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

A -- PHILIPPINES -- FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES SOLICITED BOT/CONCESSION PROJECTS FOR WATER DISTRICTS DUE 010700 POC Evangela Kunene, US Trade and Development Agency (TDA), Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 The Grantee invites submission of Prequalification Statements from interested US firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to prepare feasibility studies and provide attendant advisory services to the Water Districts (WDs) of Metro Kidapawan and Puerto Princesa City in implementing Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) and the like arrangements for water projects with the private sector via the solicited approach. Based upon the Prequalification Statements, the Grantee will develop a short list of qualified firms which will be invited in writing to submit a formal Technical Proposal to carry out the studies and provision of advisory services. TDA has provided a feasibility study grant to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and selected WDs for advisory services in processing private sector participation initiatives for WDs via the solicited approach. LWUA is a government owned and controlled corporation of the Philippines and is a specialized lending institution providing financial, technical and institutional development assistance to water utilities, known as WDs, in the provincial urban areas of the Philippines. LWUA also exercises regulatory authority over these WDs which have been established to operate and maintain potable water systems within their respective jurisdictions. Further, LWUA has been mandated the review oversight and to act, in most cases, as the implementing agency for BOT and similar proposals on water supply projects in WDs. For the project, the WDs of Puerto Princesa City (for a BOT or similar supply project) and Metro Kidapawan (for an operation concession) have been selected as beneficiaries to the TDA grant. The objective of the project is to assist these WDs implement their respective water projects on a public-private partnership basis. The selected consultant shall provide LWUA and the WDs project preparation and financial advisory services in soliciting and transacting for the most suitable and beneficial BOT and operation concession arrangements or investment opportunities, respectively for each of the beneficiary WDs, which private sector proponents may be interested in. The work is expected to be carried out in three separate phases for each project investment opportunity. The first phase is intended to validate and prepare the project, as well as provide project development support and financial structuring assistance to both LWUA and each selected WD. The second phase is intended to provide Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation support and technology transfer to each selected WD, including legal assistance from a knowledgeable local firm with extensive institutional, legal, and regulatory experience with the Philippine BOT Law as it may apply to the water sector. The third phase is intended to provide each selected Water District with procurement management support throughout the bid evaluation process. The LWUA and the WDs are expected to participate and provide support to the selected consultant in all phases of this study. The US firm selected will be paid in US dollars from a $575,325.00 grant Grantee from TDA. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes the requirements for submission of the Prequalification Statements and the Technical Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background definitional mission/desk study report are 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 US 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 US 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 US or host country. The US firm may use subcontractors from 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 US firms should submit their Prequalification Statements as outlined in the RFP in English directly to the Grantee by 5:00 p.m., local time, January 7, 2000 at the above address. Evaluation criteria for the Prequalification Statements and the Technical Proposals 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 Prequalification Statements or Technical 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 12/09/99 (W-SN407195). (0343)

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