Puerto Ventanas, S.A., Miraflores 222, Piso 16, Santiago, CL; Att: Gamaliel Villalobos Aranda; Tel: 56-2-638-4199, Fax: 56-2-638-4252

B -- PUERTO VENTANAS ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS IN CHILE -- UPGRADING CONCENTRATE LOADING SYSTEM AND RATIONALIZATION OF BERTHS 3 AND 5 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 modernization of the Port of Ventanas through the rehabilitation and modernization of the port's unloading and conveyor systems. The Port of Ventanas is a medium sized, privately owned and operated, port in Chile. It is one of several installations found in the Bay of Quintero and is located about 160 km northwest of Santiago. The Port began operations in 1991 and has firmly established itself in the Chilean port sector and maritime transportation industry. The majority of the cargo handled by the Port of Ventanas is bulk solids and liquids, but general cargo is also handled. The Port of Ventanas in Chile has become one of Chile's primary facilities for handling bulk solids and liquids. The Port has recently begun examining possible areas in which the Port could expand and modernize its services and capacity. The current facilities enable the Port of Ventanas to receive and transship large amounts of copper, other concentrates and liquid acids and chemicals. Based upon market studies and pre-feasibility analyses, the Port of Ventanas anticipates an increase in the shipment of copper and other concentrates through its facilities. The Port currently handles 400,000 tons per year of copper and other concentrates. This figure is expected to increase to over 900,000 tons per year in the next few years. In addition, the current bulk commodity imports handled through the Port are expected to increase significantly. Increase in clinker production is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.4 million tons per year in northern Chile. The Port of Ventanas is the only port in Chile that can unload clinker, and they expect to receive the majority of the increase in production. Therefore, based upon the Port's geographic location and the Port's present ability to handle bulk commodities and concentrates, the management of the Port of Ventanas believes that it is well-positioned both geographically and operationally to respond to an increase in the production of these products in northern Chile. Moreover, the port enhancement projects will allow the port to respond to the increase in tonnage through the Port. Without these port enhancements, the Port of Ventanas will not be able to prevent the delays and interferences that are likely to develop in the upcoming years as the tonnage of bulk commodities and concentrates continues to increase and reach the Port of Ventanas. Enhancement of the Port by updating the 34 year old conveyor system and making improvements to Berths 3 and 5 that will allow for more cargo handling capabilities and installing mechanized unloading systems and conveyor systems are deemed essential if the Port is to maintain its competitive position in the Chilean maritime and commercial shipping industry. The feasibility study for the Port Enhancement Projects will help the Port of Ventanas develop site investigation programs and an overall project plan and schedule for engineering, design, and procurement, based on reliable technical recommendations and cost estimates. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $230,000 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). The total cost of the Feasibility Study is estimated at U.S. $266,000. The Contractor and/or its subcontractors must cover the remaining costs, or U.S. $36,000, to complete the full Terms of Reference for the Feasibility Study. 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 Spanish and English directly to the Grantee by 5:00 p.m., October 1, 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 08/27/99 (I-SN373636). (0239)

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