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 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS AT THE SIDEX STEEL PLANT IN ROMANIA POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 Feasibility Study on Air Pollution Control Systems at the Sidex Steel Plant in Romania. 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 air pollution and control systems at the Sidex Steel Plant in Romania. The Sidex steel plant in is situated in Galati, Romania. The newly privatized joint stock company of Sidex SA is a large steel combine, manufacturing all types of steel products. It has an exclusive position on the Romanian market, supplying 90% of the domestic requirements for flat rolled products. Sidex also has the notorious distinction of being one of Romania's top environmental polluters. Although new environmental regulations have been passed, they apply only to new plants. However, after the year 2000 the new regulations will require all plants to employ the best available techniques to reduce emissions. The project proposes to install air pollution control systems, and computerized controls to bring the No. 1 basic oxygen furnace (BOF) shop into environmental compliance. The objective of this project is to produce a bankable feasibility study for the construction of a new air pollution control system for the no. 1 BOF shop at Sidex. The feasibility study scope of work, provided by the DM contractor, would cover the following topics: Initial field work and identification of the improvements necessary to develop a new system; -- Preliminary conceptual design; -- Preliminary technology selection; -- Financial analysis and capital cost estimates; -- Scope the engineering and equipment necessary for technology finalization; Finalize design and provide a detailed equipment list and capital cost estimate for project implementation; -- Project finance strategy with operating cost projections and economic viability study; -- Final Report. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $250,000 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 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 PM, July 1, 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. (0135)

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