Mr. Jean Pierre Banguebe, Director General; Office of Post and Telecommunications; Libreville, Gabon; Telephone 011-241-71-70-00; Fax 011-241-71-67-70

D -- CELLULAR / TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEM FEASIBILITY STUDY DUE 040496 POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The 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 the modernization of telephone exchanges and cellular telephone network extension in Gabon. Gabons Office of Post and Telecommunications, which is responsible for the countrys national and international telecommunications infrastructure, is presently working to expand the availability of telephone service throughout the nation. As part of the expansion effort, OPT seeks to modernize its telephone exchanges along the coastal axis as well as the Libreville - Franceville transmission axis, and establish a broader cellular telecommunications network. The scope of work for the feasibility study consists of the following tasks: (1) Demand analysis study; (2) Growth forecast study; (3) Creation of a data network model; (4) Financial analysis study; (5) Engineering design study; (6) Technical specifications report; (7) Preparation of tender documents; (8) Orientation visit to the United States by OPT officials; and (9) Preparation of a final report. The budget for the feasibility study terms of reference has been established at $519,000. Of this amount, TDA will provide partial funding of $400,000. The U.S. firm selected shall provide the remaining $119,000 to cover expenses and/or in-house costs incurred to complete the terms of reference. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background 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 firms 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 a courier delivery service should include the name of the courier company and your firm's account number in the request for the RFP. 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. Evaluation criteria for contractor selection are as follows: 1) Teams prior experience in implementing comparable cellular telephone / telephone switching system projects (up to 40%); 2) Adequacy of workplan, technical approach, proposed milestones and schedule (up to 25%); 3) Staff qualifications and experience in comparable work (years with firm, years in present position, years of overseas experience) (up to 20%); 4) Teams international finance experience, particularly in working with commercial banks, international financing institutions and donor agencies, for the establishment of telecommunications projects (up to 15%). Interested U.S. firms should submit their Proposal in English (two copies) and French (three copies) directly to the Grantee in Gabon by March 26, 1996. 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. (0051)

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