Ing. Javier Robledo Vera, Jefe de Operacisn de Redes de Distribucisn; Luz y Fuerza del Centro; Av. Melchor Ocampo No. 171; Col. Tlaxpana; 11379 Mexico, D.F.; (525) 140-0413; (525) 140-0439 fax

B -- LUZ Y FUERZA DEL CENTRO DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION PROJECT IN MEXICO POC Ms. Evangela Kunene, USTDA, Room 300, 1621 N. Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Telephone: (703) 875-4357, FAX: (703) 875-4009 Luz y Fuerza del Centro ("LYFC") 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 to plan the automation of the LYFC distribution network. LYFC distributes power to 4.8 million customers in the Mexico City metropolitan area and surrounding region with a system consisting of more than 20,000 km of transmission and distribution lines and 700 feeders. LYCF is considering incorporating automation into its ongoing capital improvements program in order to reduce outage times and improve reliability. A U.S. consultant is sought to perform a feasibility study to define the detailed design, system software and components needed for the automation of the LYFC distribution system, estimate the costs and benefits, define a project implementation schedule and cash flow model, and address training needs and staffing requirements. The key componentsof the scope of work are as follows: Task 1: Determine the Utilitys Priorities and Interface Requirements Task 2: Review Existing System and Operations Task 3: Analyze Sectioning Optimization Task 4: Prepare Conceptual System Design Task 5: Conduct Cost-Benefit Analysis (including environmental impact) Task 6: Prepare Report Task 7: Develop Project Specifications Task 8: Prepare Comprehensive Implementation Plan The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars with funding in the amount of $446,800 from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) in support of its technical collaboration agreement with LYFC. 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 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 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 Spanish and English directly to Luz y Fuerza del Centro by 6:00pm, November 30 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. LYFC reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. LYFC also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. LYFC is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals. Posted 10/08/98 (I-SN260661). (0281)

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