Invitation for Bids

Date:7 December 2007
Loan No.:2304-AFG: Regional Power Transmission Interconnection
Contract Packages : MEW/699/ICB
Deadline for Bids:10:00 hrs on 3 March 2008

1.    The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has applied for a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) toward the cost of the Afghanistan component of the Tajikistan - Afghanistan 220 kV Interconnection Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract named above. Bidding is open to qualified bidders from eligible source countries of ADB.

2.    The Afghanistan Reconstruction and Development Services (ARDS) on behalf of, Ministry of Energy & Water (MEW) of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, (the Employer), now invites sealed bids from eligible Bidders from member countries of ADB for the construction and completion of design-build and turnkey contract (including detailed design, supply, construction, erection, installation, testing and commissioning) for the Afghanistan component of the Tajikistan - Afghanistan 220 kV Interconnection Project. International competitive bidding will be conducted in accordance with ADB's Single-Stage: Two-Envelope bidding procedure. Partial bids will not be considered.

Tajikistan - Afghanistan 220 kV Interconnection Project: Afghanistan Component

a)   Construction of 61.250 km new double circuit 220 kV transmission line direct from the new river AFG-TAJ border crossing at Shekanbandar to the new 220 kV switchyard at existing Kunduz Substation. Construction of a new river crossing at Shekanbandar (at border opposite Karadum in Tajikistan). The Contractor shall co-ordinate with the Lot 1 Contractor and string one circuit to the first tower in Tajikistan.
b)   Construction of 95.340 km new double circuit 220 kV transmission line direct from the new 220 kV switchyard at existing Kunduz Substation to the new 220 kV Pul-e-Khumri Substation

3.    To obtain further information and inspect bidding documents in English (free of cost), bidders should contact the Employer at the address below between the office hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday to Thursday at the ARDS address given below. An Electronic version of the bidding document will be available by application to the ARDS at e-mail address stated below. The bidding document may be downloaded free of charge from the ARDS website www.ards.org.af.

Afghanistan Reconstruction & Development Services (ARDS)
5th & 6th Floor, Ministry of Economy
Malik Asghar Square
Kabul, Afghanistan
Attn.: Procurement Advisor (MEW/699)
Tel. No.: + (0) Mobile: 0093(0)799300588, 00 93 20 2103608(PP), 009390)797260380
Email: ards.procurement@ards.org.af ; khalid.osmany@ards.org.af; ashok.gupta@ards.org.af

4.    A pre-bid meeting will be held at the following address at 10:00 hrs on 30 January 2008:

MEW Conference Room
Ministry of Energy & Water
Darul-Aman Road, Kabul, Afghanistan
Contact Person: Eng. Zia Gul, Director General, Planning, Ministry of Energy & Water
Email: zia4293@yahoo.com

5.    Deliver your bid:

  • to the address above
  • on or before 10:00 hrs on 3 March 2008
  • together with the Bid Security of minimum of US$ 200,000 or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.

The Employer and ARDS will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by the bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of Bids.

6.    Bids will be opened immediately after the deadline in the presence of bidders' representatives who choose to attend. Technical proposals will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of the Bidders' representatives who choose to attend. The price proposals will be opened in the presence of the bidders' representatives who choose to attend at the time and date and at the address to be advised by the Employers after approval of the ADB of the evaluation of the technical proposals.

7.    In the comparison of bids, ADB's Domestic Preference Scheme will be applied in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Instruction to Bidders.

Specific Notice