South Africa - Meerkat Run-of-River Hydropower Project Feasibility Study
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2014-11031A
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- PSC
- Not on record
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
Notice text
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
Please note the following additional questions have been answered:
Q1: What is meant by cost estimate with around ± 5% accuracy?
A1: For the Task 5: Cost Estimation, Economic Analysis, and Implementation Schedule, the Grantee prioritizes proposals that would provide the highest level of detail in developing the Project design and cost estimate.
Q2: How does the operation of the two dams (Rooikat and Meerkat) affect the overall energy yield of the dual system?
A2: The design of the Meerkat dam and the selection of the Full Supply Level has the ability to affect the operation and energy output of the Rooikat plant. It is therefore important to optimize the dam height and operation of the Meerkat plant in order to maximize the total energy yield of both systems.
Q3: How much emphasis will the Grantee's procurement selection committee place on the experience of the lead design engineer?
A3: Per the RFP solicitation, the Offeror' s proposed project team and professional qualification is assigned 35 percent of the overall evaluation criteria (the largest evaluation factor). The experience of the lead dam engineer is a key consideration. Importantly, the lead engineer will be instrumental in review of the Rooikat design, which shall form the basis to optimally size the Meerkat dam. Engineer(s) who have experience will rolled compacted concrete and diverting rivers of similar scale (average flow 66m3/s) are preferred.
Q4: What level of detail should be performed for the Environmental Impact Assessment?
A4: The Grantee has already commissioned and completed a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Project. Per Task 4(a) the Contractor shall review the EIA provided by the Grantee to ensure that such EIA adheres to IFC standards, including environmental due diligence requirements for consideration by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). If the Contractor determines that the EIA provided by the Grantee is incomplete or inadequate according to IFC/OPIC standards, the Contractor shall recommend what needs to be revised for the EIA to comply with such standards. The recommendations will be carried out in cooperation with the Grantee's Environmental Practitioner.
Q5: Can the Grantee provide information on the Environmental Impact Assessments for the Meerkat and Rooikat projects?
A5: Publicly available information regarding the Rooikat and Meerkat project Environmental Impact Assessments can be accessed via the following website: http://www.enviroworks.co.za/projectdownloads.php.
Q6: What entity is responsible for travel costs to site? What entity is responsible for the survey cost?
A6: The Contractor is responsible for all Contractor travel costs to the Project site. Grantee shall be responsible for all Grantee travel costs to the proposed Project site. The Grantee will have completed an underwater survey and topographical survey for the Project which will be made available to the Contractor during the Feasibility Study inception.
Q7: Concerning Task 5: Cost Estimation, Economic Analysis, and Implementation Schedule, third paragraph. Please clarify what is expected by the Grantee for the analysis of the: 1) market conditions; 2) supply agreements; and 3) off-take agreements. In addition, what is expected for the analysis of the competing alternative methods analysis?
A7: The Contractor shall review any economic or financial analyses that have been previously prepared by the Grantee. The Contractor shall work in close consultation with the Grantee to revise and update economic/financial analysis and assumptions indicated in Task 5 as recommended by the Contractor.
Q8: Regarding Task 7: U.S. Sources of Supply and Implementation Financing, under Subtask 7(b): Financing Review in the second paragraph, "short-listed potential U.S. investors" are mentioned. How many investors have already been identified by the Grantee? Has the Grantee already contacted these investors?
A8: The purpose of Task 7(b) is to investigate all available financing options for the Project. Upon inception of the Feasibly Study, the Grantee will provide the Contractor with information regarding investors. To date the Contractor has not yet shortlisted any U.S. investors for the Project.
Q9: The RFP mentions the Grantee's engineer and financial advisor. Please share the name of these firms/individuals.
A9: The Meerkat project prefeasibility study was completed by AECOM South Africa (formally BKS). A financial advisor for the Project has not yet been selected.
Update #2 ·
Please note the following questions have been answered:
Q1: Can you please provide a Sample Contract that we can review in preparation with our proposal?
A1: A sample of the Secondary Agreement template can be accessed via the Proposal Guidelines "Key Documents" section on USTDA's website: http://www.ustda.gov/program/proposals/guidelines.html
Q2: For this RFP, does the U.S. Contractor or its subcontractor need to be a small business? If so, what size does the business need to be to be defined as a small business?
A2: There are no business size limitations with regards to the South Africa 2014-11031A Meerkat 18 Megawatt Small Hydropower Project solicitation. All U.S. businesses are eligible to submit proposals as indicated by the RFP.
Update #1 ·
Proposal Submission Place:
Ian Curry
Managing Director
Basil Read Energy (Pty) Ltd
Level 2
No. 4 The High Street
Melrose Arch, 2196
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 581 7674
The Grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the "Proposal") from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to develop a feasibility study to determine the technical feasibility, economic viability, and financeability of the Meerkat Run-of-River Hydropower Project.
Basil Read Energy (Pty) Ltd. (the Grantee) is developing the Meerkat run-of-river hydropower plant (Project), which will be located on South Africa's Orange River between the towns of Douglas and Hopetown. The Grantee intends to bid in the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program with this Project.
The Feasibility Study shall include components including but not limited to: site assessment; site-specific technical guidance; front end engineering and design; review of environmental impact assessment; development impact assessment; cost estimation, economic analysis and implementation schedule; legal, regulatory and institutional review; U.S. sources of supply and implementation financing; final report and presentation.
The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $681,000 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and portions of a background definitional mission report are available from USTDA, at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901. To request the RFP in PDF format, please go to:
https://www.ustda.gov/businessopps/rfpform.asp
Requests for a mailed hardcopy version of the RFP may also be faxed to the IRC, USTDA 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 USTDA 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 USTDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to USTDA 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, USTDA 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 USTDA.
Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this USTDA financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors and employees of all participants must qualify under USTDA's nationality requirements as of the due date for submission of qualifications and proposals and, if selected to carry out the USTDA-financed activity, must continue to meet such requirements throughout the duration of the USTDA-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 USTDA grant amount. Details of USTDA'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 5:00 P.M. local time (South Africa, GMT +2), November 21, 2014 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.
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