Mr. Gideon Magodo, Asst. Chief Engineer Telecoms Regulations & New Services Posts & Telecomm. Corp., Street Add.: 107 Union Ave., Rm 6N5 Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: 263-4-728811; Fax:263-4-728158

L -- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A VSAT NETWORK IN ZIMBABWE POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 Technical Assistance for a VSAT Network in Zimbabwe. 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 a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite systems project in Zimbabwe. On June 12, 1996, a representative of the Zimbabwe Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) contacted TDA seeking support for a VSAT infrastructure study. Mr. Shonhai, Chief Engineer for Telecommunications Planning and Development at the PTC, expresed his organization's desire to assess the viability of developing and operating their own satellite network, rather than relying on foreign systems. Based upon recommendations contained in a Desk Study completed for TDA by Global Resources (Bridgewater, NJ), TDA is funding a Grant for a market survey of VSAT services, preparation of a VSAT tender, assistance evaluating VSAT bids, and a more general sharing of VSAT technical expertise for PTC. The VSAT network would be implemented by PTC in 1997 and would provide network services for use in rural areas and for corporate customers in Zimbabwe. This project will be undertaken in three phases. In Phase I, the U.S. consultant will send a business development and an engineering consultant to Zimbabwe to conduct a market survey, evaluate the demand for VSAT networks, and develop a business plan for the VSAT project concept. In Phase II the team returns to the U.S. to finalize and deliver their business plan, technical specifications for the tender, the complementary tender documents and the tender evaluation criteria. In Phase III, the engineer returns to Zimbabwe to offer the PTC advice on the general analysis and evaluation of bids, based on the established technical criteria under international competitive bidding guidelines. In addition, the engineer will conduct an informal workshop regarding VSAT networks for PTC professionals to augment the more informal discussions and dialogues which will take place between the consultant and PTC staff during the study's implementation. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $65,000 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. 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 TDA 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 TDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to TDA before scheduling a pick-up. Please note that 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 Zimbabwe. 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. (0271)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0040 19960930\L-0001.SOL)