Mr. Elbano Provenzali, Gerente de Ingenieria General, C.A. La Electricidad de Caracas, SACA, Edificio Norte, Piso 7, Avenida Vollmer -- San Bernardino, Caracas, Venezuela; Tel. 011-582-502-2182, Fax 011-582-502-1028.

B -- VENEZUELA -- LA ELECTRICIDAD DE CARACAS EL CASTANO ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION FEASIBILITY STUDY POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131. 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 of the El Castano Electrical Substation in Venezuela. The substation will be located in the northern sector of Hacienda El Castano, in the Fila de Mariches area, State of Miranda. When fully developed the substation will have the following: a 400 kV yard consisting of 4 bays, SF6 insulated (GIS) type, breaker and a half arrangement; three 450 MVA 400/230 kV autotransformers; 230 kV yard consisting of 7 bays, conventional open air layout, breaker and a half arrangement; four 186 MVA 230/69 kV transformers; and a 69 kV yard, conventional and open air layout, four buses, simple sectional bus with transfer. The substation will be developed in two phases. The first phase, planned to be completed in 2001, will consist of four bays at the 230 kV yard to serve the Castano-Curupao; Castano-Sta. Teresa, Castano-Convento and the Castano-El Sitio 1 lines. The second phase will add the remaining equipment and systems. The feasibility study will include a site visit and data collection; a review of load flow and study of system stability and reliability; a conceptual design of the substation; preparation of capital and operating cost estimates; an assessment of risks and means to mitigate them; preparation of a report; preparation of technical specifications for the substation; and at TDA's option, participation in a briefing for potential US suppliers of goods and services for the project. All portions of the study should address the two phase development plan for the substation. The U.S. firm selected to perform the feasibility study will be paid in U.S. dollars from a grant of US $150,000 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 definitionalmission/desk study 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 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 both Spanish and English (two copies of each) directly to the Grantee in Caracas by 4:00 PM local time, April 3, 1998 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. (0043)

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