Def Measures to Improve Prod Iodised Tab

Following a request from the Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian authorities, the European Commission established the Chernobyl Regional Programme as a part of the TACIS 1993 Nuclear Safety Programme. The programme was intended to assist those countries in dealing with the consequences of the Chernobyl accident.
The programme began with a rapid exercise to assess the needs of the three countries, identify actions already undertaken and define the key priorities for funding by the EC and other donors.
It was initially anticipated that first efforts would concentrate on actions to limit the consequences of soil contamination, but, subject to initial assessment, other actions dealing with the social and economic problems resulting from the Chernobyl accident could also be included. One of these actions was to provide for an improvement in the then inadequate supply of iodine to the population in the affected countries.
The intention of this measure was to build up the population’s resistance to any threats to health as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident. Promotion of the use of iodized table salt was directed at reducing the frequency of thyroid gland diseases due to iodine deficiency in food ingredients.
The overall objective was to improve the supply and consumption of iodised table salt in the populations of the affected regions in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. This required actions in two main directions:
1. a campaign aimed at overcoming the lack of information and education of the public and large consumers regarding the benefits of iodised table salt in order to encourage increased usage of the product.
2. Improvements to production, packaging, storage and distribution of iodised table salt throughout the regions concerned.
The responsibility for the first of the above actions was taken by the appropriate ministries of the affected countries, with the help of other donors (for example, UNICEF assisted by financing a series of daily television advertisements promoting the consumption of iodised salt).
The second action was the subject of the TACIS project. To this end a pilot project was programmed to improve the production capabilities, the product quality and the packaging of the table salt produced at the existing production location Mozyr Salt Plant.
The Mozyr Salt Plant is situated some 300 km south of Minsk, between Minsk and Kiev.
A conceptual design study was undertaken by Fichtner (see contract 23247). The conclusions were that the Mozyr plant had sufficient production capacity to meet the supply requirements but that improvements were required to achieve and maintain a sufficient and uniform high product quality. Measures were required to improve the accuracy of dosing and mixing of the iodine compounds. Additionally, the existing packaging was inadequate. The poor quality of the packaging was the main reason for product damage during transportation and storage and this allowed loss of iodine concentration. Consequently, new plant and equipment were required and Technical Specifications were prepared for the procurement of the following equipment:
Lot 1: Supply of an iodisation system for the production of iodised table salt
Lot 2: Supply of a continuously working packaging line for packing of the produced iodised table salt.
The equipment was purchased through two separate supply contracts (see the separate contract summaries for each of these equipment supply contracts).

The aim of the present project was to provide technical consulting services, additional to those under contract 23247, for the tendering and procurement of the equipment described above for the Mozyr Salt Plant. The manufacture and delivery of the equipment itself was not part of this project.
The work to be performed included:
Updating the technical specifications produced under contract 23247, taking into account the comments of the EC, Beneficiaries and End User.
Preparation of the tender evaluation criteria
Preparation of responses to tender clarification requests from tenderers
Organisation of the tender evaluation and preparation of the evaluation report
Provision of technical support during contract negotiations and preparation of contracts
Follow-up of equipment supply contract implementation

The tasks were performed as described above with the exception of the follow-up of the equipment supply contracts. The tender evaluation took place in June 1996 in Brussels. Following the tender evaluation no acceptable offer was received for Lot 1. Contract negotiations proceeded for Lot 2, while three further tender procedures were launched before offers were received for Lot 1 that could allow contract negotiations to begin with the potential contractors.
The Consultant continued contract negotiations for both lots until early 1998. Preparation of the contract documents was completed by April and June 1998 for Lots 1 and 2 respectively. The contract with the Consultant expired soon after this and before the supply contracts were signed. Therefore, follow-up of the contract signature process and the manufacture, delivery and installation of the equipment was performed under a follow-on contract (see 26768).