B -- DEPOGAZ GAS STORAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY, ROMANIA

Notice Date

June 20, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

July 24, 2001

Point of Contact

POC -- Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, 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 to review and analyze Depogaz's operations in detail and make recommendations for equipment and technological upgrades and changes in operational practices. This project is the first phase of a long-term effort to develop adequate gas storage capacity in Romania. Depogaz intends to use horizontal drilling technology to create higher pressure for pumping gas, which would expand the gas storage capacity. The proposed project will expand the Bilciuresti Underground Gas Storage (UGS) facility and establish associated gas services for Depogaz S.A. Expansion of the Bilciuresti UGS will help manage the seasonal and daily variations in gas demand, both domestic and transit, enhance the operational efficiency of the gas transmission system of Romania and address the issue of security of gas supply. A Natural Gas Storage Information System will need to be developed to provide up-to-date and reliable technical and commercial information to users, as well as to all the other operating and prospective companies in the sector. This will enable the Depogaz S.A. and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to meet their reporting requirements to the government. This will include a Safety and Environmental Management database that will allow Romania to track its standards and performance and compare their activities to current international standards. An economic analysis and financial plan will be required. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $350,000 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 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, 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 4:00 PM, July 24, 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. 20010622/BSOL007.HTM (W-171 SN50P547)