USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131

B -- PANAM% CANAL CROSSING PROJECT DUE 120799 POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) in Panam 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 the construction of a second crossing of the Panam Canal that would support the increase in commercial traffic in recent years in Panam, and thereby alleviate the burden placed on the Bridge of the Americas. Currently, the two sides of the Panam Canal are linked by a single permanent crossing, the Bridge of the Americas. The Bridge of the Americas is the only canal crossing point in all of Panam accessible to commercial traffic, and therefore serves as a vital link between the eastern and western halves of the country. The Bridge of the Americas, a 5,425 foot suspended span bridge, was built in 1962 and continues to be one of the most important structures in all of Panam today. At the time of its opening, the bridge handled 9,500 vehicles a day; 35,000 vehicles now cross the bridge on a daily basis. This increase has necessitated the construction of a fourth lane on the bridge, and it has underscored the importance of creating a second crossing point that would help alleviate the strain placed on the Bridge of the Americas. The MOP in Panam has recognized the need for a second crossing to help handle the increase in commercial traffic and the MOP has begun to place an urgent emphasis on creating a second crossing in Panam . The objective of the feasibility study is to develop a sound evaluation and analysis of the options for a second crossing in Panam that will connect the country across the Panam Canal and not affect maritime traffic. The feasibility study will include two phases to be completed. The primary tasks for completion of Phase I, or the conceptual design include: Traffic study; Shipping study; Location and alignment of the crossing; Engineering study; Environmental, and other risks study; and a Cost analysis. Phase II, or the Preliminary Design and Documentation for an International Public Bid, includes a Legal and financial analysis; and Concession structuring. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $400,000 grant to the MOP from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). The total cost of the feasibility study is estimated at U.S. $634,000. The Contractor and/or its subcontractors must cover the remaining costs, or U.S. $234,000, to complete the full Terms of Reference (TOR) for the feasibility study. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the TOR, and a background definitional mission report and amendment desk study report is available from TDA, at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, 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, ifselected 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 4:00PM local Panama City time, December 7, 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 isnot bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals.****** Posted 11/02/99 (W-SN397212). (0306)

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