Mr. Roudny, Min. of Fin., Letenska 15, 118 10 Prague 1, Czech Rep.; T: 4202-5704-2150; F: 4202-5704-2449

B -- FINET EXPANSION FEASIBILITY STUDY POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 FINet Expansion Feasibility Study 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 developing a private data network for the Ministry of Finance, Czech Republic. The Czech Republic Ministry of Finance (MOF) owns and operates a private data network for its information systems, called FINet. The MOF is in the process of expanding the network and seeks to eventually have interconnectivity with its 6 regional offices and 76 district offices, as well as connections with related government and municipal agencies in these areas. The MOF seeks assistance in identifying the most cost-effective and technically acceptable means of achieving its interconnectivity objectives. It is particularly interested in wireless local loop connections and voice over data system integration. Currently local sites are linked to the backbone of the FINet system by long distance and local leased lines owned by the Czech telephone monopoly, SPT Telecom. These leased lines are very costly, comprising nearly 85% of the FINet's costs. SPT Telecom recently announced that the prices for the local leased lines will increase. As the MOF plans to expand its network connections, it looks to avoid the higher costs by implementing an independent wireless solution as a possible alternative for its local connection needs. Primary objectives of the Feasibility Study are to address the technical, management, and financial issues of implementing the upgrade, integration, and expansion of FINet. Specific tasks for the study include the following: 1) Technical issues: a) Review of the existing system, b) Analysis of Voice over Data Requirements, c) Analysis of a local loop solution for local connections, and d) recommendation of a suitable system design; 2) Analysis of management issues related to efficient operation of FINet; 3) Analysis of financial issues including capital costs, operating costs, development/upgrade costs, and finance operations and recommendations; and 4) Provision of a project implementation plan. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $242,609 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 mailroom 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 4pm, Central European Time, July 23, 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 06/11/99 (I-SN342128). (0162)

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