Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works Seeks Companies for Conversion of Military Bases in Simitli and Razgrad

The PHARE Executive Agency of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works opened a call for proposals under the Former Military Bases Conversion Project. The project is financed under the PHARE Programme, 2004 Financial Memorandum. The first stage of the project provides for the conversion of former military bases in the region of Simitli and Razgrad into business zones. It also provides for infrastructure modernisation in view of establishing possibilities for encouraging local business and social initiatives. Construction work covers reconstruction of access roads to the zones and inside the zones, modernisation and refurbishment of buildings for business and reconstruction and modernisation of the water and sewerage systems. The business zone in Razgrad will be gasified. Design and construction work will be completed in not more than a year. Bulgarian companies and consortiums, as well as representatives of the EU, Romania, Turkey, Macedonia, Croatia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, are eligible to apply for construction contracts. A call for proposals for a consultant under the project was also launched at the beginning of August. The construction supervision contract cannot exceed EUR 200,000. The opening of the two business zones is expected to create almost 2,000 new jobs – some 950 in Razgrad and 920 in Simitli. The deadline for filing construction proposals is 18 October 2005 and for construction supervision proposals 30 September. Public Relations and International Activities Directorate