The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) invites consulting firms, or consortia to send expressions of interest if they wish to be considered for the provision of services to the IDB for the development of activities related to prepare the final designs for the Second Phase of the Cuenca Water and Sewerage Master Plan ATN/JF 6682-EC. The consultancy will undertake an economic appraisal of the projects proposed in the pre-feasibility phase, and will prepare the final designs.

Consulting services are expected to be financed by the Japan Special Fund (JSP) and will be administered by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). As IDB eligible country firms or consortia which at least part of the staff assigned to the project is proficient in English and Spanish languages are encouraged to express their interest in these consulting services. The estimated duration of the advisory services is eight months.

The IDB invites eligible consulting firms interested to submit proposals for the activities to be carried out under the mentioned program to submit expressions of interest. Firms will be pre-qualified in accordance with IDB policies and procedures. Criteria for pre-selection are: (a) General Background of the firm and a description of their recent and relevant experience in the area of water and sanitation design, (b) their experience working in Ecuador or any other Latin-American country, (c) language capabilities of the firm’s staff and (d) if the firm will hire local consultants.

Interested firms must obtain pre-selection documents at the office and address below, and submit their respective expression of interest by January 18, 2002 at 5 P. M. U.S. Eastern time. Late applications will not be accepted.

After evaluation of the information presented, a shortlist of three to six firms will be prepared. The short listed firms will be formally invited to submit technical and financial proposals for the services.

Interested firms must send the information described above to:

Alvaro Llosa, Chief

Environmental and Natural Resources Management Division

Regional Operations Department 3

Stop E-0807, Inter-American Development Bank

1300 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20577, USA

Attn.: Mr. Efraín Rueda, Tel (202) 623-1646 – Fax (202) 623-1998- E-Mail: Efrainr@iadb.org or Ms. Adelina Perez, Tel (202) 623-1571 Email: adelinapc@iadb.org.