Contact:Petru Ianc,Head of Department,Ministry of Industries, Metallurgical Industry Department,Calea Victoriei 152,70179 Bucuresti 1, Romania,Fax:(401)312-5956,Phone:(401)650-6387

R -- FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE UPGRADE OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY AT THE SIDEX STEEL PLANT IN ROMANIA POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 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 for an upgrade of a Coke Oven Battery at the SIDEX steel plant in Galati, Romania. The objective of this project is to produce a bankable feasibility study for the reconstruction and revamping of the #7 Coke Oven Battery. This project also foresees the modernization of the waste gas and dust cleaning system by adding both an environmentally sound wet quenching system and a dry nitrogen quenching system. The feasibility study scope of work would cover the following topics: -Deliver detailed engineering specifications and preliminary drawings for the new # 7 coke oven battery; -- Develop engineering details and specifications for the installation of a computer control and process system; -Determine specifications for improved equipment and machinery to move the coal and coke products; -Establish the engineering specifications for an automatic positioning system for the coke oven servicing machines; -Identify the improvements necessary to upgrade all utilities for the coking oven; -Scope the engineering and equipment necessary for the exhaust and emission section of the plant; -Provide a detailed equipment list and capital cost estimate for project implementation; -Produce an operating cost projection and develop an economic viability study; -- Prepare a financing memorandum with financial analysis and technical and economic presentations-this involves meeting with EXIM, OPIC, Commercial lenders and other institutions; -Final Report. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $468,000 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/desk study report are available from TDA, at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, 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 courierand/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, October 27, 1997 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. (0248)

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