BRAZIL

CEARA REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CIDADES DO CEARA # CARIRI CENTRAL)

GENERAL PROCUREMENTNOTICE

The State Government of Ceara, through Secretariat of the Cities, requested a loan from the WorldBank, in the amount of US$ 46,000,000.00,to finance part of the Ceara Regional EconomicDevelopment Project (Cidades do Ceara # Cariri Central). This loan is intended to be applied towards the payment of works,consulting services and goods, all to be procured in order to benefit nine municipalities: Barbalha, Caririaçu, Crato, FariasBrito, Jardim, Juazeiro do Norte, Nova Olinda, Missao Velha e Santana do Cariri.

The Cidades do Ceara # Cariri Central Project is structured under three components # Infrastructure Improvements, Cluster-Based LocalEconomic Development, and Regional Management and Institutional Strengthening #,which will be implemented through the activities described below:

·        Worksof infra-structure to support tourism development, in the areasof: accessibility, transit systems and traffic managementimprovements; environmental rehabilitation; construction of a regional landfill; improvement of infrastructure and urban facilitiesof central areas (including roads, drainage, plazas, parks, landscaping, etc.);

·        Activities to facilitate and provide incentives for the private sector in the region, regarding the key clusters of tourismand footwear  industry, specially towards innovation: consulting services to enhancecollaboration and social capital; technical assistance and training(management, design, machinery operation, services related totourismsector, etc.); cluster analyses; developing of strategies and plans (business, marketing, etc.); implementation of aTechnological Innovation Center (including works, purchasing of goods to equip it, and providing consulting services);

·        Strengthening of municipal management of the Project Municipalities through training and technical assistance  in: planning, local economic development (marketing, how to identify potential investments,formulate policies, organize producers), project design, appraisal and implementation (including procurement and monitoring andevaluation), revenue collection, budget and financial management, management of public services, environmental management, andcreation of consortia; and Strengthening  of management capabilities at the regional levelthrough the provision of technical assistance  to stakeholders involved in the Cariri'sregional development;

·        Consulting services to support Project implementation, regarding technical assistance towards management, monitoring andevaluation, works'surveys, etc.;

·        Regarding Araripe Geopark: works for the visiting and learning facilities in the nine geotopes, including signage,observatory sites, reception facilities, information kiosks, interpretation centers, resting areas and vehicular paths; purchasingof goods to equip it; providing consulting services for the development and implementation of the required educational, management,environmental, monitoring and local economic development strategies.

Procurement of goods and works financed by the loan will be conductedthrough the procedures asspecified in the World Bank's Guidelines Procurement Under IBRD Loans And IDA Credits(dated May 2004 and reviewed in October 2006), and is open to all eligible bidders, as defined in the guidelines. Consultingservices willbe selected in accordance with the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers(also dated May 2004 and reviewed inOctober 2006).

Specific procurement notices for contracts to be bid under the World Bank's InternationalCompetitive Bidding (ICB) procedures and for contracts for consulting services will be announced, when they become available, inthe UN Development Business, the Official Gazette of the Union-BR (Diário Oficial da União-BR), the Official Gazette of theState-CE (Diário Oficial do Estado-CE), the Gazeta Mercantil-SP, and in Diario do Nordeste-CE.

Interested eligible bidders who wish to be included on the mailing list to receive invitations toprequalify/bid under ICB procedures, and interested consultants who wish to receive a copy of the advertisementrequestingexpressions of interest for consultancy contracts, or those requiring additional information, should contact the addressbellow:

SECRETARIA DAS CIDADES

Projeto Cidades do Ceará

Av. General Afonso Albuquerque Lima, S/N

Centro Administrativo Governador Virgílio Távora # Edifício SEPLAG # 1º Andar

Cambeba - CEP 60.830-120, Fortaleza # Ceará # Brasil

Tel: +55(85) 3101.4448       FAX: +55(85)3101.4450

Joaquim Cartaxo Filho

State Secretary of the Cities