Contact:Petru Ianc,Head of Department,Ministry of Industries, Metallurgical Industry Department,Calea Victoriei 152, 70179 Bucuresti 1, Romania,Fax:401-312-5956,Phone:401-650-6387

R -- FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE MODERNIZATION OF THE #2 ELECTRIC STEEL PLANT AT COST SA IN ROMANIA POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (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 on the installation of a bloom caster and an upgrade of the electric arc furnaces at the #2 electric steel plant at COST SA. The proposed TDA grant would determine the technical, economic, and financial feasibility of rebuilding a 100 Ton electric arc furnace; providing and installing a new 75 ton ladle furnace and bloom caster at the COST SA steel complex at Targoviste, approximately 80 miles north of Bucharest. The overall scope of work is to produce a bankable feasibility study to modernize the steel production facilities in the #2 Electric Steel-making plant. Delivering a bankable feasibility study will include the following: -- Detailed engineering specifications necessary to modernize the 100 ton electric arc furnace #9; Design of engineering specifications for the 75 ton ladle furnace, and the metal charge flow proportioning system; -- Engineering survey of the existing, partially installed, bloom caster to determine its reuse feasibility; Determine the requirements of the engineering and equipment supply to limit the dust emissions during full operation of the furnaces and bloom caster; Develop a detailed equipment list and a capital cost estimate; -- Environmental impact assessment, including air pollution; -- Produce an operating cost projection and an economic viability study; -- Prepare a draft financing memorandum which includes technical and economic presentation, availability of internal credit within Romania, sale of shares of COST SA, and government guaranteed external credits from sources such as US Ex-Im Bank; and Final Report. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $310,000 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 report are available from TDA, at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131. 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. Please check your internal fax verification receipt. Because of the large number of RFP requests, TDA cannot respond to requests for fax verification. Requests for RFPs received before 4:00 PM will be mailed the same day. Requests received after 4:00 PM will be mailed the following day. Please check with your courier and/or mail room before calling TDA. 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 by 4:00 P.M., November 3, 1997 at the above address. 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. (0259)

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