B -- AGUAS DE YARACUY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY PROJECT

Notice Date

May 25, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

July 12, 2001

Point of Contact

POC -- Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009

Description

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 a wastewater treatment facility project in Venezuela. C.A. Hidrologica Venezolana (HIDROVEN) and 10 regional hydrological companies were created in 1990 by the Venezuelan State in the restructuring process of drinking water service and sanitation. HIDROVEN started to operate in 1991, and its 10 subsidiaries are responsible for providing water and sewage services in Venezuela. Eventually, the long-term goal is to phase out the subsidiaries and replace them with municipal or state companies that take responsibility for the services. The proposed project is located in the state of Yaracuy, a metropolitan state near Caracas. Aguas de Yaracuy is a semi-autonomous utility providing water and wastewater service to the approximately 420,000 served residents. Wastewater treatment for the 14 municipalities located in the state is currently provided by inadequately functioning oxidation lagoon systems, which are located in each watershed. According to the engineers at Aguas de Yaracuy, the facilities provide essentially no treatment and untreated wastewater is discharged into adjacent rivers (approximately 65% of this discharge eventually reaches the Rio Yaracuy. The project would involve the development of adequate wastewater treatment facilities to treat wastewater from 11 of the 14 municipalities (three of the municipalities are currently in the planning and design stage for treatment facilities being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank IDB. The selection of the sites for the proposed facilities is key, as Aguas de Yaracuy must minimize wastewater transport from the collection areas and minimize the number of treatment facilities required for the 11 municipalities. The Feasibility Study scope of work would include the following tasks: Task 1. Develop an understanding of existing conditions and operations; Task 2. Development of design parameters for wastewater treatment facilities for various municipalities in Aguas de Yaracuy service area; Task 3. Development of conceptual design alternatives for wastewater treatment facilities; Task 4. Development of preliminary technical specifications; Task 5. Development of budgetary cost estimate; Task 6. Preparation of environmental review documentation; Task 7. Development of project financing alternatives; and Task 8. Development of a comprehensive report of findings, conclusion and recommendations: The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a U.S. $230,000 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). The Study has been estimated by TDA to cost U.S. $260,000. The TDA Grant funding of US $230,000 will cover only a portion of that amount. The Contractor and/or its subcontractors must cover whatever cost is necessary to complete the full TOR. A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the TOR, 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 and Spanish directly to the Grantee by 4:00PM local Caracas time, July 12, 2001 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.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010530/BSOL001.HTM (W-145 SN50N1F8)