The Federative Republic of Brazil, through the Ministry of Health, has received a loan in various currencies from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) toward the cost of the Health Sector Reform Project (REFORSUS). It is intended that part of the loan proceeds be applied to eligible payments under the contract for the acquisition of medical and hospital equipment.

The Prefeitura Municipal de Recife (PE) now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders to supply the medical and hospital equipment listed in the Schedule of Requirements - Section VI of the bidding documents.

Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding documents at the address below.

A complete set of bidding documents may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the same address and upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount equivalent to US$ 50, in the form of a bank deposit on behalf of the PCR/SMS/FMS/Receitas Diversas, at Caixa Econômica Federal, agency No. 0050, account No. 006.000.474-1, in the City of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.

The provisions in the instructions to bidders and in the general conditions of contract are the provisions of the IDB.

Bids must be delivered to the Special Bidding Committee by 1000 hours on 6 August 2001 and must be accompanied by a security specified in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements). They will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of bidders' representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Comissão Permanente de Licitação

Av. Martin Luther King, 925

13o. Andar. Bairro do Recife.

CEP 50080-090, Recife, PE, Brazil.

Tel: (55-81) 3425-8471. Fax: (55-81) 3425-8471