Section III: Feasibility Study Opportunities Advertised in The Federal Business Opportunities The following is a listing of bidding opportunities for USTDA-approved feasibility study funding. A grant has been signed directly with the foreign country project sponsor and is offered on the condition that a U.S. firm is contracted to conduct the study. The foreign country sponsor selects the American firm. Foreign country project sponsors are accepting proposals from U.S. firms interested in undertaking these studies. Specifics on what is required by U.S. bidders can be found in the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), including the scope of work and the foreign contact overseeing the bidding process. (Bid announcements can now be accessed through the FedBizOpps website at www.eps.gov.) Requests for the bid package can be faxed to USTDA's Information Resource Center at (703) 875-4009. USTDA cannot process requests for bid packages prior to publication in the FedBizOpps. Note: items marked with a check (Ö) are new listings for this section. Ö Egypt - Polyvinyl Chloride Plant The Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), a past and current grantee of USTDA funding assistance, is looking to increase its current production of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) to meet domestic and export needs by modernizing operations and developing a new production line.  ECHEM is looking for a U.S. consultant to conduct a feasibility study that will develop a technical and economic assessment of its future expansion as well as provide a final report that could be presented to financiers. The total cost for the feasibility study is estimated at $542,129.  An additional $271,129 will be provided by ECHEM to complete the study.  The terms of reference for the PVC plant feasibility study are summarized as follows:  prepare market assessment; process technology/licensor selection; conduct site investigation and preliminary environmental assessment; prepare cost estimates; financial and benefit analysis; risk assessment and mitigation analysis; prepare project implemen-tation and financing strategy; and submission of the final report. USTDA No.: 04-10018B USTDA Grant: $271,000 Est. U.S. Exports: $50 million Published: 9/23/04 Closing Date: 10/21/04 Ö Romania - Integrated Climatology, Agro-Meteorological, Air Pollution Forecast and Warning, Computation and Training Center (INTEROPERATE) USTDA approved funding for a U.S. firm to develop a feasibility study on the Integrated Climatology, Agro-Meteorological, Air Pollution Forecast and Warning, Computation and Training Center (INTEROPERATE) project for the Romanian National Meteorological Administration (RNMA).  Since 2000, RNMA has focused on implementing a new strategy to create a modern meteorological surveillance system.  The first RNMA investment project, the National Integrated Meteorological System (SIMIN), which is valued at $55 million, addressed Romania's primary objective of modernizing and integrating the country's various resources and real-time detection capabilities, and also facilitated the exchange of data at the local, regional, and global levels.  Under the project, the team led by the RNMA and Lockheed Martin deployed weather radars, automated weather observation stations, lightning detection networks, weather satellite reception, numerical weather prediction models, hydrological buoys, forecaster decision/display systems, and telecommunications networks in Romania.  The project team successfully integrated state-of-the-art, commercial-off-the-shelf technologies and products building on Romania's existing meteorological infrastructure. The Destructive Waters and Abatement and Control of Water Disasters (DESWAT) program was initiated following SIMIN in order to improve the flood forecasting capabilities of the RNMA.  The implementation of DESWAT, at a cost of $64 million, represented a significant upgrading of Romania's hydrological monitoring system, enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response.  The lead contractor on this project was Lockheed Martin. Building upon the SIMIN and DESWAT projects, the Romanian Government is now deploying a water management (WATMAN) system, which will integrate all the information related to river basin monitoring and will include all relevant 'actors' - water agencies, industrial, urban, and agricultural users, hydro-works, etc. - into a modern instrument for water management and disaster response.  The system will be an essential tool in predicting and managing water emergencies such as floods, droughts, dam accidents, and accidental pollution. The proposed INTEROPERATE project would upgrade and enhance the existing SIMIN infrastructure, and would also add computing power, data storage capacities, and communications infrastructure in order to collect, integrate, and analyze data generated from the SIMIN, DESWAT, and WATMAN projects, increasing the effectiveness and benefits of all three. Ultimately, the INTEROPERATE project will form a core element of Romania's planned National Crisis Management System.  The INTEROPERATE project would specifically meet the following objectives:  1) modernization and enhancement of the observation and processing subsystems for climatology; 2) modernization of the agro-meteorological monitoring and forecast processes, and integrating them into a national system; 3) modernization of atmospheric pollution monitoring and forecast processes and integrating them into a national system; 4) Development of a national meteorological data processing and storage center, encompassing data from SIMIN, DESWAT, and WATMAN; and 5) development of an ongoing training program for meteorologists, agro-meteorologists, and environmental experts, with appropriate facilities. USTDA No.: 04-70042B USTDA Grant: $340,100 Est. U.S. Exports: $20 million Published: 9/23/04 Closing Date: 10/25/04 Ö Indonesia - Airports Safety and Security Assessment Indonesia has approximately 163 airports (including dirt air strips, general aviation, and heliports) of which 23 are international airports.  The Directorate General of Air Communications (DGAC), Indonesia's top authority for all civil aviation matters, manage the vast majority of these airports.  During the last five years the Government has implemented a liberal airline licensing policy, which has resulted in the growth of the airline market from 2 to 21 licensed carriers.  Competition amongst airlines has caused fares to decrease and air travel to increase.  This drastic rise in business has resulted in a major strain on the airports' ability to provide adequate safety and security provisions for passengers. In 2000, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducted an audit of Indonesia's airport safety and security procedures and systems.  The objective of this audit was to conduct an assessment of the safety oversight capability of the DGAC and to ensure that it conforms to the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.  The Interim Audit Report prepared by ICAO specified precise areas where Indonesia needed to make improvements, and in response, Indonesia submitted an action plan addressing all the findings and recommendations contained in the Interim Audit Report.  Although Indonesia's action plan addressed all the issues raised in the ICAO Audit Report, safety and security continue to be important concerns at all of Indonesia's airports.  For example, the probability that an aviation-related security incident will occur in Indonesia is 1 in 10,000, whereas in Singapore the probability is 1 in 100,000.  In light of this, the Government of Indonesia has made a commitment to upgrading the safety and security procedures at all of its airports. The USTDA-funded technical assistance will help to identify and remedy the security and safety weaknesses in Indonesia's airports.  The Contractor will prepare a detailed action plan including specific training requirements for upgrading safety and security, cost estimates, an investment plan, and an implementation schedule for the safety and security measures that will enable Indonesian airports to operate close to or at par with international standards.  The project will help Indonesian airports maintain a safe environment for commercial activity, tourism, regional economic integration and foreign investment.  These factors are critical to the country's sustained growth and development. USTDA No.: 04-30051A USTDA Grant: $443,500 Est. U.S. Exports: $40 million Published: 9/24/04 Closing Date: 10/22/04 Ö Indonesia - Natuna Islands Air Traffic Control and Airspace Management The Natuna Islands are located in the South China Sea, in the waters northeast of Singapore, and in between the Malaysian peninsula and east Malaysia on the island of Borneo.  In 1973, the authority for air navigation services over the Natuna Islands was delegated to Singapore and Malaysia in accordance with an agreement reached at the International Civil Aviation Organization's Regional Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Indonesia still holds full authority on the airspace over its territory, despite having contracted part of its airspace management to other sovereign entities.  Malaysia and Singapore charge fees for managing this portion of Indonesia's airspace, but all airspace and overflight charges are returned to Jakarta. Over time, the intention of the Government of Indonesia is to assume the rights and obligations associated with managing the airspace above the Natuna Islands.  The issue of transferring the airspace will eventually be resolved through discussions at the political levels between the governments of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.  Regardless of the arrangements and agreements that are reached between these three governments, considerable investment will be required to put in place the air traffic control (ATC) systems and equipment to achieve full airspace management capability.  In addition, technical assistance and training will be needed to enhance the technical and human resources capability of Indonesia's air traffic and airspace management personnel. The objective of the USTDA-funded technical assistance is to determine the training, technical and financial requirements of the project and recommend a program for its implemen-tation.  This ATC activity would promote the modernization of Indonesia's aviation and transportation infrastructure, which are critical to the commercial and economic development of the country.  The immediate impact of USTDA's assistance to the Directorate General of Air Communications would be Indonesia's full management of its airspace and the improve-ment of local air traffic control capabilities.  Improved aviation safety would be both a short- and long-term product of any USTDA assistance. USTDA No.: 04-30016B USTDA Grant: $627,000 Est. U.S. Exports: $95 million Published: 9/24/04 Closing Date: 10/22/04 Ö Indonesia - Airline Computer Reservation Systems The Directorate General of Air Communications (DGAC) invites submission of qualifications and proposal data from interested U.S. firms, which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to provide technical assistance to identify and recommend regulations for airline industry use of Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) in Indonesia.  A CRS allows a subscriber, such as a travel agent, to find flight schedules, airfares, seat availability, and to order and issue tickets.  The system also serves air carriers by providing them with an efficient way of communicating this information to the subscribers of that CRS.  In the industry, different CRSs compete to provide the best services and most complete information to their fee-based users. Until just a few years ago, there were only two air carriers operating in Indonesia, Garuda and Merpati (both state-owned).  The passage of the "Autonomy Law 22" in 1999 opened the market to the private sector, resulting in the registration of 19 new airlines.  Although the airline industry is growing rapidly, some regulation will be needed to create a fair market environment until the industry matures. This USTDA-funded activity will assist DGAC to implement market-oriented reforms to minimize anticompetitive practices.  The establishment of appropriate regulations will help promote competition in Indonesia's airline industry, which first allowed private sector participation in 1999.  In the short term, this project is expected to help generate exports of CRS services, computer software and hardware.  This project will also contribute to the expansion of Indonesia's airline industry. USTDA No.: 04-30047A USTDA Grant: $117,000 Published: 9/24/04 Closing Date: 10/22/04 Ö Romania - Craiova II Sulfur Dioxide Reduction SC Complexul Energetic Craiova SA (CEN) is the major producer of electric power in the city of Craiova, an industrial center in southern Romania.  Until recently the company was part of SA Termoelectrica, the national thermal power generation monopoly.  CEN became an independent state owned enterprise in April 2004.  The company has three major assets:  the Isalnita thermal power plant, the Craiova II combined heat and power plant, and the Ruget open pit lignite mine.  Because both power plants fail to meet specific sulfur dioxide emissions requirements, CEN has decided to rehabilitate each power plant, starting with the Craiova II plant. The Craiova II power plant has two 150 MW power blocks and eight heat-only boilers.  The plant provides heat for the city's district heating system.  Both of the power blocks at Craiova were designed to meet the prevailing Eastern European emissions standards at the time of their construction in 1987 and 1989.  In 2001, the European Parliament set new limits for emissions from large combustion plants.  Under the new regulations, plants such as Craiova II must limit sulfur dioxide emissions or achieve a desulfurization rate of at least 94 percent.  Sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants have been linked to respiratory illnesses and acid rain.  Acid rain can have a significant effect on regional agriculture, including loss of crops, diminished water quality, and damage to buildings. While the Craiova II plant has made pollution upgrades in the past using moderately effective equipment, CEN has determined that in order to remain in operation and meet European Union directives, Craiova II must reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 94 percent.  This will require the installation of a flue gas desulfurization system.  A flue gas desulfurization unit is an air pollution control process that uses a spray of water and finely ground limestone to remove gaseous pollutants from stack gasses.  When the sulfur dioxide and the limestone combine, they form gypsum, a common mineral that can be used to make wall board or disposed of as a non-hazardous land fill material.  The only obstacle to Craiova's long-term utilization is the absence of a sulfur dioxide removal system. The purpose of this USTDA-funded feasibility study is to assess the technical and economic aspects of a new flue gas desulfurization unit at the Craiova II combined heat and power plant in southern Romania.  The aim of the terms of reference (TOR) is to develop 1) a conceptual design for the installation of a flue gas desulfurization system; 2) a preliminary environ-mental impact assessment; and 3) an economic and financial analysis.  Note:  In order to fulfill the TOR for this study a local subcontractor may be necessary.  CEN has stated its preference for a local subcontractor, and suggests that the Institute for Studies and Power Engineering (ISPE) of Romania serve as the local subcontractor for this study.  The Contractor may wish to subcontract with ISPE in order to fulfill the TOR.  The subcontract should not exceed $34,000 and may be paid by the Contractor from USTDA grant funds.  A notional budget for the subcontract is included in Annex 6 of the Request for Proposals.  The details of the TOR and budget for the subcontract will be determined during contract negotiations between the Contractor and the selected subcontractor. USTDA No.: 04-70023B USTDA Grant: $415,430 Est. U.S. Exports: $10-$12 million Published: 9/28/04 Closing Date: 10/29/04 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Broadband Three state-owned telecom operators currently dominate the telecom sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH):  BH Telecom, Telecom Srpske, and HPT Mostar.  All three companies provide fixed and mobile telecom services to the citizens of BiH.  BH Telecom is the largest of the three operators.  BH Telecom was created from the former company PTT at the beginning of the Bosnian conflict.  BH Telecom maintains telecommunications nodes in seven cities throughout BiH, all of which are connected via optical cables and mobile systems.  A major challenge that BH Telecom faces is building out mobile and fixed wireless infrastructure in rural and/or mountainous parts of the country, as well as in non-contiguous regions and republics.  These republics pertain to the two multi-ethnic constituent entities that exist within the state of BiH:  the Federation of BiH and the Republika Srpska.  Given the low population density, distance, and low market share, it is difficult for BH Telecom to justify investment in Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM) infrastructure in these regions.  At the same time, there is an increasing demand for broadband services from fixed-line, Internet Service Provider, and GSM customers, which BH Telecom is currently unable to fulfill.  Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) technology, which is relatively cheap to deploy and allows for transmission speeds faster than that of GSM, is an economical solution to both problems. USTDA provided funding to BH Telecom for a feasibility study to evaluate the deployment of a WiFi network in BiH.  This project will require the mobilization of funding for the deploy-ment of a national WiFi network throughout BiH.  The implemen-tation of this network will provide the majority of the population of BiH with a low-cost option to telecommunications and Internet Protocol applications.  In addition, the WiFi network will expand coverage to remote and disconnected rural regions of BiH while offering the added benefit of broadband.  The aim of the terms of reference is to develop:  1) the design for an appropriate WiFi network; 2) an analysis of the required capital investment and ongoing operational costs for such a network; and 3) an internal business plan for the WiFi operation, including a rollout plan and management approach to the operation. USTDA No.: 04-70013B USTDA Grant: $230,850 Est. U.S. Exports: $20 million Published: 9/3/04 Closing Date: 10/11/04 Chile - Santiago and Concepción Hospital Renovation The Chilean Ministry of Health invites submission of qualifications and proposal data from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to perform technical assistance for the Santiago and Concepcion Hospital Renovation Projects in Chile.  The Ministry requested USTDA funding to help plan its priority projects using U.S. models of clinical management and hospital administrative systems to provide the most cost-effective healthcare delivery possible.  The Ministry oversees Chile's national health service, FONASA, which operates a network of approximately 200 hospitals and 500 outpatient clinics that serve 80% of Chile's population of 15 million.  The Salvador-Infante Hospital Complex is the largest in the Santiago metropolitan area and is the major tertiary level care hospital.  It has a primary patient base of 500,000 and is a regional and national referral hospital for advanced medical and surgical cases.  The main hospital has 500 beds and the complex includes cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, and geriatric institutes.  The renovation project will seek to address the problems of outdated facilities, inadequate equipment, a growing demand for service, rising health care costs, the lack of an effective and integrated primary care system, modern clinical management practices and cost accounting systems. The technical assistance will focus on the Salvador-Infante Hospital and will develop recommendations that can be adapted to the needs of the G.G. Benavente Hospital complex in Concepción, and other hospitals in the FONASA system.  The G.G. Benavente hospital is a tertiary care hospital with 900 beds and an annual budget of $60 million.  The complex includes a trauma center that has 85 beds and a 105% occupancy rate.  The project is estimated to cost $23.3 million.  It will involve the expansion of the G.G. Benavente Hospital, the construction of a new ambulatory care and outpatient surgery facility, the construction of an expanded trauma center, and the re-organization and consolidation of medical services at the two community hospitals in Lota and Coronel that serve as feeder hospitals for patients needed specialty care. The technical assistance will assist the Ministry of Health planners with adapting U.S. models of hospital planning, clinical management and administration to fit the needs of the Salvador Infante hospital complex and G.G. Benavente hospital complex projects.  The technical assistance tasks can be summarized as follows:  1) review background information and financing plans; 2) develop recommendations for clinical management systems; 3) review environmental impact and identify mitigating actions and the associated costs; 4) Develop plans and designs for hospital and outpatient clinic admini-stration and management systems; 5) evaluate current architectural plans and make recommendations on needed revisions; 6) develop plans and provide recommendations on appropriate equipment and technologies; and 7) prepare and present the final report. USTDA No.: 03-50020B USTDA Grant: $310,840 Est. U.S. Exports: $25-$35 million Published: 9/10/04 Closing Date: 10/22/04 China - Environmental Emissions Control The Zhejiang Energy Group Company (ZEGC) requested a feasibility grant from USTDA to assist in reducing nitrogen oxide emissions at its Beilun Power Plant (BPP).  The Zhejiang Provincial BPP, a subsidiary of ZEGC, is the largest coal-fired power plant currently operating in China.  It is located in the coastal city of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province.  Ningbo has one of the most rapidly developing economies in the southern part of the Yangtze Delta, and the plant is a key part of the regions infrastructure.  BPP consists of five-600MW generation units that have been purchased on the international market.  Their ages range from 4 to 12 years.  Due to the high nitrogen content of coal fuel, and the high thermal intensity in the boiler furnaces, the BPP's NOx emissions are relatively high.  Recently enacted environmental laws governing emissions from existing power plants will result in heavy fines for the plant's owners, and possibly restrict the building of new power plants in the region, unless substantial reductions can be made in the plant's NOx emissions.  ZEGC has decided to make modifications to the plant to reduce the emissions, but has found that advanced technology needed to accomplish this goal is not available within China.  ZEGC would prefer to make use of U.S. technology because all of the boilers at Beilun are based on design practices developed in the U.S., and U.S. equipment suppliers are actively pursuing NOx reduction business in China. ZEGC invites submission of qualifications and proposal data from interested U.S. firms capable of developing a feasibility study for an Environmental Emissions Control project to assess the technical and economic aspects of NOx reduction at BPP, and to prepare a set of technical specifications to be used in soliciting bids from international suppliers for appropriate modifications to the five coal-fired boilers at the power plant.  The feasibility study shall determine the most cost effective technology for bringing the plant into compliance with Chinese statutes governing NOx emissions, and evaluate technical options that might be effective in achieving further emissions reductions, which could be applied to other plants in the ZEGC system.  It should also identify ways to improve the project's chances for implementation, and emphasize the advantages that proven U.S. technologies could provide for the project. USTDA No.: 04-30050A USTDA Grant: $304,830 Est. U.S. Exports: $9-$10 million Published: 9/14/04 Closing Date: 10/30/04 Guatemala - Training and Digital Certificates Program NOTE: This is a Re-Announcement.  Those Who Have Previously Submitted Bids for this Technical Assistance Have the Option to Submit a New Proposal or Re-Submit a Previous One.  The objective of the USTDA-funded technical assistance is to assist La Asociación Gremial de Exportadores de Productos No Tradicionales (AGEXPRONT) in Guatemala in the development of a digital certificates program as well as a training program support structure for the effective dissemi-nation of key information needed to enhance bilateral trade. The project has three key components:  (1) Training the Trainers in Market Intelligence:  this component aims at building trade capacity for Guatemala by developing its human resources, providing training for a few dozen trainers (for the chambers of commerce and industry, universities, consultants, public sector officials and others) on trade and market intelligence issues.  (2) Enhancing Training Capabilities of AGEXPRONT:  this component will examine and evaluate the training program presently run by AGEXPRONT and will assist this institution in providing increasingly sophisticated market information and information on Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) to members and students at their Foreign Trade School for exporters.  (3) Advancing the Digital Certificates Program for the Single Export Window:  this component involves working with AGEXPRONT to advance the Digital Certificates Project-a key missing piece of the Single Export Window-aimed at making certificates of origin and sanitary-phytosanitary certificates available to exporters electronically.  The project will provide technical assistance to improve the network infra-structure related to the processing and handling of information related to Guatemalan exports.  The project will also assist Guatemalan officials to develop a system for the exchange of certificates with the U.S. and the other CAFTA partners.  The terms of reference for the technical assistance include the following:  1) design strategy in cooperation with AGEXPRONT and local counterparts; 2) develop content of training program with local counterparts; 3) strengthening AGEXPRONT's training capability; 4) training the trainers in trade information; 5) assist trainers to design and conduct a public training program; 6) advancing the digital certificates program; and 7) final assessment and reporting. USTDA No.: 04-50031A USTDA Grant: $403,855 Published: 8/6/04 Closing Date: 9/13/04 Previous Section | Index | Next Section