MODIFICATION
B -- Morocco: Essaouira Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Technical Assistance
- Notice Date
- 3/18/2011
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, C/O US TDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-3901
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3901
- Solicitation Number
- 2011-21010A
- Archive Date
- 4/23/2011
- Point of Contact
- Nina Patel, Phone: (703) 875-4357
- E-Mail Address
-
npatel@ustda.gov
(npatel@ustda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Reference is made to the February 18, 2011 announcement, reference number 2010- 21010A, inviting submission of qualifications and proposal data for the Morocco: Essaouira Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Technical Assistance. The following clarifications have been provided by the Grantee and/or USTDA in response to questions received: 1.Q: "It is not clear from the description of Task 1 who will provide site specific solar resource data, i.e. direct normal insolation (DNI) and diffuse radiation data on hourly basis. Are ambient conditions, i.e. temperature, pressure, and relative humidity data available? What is the source for the data?" A: ADEREE has global solar radiation and temperature of the region of Essaouira. However, as mentioned in the annex of the TOR, the contractor should work with the National Meteorology Department to get other data: pressure, relative humidity, direct and diffuse radiation data on hourly basis. Otherwise, the contractor should use simulation software if hourly data are not available (mainly the DNI). 2.Q: "Does the National Meteorology Department (DMN) have solar insolation data for a typical year? Will this resource be adequate to estimate performance of PV systems?" A: The National Meteorology Department (DMN) has simulated (not measured) solar insolation data for a typical year for the region of Essaouira. This data should be adequate to estimate performance of PV systems, but DNI data should be necessary to estimate performance of other PV systems (Task 4). 3.Q: "Will ONE provide the basis to develop electricity consumption, generation and demand projections? Does ONE have their internal load growth and new generation projections available for review?" A: ADEREE, within Task 1, should conduct [this work] with the contractor, meeting with ONE to get electricity consumption, generation and demand projections. ONE have their internal load growth and could give to the contractor their new generation projections for review. 4.Q: "Are there sites that have been flagged as potential sites or will the Contractor need to choose all of the potential sites?" A: There are no sites that have been flagged as potential sites so far. The Contractor, with the help of ADEREE, ONE and local authorities, should find out and choose one of the potential sites. 5.Q: "In Section 4 [of the RFP] a mechanical engineer is listed as a member of key staff. We feel that a civil engineer would be a more useful key staff member. May we include a civil engineer instead of a mechanical engineer without harming our evaluation rating?" A: We [ADEREE] agree that a civil engineer would be a more useful key staff member than mechanical engineer. 6.Q: "In the deliverable for Task 5, what is meant by application requirements?" A: It means that the contractor should verify that all the requirements, technical tools, equipment and or workforce necessary to carry out installation, operation and maintenance activities are locally available regarding site location and area characteristics. 7.Q: "In Task 6, it is noted that the design/specifications should include "systems utility balance." Can you clarify what is being requested?" A: It means an estimation of the PV energy cover rate of energy regarding electricity demand at the preferred site 8.Q: "In Task 6, it is noted that the design/specifications should include "system performance and specifications." Can you clarify what is being requested?" A: Essentially the estimation of the energy output and performance during the year (simulation for 12 months) regarding climatic data and energy balance with the national/local grid or local electricity consumption. 9.Q: "The RFP notes that a statement confirming the availability of the proposed project manager and key staff over the duration of the project must be included. Is it sufficient to note in the text of the proposal that all staff and the manager will be available? Or is a separate letter from the Offeror and all subcontractors affirming availability required?" A: A separate, brief letter confirming availability from each proposed team member is required. 10.Q: "Section 3.5 of the proposal reads "as many as possible but not more than six relevant and verifiable project references..." Is this accurate or should it read ‘less than six'"? A: This is accurate. Six project references should be included if possible, or as many as possible up to six (but not more). 11.Q: "Task 2 notes that the Contractor is to assess the availability and/or suitability for access roads to all parts of the site. By this, are you noting that the Contractor should consider whether it is possible and appropriate to install access roads on the footprint of the solar project? Roads leading to the project? Something else?" A: The Contractor must assess whether access roads exist and are available for use both to and within the proposed site(s). 12.Q: "Task 5 notes that "the design criteria documents shall apply to the Pilot Project, and shall be adaptable as model documents for future plants." For clarification, this means that the documents should be specific to the Pilot Project but written in such a way that they can be tweaked and used for other projects?" A: Yes, this Pilot Project is intended to be replicable. The design documents should therefore be specific to the Pilot Project but adaptable for use at different sites. 13.Q: "The deliverable for Task 5 notes that the design specifications and operation and maintenance procedures should be based on permitting and regulatory requirements. There may be specifications and procedures that go beyond these requirements. Should such specifications and procedures be included, as well?" A: Where possible, the design specifications and operation and maintenance procedures should be as complete as possible, so additional specifications and procedures may be included. 14.Q: "Task 6 lists both ‘major equipment list' and ‘instrument index.' Can you describe how these differ?" A: The major equipment list will contain specific information such as sizing, whereas the instrument index will simply list what was included in the deliverable for this Task. 15.Q: "Task 9 notes that the Contractor will assess mechanisms to enable private sector participation. Could you clarify whether you are referring to participation in the Pilot Project or in the Moroccan solar industry? A: This Task refers to private sector participation in the Moroccan solar industry. 16.Q: "In Task 12 the Contractor is asked to develop an RFP for the installation of the pilot project. Has the financing mechanism under which the pilot project will be installed been determined? For example, the project could be built under a BOT (build, operate and transfer) scheme, a BOO (build, own, operate) scheme, a BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) scheme, or some other financial structure. If the mechanism has not been determined, do you want the Contractor to suggest a mechanism?" A: The financing structure has not been determined and the contractor will prepare a recommendation for the Grantee (Task 9). 17.Q: "In Task 12 there is a bulleted list of items for inclusion in the RFP. Is this information that you would like the RFP to specify, that you would like RFP to ask the bidder to provide, or a mixture of the two?" A: The bulleted points are meant to be areas that a prospective bidder will need to respond to in order to successfully compete for implementation of this Pilot Project. 18.Q: "Do you know if the construction contractor will or has to be a Morocco based entity?" A: Per USTDA Nationality Requirements (Annex III of the RFP), the contractor for this technical assistance project must be a U.S. company. However, they are permitted to subcontract up to 20% of the value of this grant to local (i.e. Moroccan) firms. It is up to the Offeror to decide who and how they would like to propose as their contracting team. 19.Q: "Has a contractor has been selected?" A: A contractor has not been selected, either for the present technical assistance activity or the implementation phase of the proejct. Based on the proposals received through this RFP process, the project sponsor will select the best qualified Offeror to conduct this technical assistance activity. 20.Q: "Can you confirm what percent of the $631,000 grant by the USTDA will be of the total consulting costs or estimated?" A: This grant is a fixed-price grant. It is up to the Offeror to determine if the sum is sufficient for their purposes to perform the technical assistance project. 21.Q: "What is the best form to send the final copy? In other words - is UPS or FedEx reliable?" A: USTDA makes no recommendation on a particular carrier. However, it is recommended to allow at least one week for delivery to the indicated address. 22.Q: "What is the typical delivery timeline for an overnight courier?" A: The Offeror will need to determine this answer through their selected courier. N.B. A few questions are outstanding and will be answered in a subsequent RFP amendment.
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