Lic. Jose A. Barbero, Planning Manager, Metrovias, S.A., Bartolome Mitre 3342, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Phone: (54-1) 862-4020, Fax: (54-1) 862-8457

B -- BUENOS AIRES SUBWAY VENTILATION SYSTEM POC Carol Stillwell, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 Metrovias, S.A., a private consortium led by Roggio, S.A. an Argentine construction company, won a 20-year concession for the operation of the Buenos Aires subway and the Ferrocarril General Urquiza line of the commuter rail system. The Argentine government required two key provisions under the terms of the concession: the concessionaire must perform a stated service schedule that maintains original fare levels; and execute an investment program, pre-established by the Government, aimed at renovating existing infrastructure. Over the course of these first two years, Metrovias has complied with its renewal program and invested approximately $50 million in the subway infrastructure. The installation of a ventilation system in the subway is part of the Metrovias investment program. It is expected that installation of the system would begin in the second quarter of 1998, following the completion of design and engineering during 1997. To assist with the planning and development of the new ventilation system, Metrovias requires a conceptual technical study to develop computer models and test segments of the Buenos Aires subway for heat, airflow, and gas emissions. The study will consist of two phases. During the first phase a survey of typical segments of the system will be conducted to evaluate existing conditions and to assemble relevant project data. The second phase will involve modeling air velocity and temperature in the tunnels and stations, considering the present cars, as well as a new air conditioned fleet. Computational fluid dynamics models should be used to evaluate stations' conditions during a fire emergency. An environment simulation computer program should be used to evaluate conditions in tunnels during a fire emergency as well as during normal conditions. An evaluation of the concepts, recommended alternatives, and an investment plan for the preferred ventilation system will be prepared as part of the feasibility study. Specific tasks in the Terms of Reference include the following: oIdentification of Fire-Life Safety Standards, o Collect and Review Subway Environment Simulations Data, o Develop SES Network Diagram, o Develop Base SES Input Files, o Develop Alternative Ventilation Concepts, oTrain Operations Simulations, oNormal Operations Simulations, o Tunnel Emergency Simulations, o Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Model Development, o CFD Natural Ventilation Analysis, o CFD Mechanical Ventilation Analysis, oRecommendation of Preferred Concept and Development of Investment Plan. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $434,000 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 desk study report are available from TDA, at Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602. 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. 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 Spanish and English directly to the Grantee in Buenos Aires, Argentina by November 25, 1996. 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. (0281)

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