GUYANA

Main Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase Ii

Feasibility Study for the Berbice River Bridge

Loan No. 999/SF-GY

This is an update of the invitation for prequalification previously published in June 2002..

The Government of Guyana (GOG) has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank to partially pay the cost of Main Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase II. It is intended that part of the proceeds of this financing be applied to eligible payments under the Berbice River Crossing–feasibility study.

The GOG proposes to construct a bridge across the Berbice River. Traffic now crosses the Berbice by ferry directly between Rosignol and New Amsterdam. The objective of the consultancy is to conduct an economic evaluation of the proposed Berbice River Bridge and access roads in Guyana and determine their economic and financial viability. A particular focus of this study is to ensure that all the economic and developmental cost and benefits of the proposed project are fully considered and evaluated.

A preliminary pre-feasibility study was conducted by the consulting firm of Development Ideas in early 2001. That study evaluated four site alternatives for the proposed project and generated preliminary estimates of traffic, toll revenue and project economic benefits using a contingent valuation methodology (willingness to pay). This study used preliminary cost estimates for the four alternative crossing sites developed by Figg Engineering and Ballast Nedam International.

The purpose of the present study is to expand on these preliminary results reviewing the cost, revenue and benefit estimates and updating and/or changing them as appropriate. A particular focus of this study is to ensure that all the economic and developmental costs and benefits of the proposed project are fully considered and evaluated. The study should permit the GOG to evaluate the economic feasibility of the bridge and to compare the costs, benefits and environmental and social impacts of different sites.

The GOG now invites interested parties to present their respective proposals in sealed envelopes, with proof of their legal and technical capacity, in order to prequalify for the selection to the shortlist.

Interested parties may obtain further information, including eligibility to participate, and may inspect the prequalification documents at the first address below, as of 30 June 2002.

Interested parties may obtain a complete set of prequalification documents by submitting a written application to the second address below, between 0800 1700 hours, except on public holidays, and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of G$ 10,000 or its equivalent. The method of payment will be cash, check or bank transfer. It will not be necessary to make the request in person to receive a complete set of the prequalification documents, since these can be sent by mail or e-mail. Parties who request that the prequalification documents be sent to them will be required to pay in advance for this service.

The period for submission of proposals is extended. Proposals must be received in the office mentioned below on or before 0900 hours on Tuesday, 10 September 2002. It will not be necessary to submit these in person, since they may be sent by mail. However, the employer is not responsible for proposals not received thereof on or before the time and date specified for reception of proposals or not marked and labeled as required, in which case they will be rejected and returned unopened.

Proposals will be opened at a public ceremony, in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend, at 0900 hours on 10 September 2002 in the conference room of the first address below.

Proposals must be placed in an envelope marked on the outside at the top right hand corner “Main Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase II-Berbice River Crossing-Feasibility Study: Prequalification No. WSG-BRC 6\2002” and on the left hand corner the name and address of the bidder. The envelope should be sealed and addressed to the first address below.

1. Ministry of Finance

Central Tender Board

Attn: Chairman

Main & Urquhart Streets.

Georgetown, Guyana.

2. Ministry of Public Works & Communications

Works Services Group

Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana

Tel/Fax: (592) 225-2689, 226-0650

E-mail: bau@guyana.net.gy