RFP Air Navigation System Feasibility Study, Wing Commander Andy Mensah, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana, Telephone: 011-233-21-777320, Fax: 011-233-21-773293

B -- GHANA: AIR NAVIGATION SYSTEM ANALYSIS FEASIBILITY STUDY 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 for an air navigation system analysis concentrating on the transition from ground-based navigation to satellite-based navigation and the implementation of Communications, Navigation, Surveillance for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) technologies and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite systems in Ghana. All flights within the Accra Flight Information Region (FIR), which covers the airspace over Ghana, Benin, and Togo, as well as a large portion of the Atlantic Ocean, are controlled by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). In respect to flight safety and security, GCAA ensures that professional and private pilots, air traffic controllers, flight engineers, cabin crew, maintenance organizations are all licensed. GCAA also performs the operations and maintenance inspections of all the Ghana registered operators for the purpose of ensuring flight safety. In addition, GCAA is also responsible for the security requirements to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) standards. GCAA operates four air traffic control towers in Accra (Kotoka International Airport), Tamale, Kumasi, and Sunyani. The existing area control center, flight information center, and radar control are located in the GCAA tower building in Accra. GCAA is currently using a microwave system based on solar power as the communications link between the international airport in the capital city of Accra and the other domestic airports. The system is 13 years old, which is causing difficulty for GCAA to obtain and upkeep necessary parts. Additionally, since some of the existing microwave system is installed at remote sites in the mountains without electrical power, the performance is somewhat unreliable. Thus, GCAA would like to explore the feasibility of replacing the existing system with a VSAT communications system. Another aspect of the feasibility study would involve the implementation of CNS/ATM technologies into GCAA's airspace management system in accordance with ICAO standards. The analysis will serve as a primary source document for GCAA's investment decisions and acquisition timetables for the next decade. The feasibility study for the air navigation system in Ghana will include the following tasks: 1) identify the status of CNS/ATM implementation in the region, 2) perform site visits to assess the current infrastructure of the air navigation system, 3) develop the best technology options and prioritized investment plan, 4) develop financing options, and 5) produce an air navigation system transition plan. A large aspect of the study will be devoted to investigating options for financing the needed investments from commercial capital markets, equity financing from investors, suppliers' credits, bilaterial credits, and other sources. The transition plan will provide for the long-term development of communications, navigation, and surveillance technologies in air traffic management infrastructure in Ghana. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $225,000 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., Friday, April 30, 1999 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. Posted 03/17/99 (I-SN309672). (0076)

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