United States Agency for International Development, USAID/Egypt, Office of Procurement (O/PROC), Unit 64902, APO AE 09839-4902

C -- PREQUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE -- INSTALLATION SUPERVISION OF DIGITAL SWITCHING SYSTEMS, OUTSIDE PLANT NETWORKS AND NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER IN CAIRO, ALEXANDRIA PORT SAID AND OTHER NEW CITIES SOL RFP No. 263-99-P-015 POC Contact Point: Mr. Samy Faraq, Contract Negotiator, Tel: 011-20-2-357-3257/3839, Fax: 011-20-2-357-3818, E-mail: sfarag@usaid.gov The United States Agency for International Development acting through USAID mission to Egypt invites expressions of interest and submission of prequalification questionnaires, for the purpose of shortlisting, from U.S. consulting engineering firms who can demonstrate extensive experience and capability in the area of Telecommunication Projects. USAID is financing jointly with TELECOM Egypt of the Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE), the Telecommunications Sector Support (TSS) program, designed to assist the Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE) in rehabilitating and modernizing portions of the national telecommunications system. The TSS program is financing digital switching systems (DSS), Outside Plant Networks (OSP) and a Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC will monitor and control traffic and network performance to obtain optimum use of the network. The approximate consultant services required are for the installation supervision of (1) 310,000 DSS lines, (2) 282,600 OSP feeder lines and 63,275 OSP redistribution lines, and (3) the NOC. The construction management contractor (CMC) shall be acting as TELECOM Egypt's installation supervisor, overseeing the DSS, OSP and NOC projects' installation and monitoring and administering the DSS, OSP and NOC host country contracts in this effort. The CMC will work closely with TELECOM Egypt project teams. A USAID, direct cost plus fixed fee contract is anticipated. The Contract will be for a two year period with an option to extend the contract up to two additional years to allow for supervising the possible installation of approximately 75,000 more DSS and OSP lines. Exercise of any option to extend the contract is restricted to the obligation of funding for the equipment purchase under the TSS program and the time extension of the TSS program if granted. Funds for this procurement are not currently available, however, they are anticipated to be available shortly. Issuance of this request does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation or submission of any information. It is a requirement that the firms must comply with AID geographic code 000 (USA) for nationality and source regulations. Consulting engineering firms will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria found in AID Acquisition Regulations, Part 736.602-3(B), listed in descending order of importance. Consulting engineering firms are expected to demonstrate the following information, which will be used for evaluation process: (A) extensive experience and capability in the area of telecommunication projects; (B) management capability, workload capacity and financial resources; (C) similar services and work experience within the past five years in the Middle East and/or Egypt and/or similar developing country environment. USAID requests that interested consulting engineering firms should submit six copies of completed US government standard forms SF 254, Architect-Engineer (A- E) and related services questionnaire and SF 255 A-E and related services questionnaire for specific projects. It is anticipated that the selected consultant will sign a contract with USAID to provide services subject to availability of funds. The firm's current financial statement and an affirmative statement that the firm can meet AID's nationality and source regulations must also be submitted. Copies of interested firm's brochures and annual reports may also be of value in presenting the firm's qualification. If joint ventures seek prequalifications, information must be supplied for all firms in the venture. Consultant's data will be verified. The completed prequalification information and related statements must be received no later than 45 calendar days from the date of publication of this announcement at the following address. Additional information submitted after that date may be rejected by USAID. Submit prequalification forms to the following address: Mr. William Reynolds, Contracting Officer, Office of Procurement, United States Agency for International Development, USAID/Egypt, c/o U.S. Embassy, 8, Kamal El Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt. If sent by U.S. mail: Office of Procurement, Unit 64902, APO AE 09839-4902. USAID will establish a short list of at least three qualified firms as per FAR part 36.602-3(C). USAID will provide the draft statement of work, a list of questions to be addressed and evaluation criteria to the short listed firms for purposes of holding discussions. After the final selection of the most qualified firm or joint venture to perform the work, USAID will request a cost proposal from, and will negotiate with, this top ranked firm or joint venture. If a satisfactory contract cannot be concluded, USAID may negotiate with the next ranked firm or joint venture. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as prime contractors or subcontractors in accordance with Part 19 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. In this respect, it is anticipated that the prime contractor will make every reasonable effort to identify and make maximum practicable use of such concerns. All other evaluation criteria being found equal, the participation of such concerns may become a determining factor for selection. "The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5" floppy disk (WordPerfect 5.1/5.2 format). This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Web Site. The RFP, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency web site. The Worldwide Web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and Procurement Opportunities from the home page, then "USAID Procurements." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Solicitations." Receipt of this RFP through INTERNET must be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from INTERNET in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Posted 12/22/98 (I-SN282776). (0356)

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