Mr. Driss Benhima, CEO, Office National de l'Electricite (ONE), 65, Rue Othman Ben Affan, Casablanca 20 000 -- Morocco, Tel: 212-2-6-88-86, Fax: 212-2-0-56-98

B -- MOROCCO: FIBER-OPTICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 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 provide technical assistance for a proposed fiber optics network project in Morocco. Electrical power companies all over the world are developing telecommunication services using the right-of-way established by their distribution grids. The networks use the installed power grids owned and operated by the utilities to extend advanced fiber optic cables and to give the electricity customers telecommunications links through the same carrier. The system benefits the power company through increased revenues and the community through lower fees and easy access to the newest telecommunications technology. This issue is being discussed across North Africa, and ONE, Morocco's national electrical power generation and distributing agency, is ready to develop a proposal for the Moroccan government's (GOM) approval. Its power transmission right-of-way is a very valuable resource for developing telecommunication service providers. An installed system could also support automation control of its electrical distribution grid, which would lower electrical power consumption by improving network operations and efficiencies. Digital command and control makes a power network more efficient thus providing more power capability at lower costs. The consultant will be required to review ONE's network and its contracts with government and other private agencies to determine what portion of the network is under ONE control versus that which is controlled by other power affiliates and authorities. The consultant will then do a preliminary design of a communication distribution network that can be overlaid onto ONE's existing power distribution network. The basic cost and potential revenues from such a system will also be established. The report will explain the advantages and disadvantages of the development of the proposed fiber-optics system. Finally, the consultant will develop a detailed feasibility study scope of work to illustrate the next steps of the project's development. This scope of work will be written with an emphasis on those factors, which will attract and identify sources of private financing for the project's implementation. This information will be used by ONE to generate a report that will be submitted to the government. The report will demonstrate why ONE should be given the authority to create and organize a new telecommunication company. If the government of Morocco agrees with the strategy set out in the presentation, a feasibility study will be conducted to establish the technical specifications and financial details of the project. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $40,000 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 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 courier and/or mailroom 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 and in French directly to the Grantee by 12:00 p.m., Thursday, July 22, 1999, 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. Posted 06/04/99 (I-SN339274). (0155)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0012 19990608\B-0001.SOL)