Loan No. 1997: Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project

Date: 14 February 2005
Loan No. 1997: Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project (Power Infrastructure)
Contract: MEW-261
Deadline for Bids: 10:00 hrs, 14 April 2005


The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) towards the cost of the Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project. Part of this loan will be used for payments under the contract named above. Bidding is open to bidders from eligible source countries of the ADB.

The Afghanistan Reconstruction and Development Services (ARDS) Procurement Unit (PU), acting on behalf of the Ministry of Energy and Water (the Employer) invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the design-build and turnkey contract for the rehabilitation of the Northern Transmission Link ("the Works") involving detailed design, supply, construction, erection, installation, testing and commissioning.

The bid is divided into the following four separate lots: bidders may bid for any combination of lots 1 to 3. Discounts offered for multiple contract awards for lots 1 to 3 will be taken into account. Lot 5 will be evaluated separately.

Lot 1: Twin single circuit (or 1 double circuit) simplex conductor 220 kV transmission line from Hairatan to Naibabad Switching Station and from Naibabad Switching Station to Mazar-i-Sharif, approximately 76 km.

Lot 2: Double circuit duplex conductor 220 kV transmission line from Naibabad Switching Station to PUl-e-Khumri (via Khulm and Aibak), approximately 165 km.

Lot 3: Naibabad 220 kV switching station.

Lot 5: Khulm and Aibak 220 kV substations (Optional, financing for this lot has not been secured).

International competitive bidding will be conducted in accordance with ADB's Two-Stage: Two-Envelope bidding procedure for and is open to all Bidders from eligible source countries of the ADB.

Bidders should meet the following qualifications:

(a)      Average Annual Turnover

Over the last three years of at least US$10 million per annum.

(b)      Financial Capability:

          (i)     Cash flow capacity of at least US$3 million.
          (ii)    Positive net worth not be less than US$3 million.

(c)      Litigation

Pending litigation, the value of all shall not exceed 50 percent of the Bidder's net worth.
(d)      Project Experience

          (i)     For lots 1 and 2
At least one turnkey transmission line project of at least 50 circuit-kilometers of 220 kV or higher, within the last four years.
          (ii)    For lots 3 and 5
At least one turnkey substation projects with a rating of 220 kV or higher, within the last four years.
(e)      Manufacturing Experience

          (i)     As a main supplier of the transmission line or substation equipment comparable to the
                  requirement of the projects.
          (ii)    ISO 9000 accreditation.

To obtain further information and inspect the bidding documents, bidders should contact the following address between 09:00 to 15:00 hours from Saturdays to Thursdays:

Afghanistan Reconstruction and Development Services Procurement Unit
5th Floor, Ministry of Economy Building
Malik Asghar Square, Kabul Afghanistan
Attn: Procurement Advisor
Tel: +93 20 210 3606
E-mail: procurement@afghanistangov.org

An electronic version will be available by application to the ARDS PU email address.

A pre-bid meeting will be held at the following address at 09:00 hours on 24 February 2005:

MEW Conference Room
Ministry of Energy and Water
Darulaman, Kabul, Afghanistan
Contact person: Eng. Ghulam Rabbani, General Director of Planning
Tel: +93 70 296 280
Email: axel.werner@free.fr

Bidders should deliver their bids:

  • to the ARDS PU address above
  • on or before the deadline: 10:00 hours on 14 April 2005. Late bids will be rejected.
  • together with a Bid Security of US$200,000 or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.

Technical proposals will be opened immediately after the deadline in the presence of bidders' representatives who choose to attend.

The price proposals and supplementary price proposals, if provided, will be opened in the presence of the bidder's representatives who choose to attend at the time and date and at the address to be advised by the Employer after approval of the ADB of the evaluation of the technical proposals.


Specific Notice