Mr. Panzo Andonov, JP Elektrostopanstvo Bote Bocevski bb na Makedonija, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, Tel: (389-91) 111-088, Fax: (389-91) 227-604

B -- FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE MACEDONIAN POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MODERNIZATION 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 which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a feasibility study for the upgrade and modernization of the Macedonian power distribution system. The government-owned electric utility Elektrostopanstvo was a member of the Yugoslav power authority Jugel prior to the break-up of Yugoslavia. Elektrostopanstvo plans to operate in parallel with the Serbian and Greek power systems and the UCPTE after the interrupted transmission lines in Croatia have been repaired. Elektrostopanstvo wishes to modernize its distribution system. TDA has agreed to finance a feasibility study of the primary (medium voltage) distribution systems modernization. The feasibility study will produce a master plan which will be the primary document used by international lenders to finance the modernization. The objectives of this study are to improve the reliability of the power supply, improve the quality of the power supply (no voltage dips, no harmonics, etc.), reduce energy losses, reduce the time required to repair damages, reduce labor needs for operation and maintenance, and minimize environmental impacts. The feasibility study tasks include: assessment of existing situation and future needs, analysis of requirements, implementation options and resulting costs, organizational requirements, implementation guidelines, conclusions and recommendations, interactions with international lenders, and visits to several pertinent sites and a training seminar. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $350,000 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 materials are 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. 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 (e.g. Federal Express) 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 English directly to the Grantee at the above address by December 23, 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. (0318)

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