B -- 230 KV AND 69 KV ELECTRIC SYSTEM UPGRADES PROJECT FOR AES VENEZUELA -- EDC

Notice Date

February 22, 2001

Contracting Office

USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

April 6, 2001

Point of Contact

POC -- Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009

Description

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 focused on the design, construction and delivery of a series of system upgrades for EDC's 230-kV and 69-kV transmission/subtransmission system in the Greater Caracas area, including installation of new substations and transmission lines. EDC is a private sector electric utility that serves five million residential, industrial and commercial customers in Caracas and surrounding areas. The company operates seven power plants with 2283 MW of installed capacity. The proposed project comprises a series of interrelated measures to upgrade the transmission (230 kV) and subtransmission (69 kV) rings that serve the Greater Caracas area. Specifically, the project would enable EDC to maintain quality of service in its service territory, reduce operation of aged, inefficient and polluting thermal generation capacity loaded at the Ricardo Zuloaga complex, comprising 14 units in the Tacoa extension, and Arrecife stations with a total of almost 1,900 MW, and prepare for the introduction of the El Sitio generation station in 2002-2003, which will make it possible for EDC to export power to the Sistema Interconectado Nacional (National Interconnection System). The feasibility study scope of work would cover the following tasks: Task I: Review system models, current operating conditions and expansion plans and perform field inspections of EDC system Task II: Define scenarios for use in evaluating the proposed solutions and criteria for selection Task III: Identification of alternative solutions for preselection, and selection of solutions for detailed system evaluation Task IV: Detailed evaluation of the four solutions through incorporation into system model and evaluation under selected scenarios, preparation of cost estimates Task V: Presentation to EDC senior management of recommended Solution The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $244,000 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). The Study has been estimated by TDA to cost U.S. $284,000. The TDA Grant funding of U.S. $244,000 will cover only a portion of that amount. The Contractor and/or its subcontractors must cover whatever cost is necessary to complete the full Terms of Reference (TOR). A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the TOR, and a background definitional mission are available from TDA, at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, 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 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 and Spanish directly to the Grantee by 4:00PM local Caracas time, April 6, 2001 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.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010226/BSOL003.HTM (W-053 SN50E3M8)