ECOPETROL, Mr. Raul Salazar, Refining Vice President, Carrera 13 No 36-24, Piso 11, Bogota, Colombia; Tel: 571-285-3120; Fax: 571-287-0041

R -- CARTAGENA REFINERY EXPANSION STUDY DUE 121995 POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 Ecopetrol invites submission of Prequalification Statements from interested U.S. firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a feasibility study for the expansion of the refinery facilities located near Cartagena, Colombia. Based upon the Prequalification Statements, Ecopetrol will develop a short list of qualified firms which will be invited in writing to submit a formal Technical Proposal to carry out the study. This invitation will include a detailed Request for Proposals (RFP) containing the requirements for submission of the Technical Proposal, the study Terms of Reference, and evaluation criteria for consultant selection. Due to increasing demand for petroleum products both in Colombia and internationally, Ecopetrol is planning to modernize and expand the existing Cartagena refinery. The existing refinery was built in 1957 with an initial capacity to process 20,000 barrels per day. Following two major expansions in 1963 and 1982, refinery capacity was raised to 70,000 barrels per day. The current expansion will increase Cartagena's refining capacity to a level of approximately100,000 barrels per day. The study will require the selected firm to analyze current planning for the project, develop recommendations for remaining process technologies, and integrate the various project design elements into a unified development plan for the expansion project. A detailed request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal. the Terms of Reference, and a background definitional mission report are available from TDA, at Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1621. Requests for RFP should be faxed to the IRC, TDA at 703-875-4009. Please include your company name, contact person, address, and telephone number. Some companies have found that materials sent via U.S. Mail do not reach them in time for preparation of an adequate response. If you would like the RFP sent to you via courier delivery service, include the name of the courier company and your firm's account number. No telephone request for RFP will be honore. 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. 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 Colombia. In no case shall goods or services having their nationality, source or origin in Colombia exceed twenty percent of the amount of the grant provided by USTDA. Interested U.S. firms should submit their Prequalification Statements directly to Ecopetrol in Bogota. Evaluation criteria for the Prequalification Statements are included in the information package available from TDA. Price will NOT be a factor during either the prequalification stage or the final technical proposal stage of this competition, and therefore, cost proposals will NOT be submitted. Ecopetrol reserves the right to reject any and/or all Prequalification Statements or Technical Proposals. Ecopetrol also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. Ecopetrol is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals. (0332)

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