Dr. Jose Soriano, Director General; CONATEL; Edificio MTC Av. Veracruz con Calle Cali - Las Mercedes, Caracas, Venezuela; Tel: 011-582-92-51-91; Fax: 011-582-92-60-33.

C -- SIMON BOLIVAR SATELLITE PROJECT FOR THE ANDEAN PACT NATIONS FEASIBILITY STUDY DUE 052996 POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the ''Proposal'') from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a feasibility study for the Simon Bolivar satellite project. CONATEL, the National Telecommunications Commission of Venezuela, is responsible for coordinating this effort within the five Andean Pact Nations to expand the availability of satellite services throughout the Andean Pact nations in South America. The Simon Bolivar project will be composed of two phases: (1) Lease or buy capacity from available satellite service operators to meet initial demand and develop the markets in the Andean region. (2) Launch and operate a dedicated satellite. The Andean Nations private sectors are preparing for the formation of an international company to be responsible for the implementation of the project. The scope of work for the feasibility study consists of the following tasks: (1) demand analysis study; (2) growth forecast study; (3) financial analysis study; (4) satellite system design; (5) technical specifications; (6) preparation of tender Documents; (7) final report. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $403,000 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 is available from TDA at Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1621. Requests for the RFP should be faxed to the IRC, TDA at 703-875-4009. 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 a courier delivery service should include the name of the courier company and your firms account number in the request for the RFP. No telephone requests for the RFP will be honored. 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-finnced 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. Evaluation criteria for contractor selection are as follows: (1) Team's prior experience in implementing comparable satellite system studies (20%); (2) Adequacy of workplan, technical approach, proposed milestones and schedule (25%); (3) Staff qualifications and experience in comparable work (years with firm, years in present position, years of overseas experience) (up to 20%); (4) Project experience in Latin America and Spanish language capability (up to 20%); (5) Teams international finance experience, particularly in working with commercial banks, international financing institutions and donor agencies, for the establishment of telecommunications projects (15%). Interested U.S. firms should submit their proposal in English (one copy) and Spanish (Eight -8 copies) directly to the Grantee in Venezuela by May 29, 1996. 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 cost associated with the preparation and submission of proposals. (0117)

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