: 1. Demand forecast 2. Engineering-economic feasibility 3. Capacity and energy of power plants in Southern Mozambique and Swaziland 4. Generation-transmission trade-offs 5. Network analysis 6. Network design criteria 7. Review of the proposed transmission corridors 8. Power trade agreement between SEB, EDM and ESKOM 9. AGC-LFC 10. Metering of bulk power 11. SCADA, utility telecommunications equipment 12. Non-utility communications 13. Implementation schedule and cost estimates 14. Cost-sharing of the Interlink 15. Contract packages The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $295000 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 definitional mission/desk study report are available from TDA, at Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1621. Requests for the RFP should be faxed to the IRC, TDA at 703-875-4009. Please include your company name, contact person, address, and telephone number. If you would like the RFP sent to you via courier delivery service to ensure your timely receipt of the document, include the name of the courier company and your firm's account number. No telephone requests for the RFP will be honored. 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 in Swaziland. Evaluation criteria for the Proposal appear in the RFP as follows: 1. Firm's prior experience in implementing comparable power transmission interconnector projects (40%) 2. The adaquacy of the workplan, technical approach, proposed milestones and schedule (25%) 3. Staff qualifications and experience in comparable work (20%) 4. International finance experience with power, specifically interconnector, projects in Africa (15%) 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. (0300)

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