Mr. Prasert Attananda, Divisional Engineer, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Civil Engineering Department Rong Muang Road Bangkok 10330 Thailand; Tel: 011 66-220-4402; Fax: 662-226-2619

C -- STATE RAILWAY OF THAILAND DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT DUE 091395 POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 Part 1 of 2 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, on behalf of the State Railway of Thailand, invites submission of qualifications data from interested U.S. firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and performance to complete a feasibility study for a design to improve a 75 kilometer section of rail between Map Kabao and Lad Buakao. The main objectives of the design are to ease grades, allowing operation of normal-length trains; increase curve radii and therefore increase speed; and reduce the route length. The design shall include all necessary provisions for future double tracking through phased implementation and for construction without disruption of existing service. In addition, the feasibility study will conduct an environmental impact assessment for the proposed project. The feasibility study and environmental impact assessment will identify a preferred and environmentally acceptable conceptual design for railway improvement; provide a capital cost estimate; make an economic evaluation; identify financial performance of the project; and indicate a possible financing method. The feasibility study will be conducted in two stages: First Stage: Between Map Kabao (km 134+300) and Pak Chong (km 179-930), a total of 45.63 km. Second Stage: Continuation from Pak Chong (km 179+930) to Lad Buakao (km 209+415) a total distance of 29.49 km. The Consultant will carry out the following core tasks as part of the proposed study. I. Data Collection and Development 1. Existing railway alignment and track plan - The consultant shall obtain plan and profile drawings of the existing railway between Map Kabao and Lad Buakao; and plans showing the existing track layout including passing sides, interlockings, grade crossings, stations, depots and any other relevant fixed facility or system. 2 Existing rail operations (trains, consists freight and passenger statistics) - The consultant shall obtain information describing existing passenger and freight operations as they relate to the line between Map Kabao and Lad Buakao, including train schedules and timetables; train formation and in-service changes; operating rules and speeds; passengers and car loads hauled; and activities at each station. 3. Projected future railway traffic - The consultant shall investigate and determine the availability and reliability of any forecasts of future railway operation relevant to the Map Kabao - Lad Buakao line. Both freight and passengers shall be addressed. Should no reliable forecasts be available, the consultant shall develop forecasts or assumptions related to future rail traffic for use in the feasibility study. 4. Topographical mapping of the area - The consultant shall obtain available topographical maps covering the study area, including sufficient adjacent areas for the purpose of identifying and analyzing potential alternative routes. Mapping should be at a scale of 1:10,000 or larger, with a sufficient detail to support preliminary (conceptual level) determination of railway alignment grades; horizontal and vertical curves; approximate length of at grade cuts, fill viaduct and tunnel construction. 5. Geotechnical characteristics - The consultant shall collect available geotechnical data describing geology and soil conditions within the area addressed by the study, as appropriate to an understanding of construction methods and costs. II. Alignment Criteria The consultant shall obtain existing railway design criteria, with focus on the Map Kabao - Lad Buakao line. The consultant will relate the criteria to operating parameters such as train lengths, attainable or allowable speeds, stopping distances, signaling requirements and related documents. The consultant will develop and propose criteria suitable for the design of new alignments within the study area. The alignment criteria will address maximum gradients and length of grades, vertical and horizontal curve radii, track spacing and clearance envelopes, spacing and length of sidings for single trace lines, design requirements of passenger and freight stations, requirements for signals, communications, future electrification and usage of double stack ISO containers. III. Alignment Alternatives 1. Plans and Profiles - The consultant will prepare alternative alignments conforming to the approved design criteria. The alternatives shall seek to identify practical and economical solutions, including suitability for staged implementation of both single and double tack configurations. 2. Typical Sections and Construction Types - The consultant shall design typical sections for each applicable construction type and relate these to the alternative alignments. 3. Implementation Phases - The consultant shall identify and propose appropriate phasing options allowing for an orderly and economic implementation of alignment improvements. IV. Capital Cost Except Rolling Stock 1. Approximate Unit Costs - Based on recent cost data from similar projects in Thailand and adaptation of cost data from other similar countries and projects, the consultant shall establish unit costs for each major cost category needed to estimate capital costs. 2. Infrastructure Costs - The consultant shall develop overall capital cost estimates for the infrastructure of the project. 3. Track and Systems Costs - The consultant shall develop overall capital cost estimates for single and double track and related systems, including signals and communications, and grade crossing protection systems, if any. The cost of crossing separation, if any, shall be presented in a separate form. The cost of electrification including power supply shall also be estimated as a separate item. 4. Other Related Costs - The consultant shall identify any other systems or facilities related to these alternative improvements, including right-of-way, demolition and relocation of any existing structures, utilities relocation, etc. 5. Costs by Implementation Stages - The capital costs are to be broken down by stage of implementation. V. Operations, Rolling Stock and O&M Costs 1. Operations Simulations(Existing system and alternatives) - For the purpose of evaluation of improvement options, the consultant shall analyze operation of SRT service over an appropriate period of time. The analysis will compare operation under existing conditions with operation under the new proposed improved conditions, including stages of implementation. The consultant shall employ train operation simulation techniques to determine the effect of the improvements on train running times, energy requirements, and equipment utilization and requirements. 2. Rolling Stock Requirements and Costs - The consultant shall identify rolling stock requirements for the various alternatives and determine capital costs. 3. O&M Cost Model - The consultant shall develop and calibrate an O&M cost model. The model will be applied to the selected alternatives, including sensitivity analysis to account for different technical and commercial conditions. 4. O&M Costs - The consultant shall develop O&M cost estimates, using service parameters established by operation simulations, for each of the selected alternatives. VI. Economic Evaluation 1. Economic Benefits - The consultant shall develop an economic evaluation criteria to assess the economic value of alternative alignments and system improvements. Economic benefits will be identified and quantified by year, for an appropriate evaluation period. 2. Economic Costs - The consultant will adapt capital costs in each year of the evaluation period, excluding non-resource costs from the evaluation. 3. Evaluation Indicators - The consultant shall identify economic indicators for each alternative, in comparison with the base case in which the existing rail system continues to be used. Indicators shall include the Net Present Value at selected discount rates, the internal rate of return and the Cost/Benefit ratio. 4. Interpretation of Evaluation Results - the consultant shall prepare a description of the economic evaluation and its results, including a commentary on the significance of differences among alternatives and conclusions reached. VII. Financial Evaluation 1. Operating Revenues by Year - the consultant shall estimate operating revenues from passenger and freight operations in each year, for each of the selected alternatives. 2. Other Revenues by Year - The consultant shall identify and estimate any potential non-operating revenues for each of the selected alternatives. 3. Financial Costs by Year - The consultant shall tabulate outlays for construction, operation and maintenance, replacements and major repairs and any other related costs, for each of the selected alternatives. Interest and other financing costs shall also be addressed separately. 4. Financial Cost Flow - The consultant shall develop an annual cash flow for the project, for each selected alternative. 5. Funding Sources and Financing Results - The consultant shall identify potential funding sources and develop pro forma including financing costs, to compare the financial feasibility of the selected alternatives. 6. Interpretation of Evaluation Results - The consultant shall prepare an analysis of the financial evaluation and its results, including a commentary on the significance of differences among the selected alternatives, and conclusions reached. VIII. Recommended Program and Implementation Plan 1. Recommended Improvement Program - the consultant shall report on and discuss with SRT the alternatives considered and the economic and financial results of the analysis. The consultant shall formulate a recommended implementation program of the preferred rail route improvements. 2. Institutional Arrangements - The consultant shall identify any unique institutional arrangements needed for the project, considering financial, commercial, technical, safety and operational specs. 3. Design and Contracting Approach - The consultant shall explore and define appropriate forms of accomplished design and construction of the required infrastructure and facilities. 4. Implementation Timetable - The consultant shall prepare an implementation timetable, showing realistic time allowances for the various steps required for complete implementation of the project. IX. Environmental Impact Assessment The consultant shall conduct an environmental impact assessment for the project, including documentation of existing conditions in the corridor, and predicted conditions resulting during construction of the approved improvements and operations of the new system. Topics to be addressed shall be, but not limited to: A. Physical Resources 1. Noise Level (During construction and operation phases) 2. Vibration (During construction and operation phases) 3. Air Quality (During construction and operation phases) 4. Hydrology and Surface Water (Water flow, navigation clearances, sedimentation) B. Human Use Values 1. Land Use Patterns (Impact on existing and planned uses, use of excess land) 2. Transportation Networks (Interference) C. Quality of Life Values 1. Human Settlement (Relocations) 2. Socioeconomic Status (Changes in status and land values) 3. Community Landscapes (Visual Impact) D. Ecological Resources 1. Aquatic Ecosystem (Surface water quality degradation) 2. Terrestrial Ecosystem (Vegetation and habitat lost) The selection of the Contractor will be based on the following criteria which will be given equal weight: 1. Experience in the design, specification, and procurement of railway double tracking system; 2. General business experience in Thailand or Asia; 3. Experience in conducting economic evaluations and analyzing the financing of railway projects and the documentation associated with financing. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection. (0222)

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