Contact: Maja Cetineo, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology, Strossmayerov trg 4, 10000 Zagreb, CROATIA, Phone: (385-1) 459-4331, Fax: (385-1) 459-4469; E-mail: maja.cetineo@science.hr

B -- CROATIA -- NATIONAL LIBRARY DATA MANAGEMENT/ARCHIVING SYSTEM POC Evangela Kunene, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009. National Library Data Management/Archiving System. The Ministry of Science and Technology 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 to assist the Ministry of Science and Technology with the evaluation and design of a data management/archiving system for the Croatian National Library. This project, or "Project NISKA," is a joint project of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Science and Technology (with the latter serving as project sponsor and potential grantee) that would provide for a national register of all library materials. The goal of this project is to create databases, create catalogs, provide education and provide internet access for both library personnel and the users that they serve, with online information regarding the materials and publications maintained by all libraries within Croatia. Users of the system would be able to review titles and their current availability instead of relying upon phone calls to staff of various libraries. Users would use the Internet to access the national catalog. For materials that can be checked out, users would be able to reserve the required item, and could then collect it at their convenience. Additionally, many materials will be made available electronically, thereby allowing immediate use. It is expected that the proposed information system would require the implementation of a wide-area-network to support the library management requirements. This network would be installed within all participating library facilities to support operations. Facilities where the current infrastructure is sufficient would simply be incorporated into the network. Using a web server solution library customers would be able to access the catalog from their own Internet-capable computers, thereby significantly improving their ability to utilize library resources. Each of the necessary equipment categories (processors, communications, databases, architecture, etc.) have several market alternatives available for implementation. These alternatives are not mutually exclusive, so significant flexibility exists in project implementation. Under the terms of this grant, the feasibility study will examine the technical, economic and financial factors effecting the development of an information data management/archiving system that will enable end users to access all bibliographical data in Croatia and to implement new ideas for fully building the global society of the future. The system will include communications capabilities via the Internet and extensive information, e.g. databases, catalogs and all kinds of bibliographic data. The feasibility study will be expected to include: (1) definition of business drivers for the project; (2) review of systems strategy; (3) review of project management processes; (4) assessment of technical efficacy; (5) identification and quantification of risks; (6) review of business process impact/change of management strategy; (7) review of IT organization/analysis of project resources; (8) review of project budgets/cost projections/benefits/risks; (9) review of roll-out & operational support plans and; (10) final report. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $70,000 grant to the Ministry of Science and Technology from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). The U.S. firm selected will be responsible for completing the entire feasibility study, which has an estimated cost of $85,000. This Feasibility Study will be competed among U.S. information systems equipment and service providers and will include an implied cost share of $15,000. 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 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 Ministry of Science and Technology by 4:00pm, local time, March 19, 1999, at the above address. Evaluation criteria for the Proposal are included in the RFP. The Proposal shall consist of a technical proposal only. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection, however, a cost proposal is required to demonstrate allocation of resources and expenditures for the Ministry of Science and Technologys review. The Ministry of Science and Technology reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The Ministry of Science and Technology also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The Ministry of Science and Technology is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals. Posted 02/05/99 (I-SN295497). (0036)

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