B -- NEOCHIM ENERGY EFFICIENCY FEASIBILITY STUDY, BULGARIA

Notice Date

August 28, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

October 1, 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 to review and analyze Neochim's operations in detail and make recommendations for equipment and technological upgrades and changes in operational practices. Neochim SA, located in Dimitrovfrad in southeast Bulgaria, operates a fertilizer complex. The company produces a wide range of chemical products, but concentrates mainly on ammonium nitrate(630,000 metric tons/year), ammonia (410,000 metric tons/year) and formaline." Neochim faces two problems with its energy process. First, the company is interested in analyzing the feasibility of a small scale power generation facility using the waste steam from the plant. Neochim reports that large amounts of steam and waste gases (200,000 cubic meters per hour) are emitted into the atmosphere during the summer months. Additionally, Neochim would like to improve its energy efficiency methods. A large amount of heat and steam is dissipated at various stages in the production process due to poor design installation in the reforming and the refining of the technical synthetic gas, which could be used for power. The proposed feasibility study would analyze whether the excess heat and steam, which is now being lost in the process, could be captured and converted into energy with a small cogeneration facility. A plant audit would be incorporated to analyze operations in detail and identify key areas for retrofits and upgrades in the plant. Plant data will have to be obtained over an extended test period to identify bottlenecks, energy losses, equipment performance and other vital statistics. The results of the analysis will identify critical areas for retrofit and equipment upgrades to increase capacity and improve efficiency. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $254,000 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 definitional mission report 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 directly to the Grantee by 4:00 PM, October 1, 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. 20010830/BSOL002.HTM (W-240 SN50W130)