Contact: His Excellency Elias J. Hobeika, Minister, Ministry of Hydraulic and Electric Resources, Cornishe de Fleuve, Beirut, LEBANON, Phone: 011-961-1-565-041, Fax: 011-961-1-449-639.

B -- LEBANON -- EDL BILLING AND REVENUE COLLECTION MODERNIZATION PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009. Lebanon -- EDL Billing and Revenue Collection Modernization Project Feasibility Study. The Grantee, Ministry of Hydraulic and Electric Resources (MHER), 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 assessment of a billing and revenue collection modernization project for the national power distribution system in Lebanon. This project is part of Lebanons extensive post-war reconstruction and will introduce a centralized system of remote, electronic readers at its headquarters and a computerized billing and accounting system to process the information. By tying reader output and payment collection to the average local and national electric consumption, such a system is expected to uncover and control piracy spontaneously and continuously. The system will also ensure a two-way dynamic exchange of data between the consumer and Electricite du Liban (EDL), the national electric utility and a part of MHER. EDL will be better able to serve the consumer, as well as itself, by being better informed about the figures of the bills and the level of consumption. In general, the system envisioned would be an automated type comparable to the more advanced systems currently installed in the U.S. The feasibility study will examine the needs of MHER and develop the appropriate system and procurement recommendations to suit its requirements. This will include a system of communicating between the meter and the general headquarters that can store and convey information from meter to headquarters and vice-versa without any additional burdens to the consumer. Specific tasks will also include data gathering, a implementation schedule, operating scenarios and staffing estimates, cost estimates, benefit estimates, feasibility analysis, ownership and contract terms, a final report, and the preparation of the bidding documents. The study Terms of Reference will be performed by an independent firm which will not be eligible to compete as a potential contractor for the installation and operation of the project. The use of an independent U.S. firm to perform the Study will provide MHER and EDL with a broader perspective and more options for implementation. This method will also allow the selected U.S. firm to prepare the bidding documents and procedures on behalf of MHER. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $340,000 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 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 firms 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 directly to the Grantee by 4:00 PM, September 16, 1998, 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 08/03/98 (I-SN231783). (0215)

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