LOAN NUMBER 1794 RO Loan Agreement (Danube-Black Sea Canal Project) between INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT and BANCA DE INVESTITII Dated ,1980 LOAN NUMBER 1794 RO LOAN AGREEMENT AGREEMENT, dated J J 0 , 1980, between INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (hereinafter called the Bank) and BANCA DE INVESTITII (hereinafter called the Borrower). WHEREAS (A) the Borrower has requested the Bank to assist in the financing of the Project described in Schedule 2 to this Agreement by making the Loan as hereinafter provided; and (B) the Borrower intends to contract loans from foreign lending institutions under reasonable terms in an approximate aggregate amount equivalent to two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) to assist in the financing of the said Project; NOW THEREFORE the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I General Conditions; Definitions Section 1.01. The parties to this Agreement accept all the provisions of the General Conditions Applicable to Loan and Guarantee Agreements of the Bank, dated March 15, 1974, with the same force and effect as if they were fully set forth herein (said General Conditions Applicable to Loan and Guarantee Agreements of the Bank being hereinafter called the General Conditions). Section 1.02. Wherever used in this Agreement, unless the context other wise requires, the several terms defined in the General Conditions have the respective meanings therein set forth and the following additional terms have the following meanings: (a) "Romania" and "Guarantor" both mean The Socialist Republic of Romania; (b) "Foreign Trade Bank" means the Romanian Bank for Foreign Trade, established by Law No. 16/1968 of Romania; (c) "Charter" means the Charter of the Borrower as approved by Decree No. 314/1971 of the Council of State of Romania, and Decree No. 125/1970 concerning the organization and operations of the Borrower, ratified by Law No. 22/1970 of Romania, as amended by Decree No. 314/1971 of the Council of State of Romania, as amended from time to time; - 2 - (d) "Danube-Black Sea Canal Adninistration" means the state enterprise for operation and maintenance of the canal included in the Project, established by Decree No. 180/1979 of the Council of State of Romania; (e) "Danube-Black Sea Canal Central" means the central for construction of the canal included in the Project, established by Decree No. 109/1975 of the Council of State of Romania; (f) "IPTANA" means the road, water and aerian design institute established by Decision No. 1991/1965 of the Council of Ministers; and (g) "CONTRANSIMEX" means the foreign trade enterprise of Romania, for import and export of goods and services in transpor- tation and telecommunications field, operating under Decree No. 276/1979 of the Council of State of Romania. ARTICLE II The Loan Section 2.01. The Bank agrees to lend to the Borrower, on the terms and conditions in the Loan Agreement set forth or referred to, an amount in various currencies equivalent to one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000). Section 2.02. (a) The amount of the Loan may be withdrawn from the Loan Account in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time by agreement between the Bank and the Borrower, for expenditures made (or, if the Bank shall so agree, to be made) in respect of the reasonable cost of goods and services required for the Project described in Schedule 2 to this Agreement which the Bank and the Borrower have agreed are to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan. (b) The Foreign Trade Bank is designated as representative of the Borrower for the purpose of taking any action required or permitted to be taken under the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section and Article V of the General Conditions. Section 2.03. Except as the Bank and the Borrower shall otherwise agree, contracts for the purchase of goods and services for the Project and to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan - 3 - shall be awarded in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 to this Agreement. Section 2.04. The Closing Date shall be December 31, 1983 or such other date as shall be agreed between the Bark and the Borrower. Section 2.05. The Borrower shall pay to the Bank a commitment charge at the rate of three-fourths of one per cent (3/4 of 1%) per annum on the principal amount of the Loan not withdrawn from time to time. Section 2.06. The Borrower shall pay interest at the rate of seven and ninety-five hundredths per cent (7.95%) per annum on the principal amount of the Loan withdrawn and outstanding from time to time. Section 2.07. Interest and other charges shall be payable semiannually on January 15 and July 15 in each year. Section 2.08. The Borrower shall repay the principal amount of the Loan in accordance with the amortization schedule set forth in Schedule 3 to this Agreement. ARTICLE III Execution of the Project Section 3.01. The Borrower shall cause the Project to be carried out with due diligence and efficiency and in conformity with appropriate engineering, financial, transport, agricultural, ecological, environmental and administrative practices as follows: (a) the Borrower shall supervise the execution of the Project, including the procurement of the goods and services required therefor; (b) CONTRANSIMEX shall, in accordance with the technical assistance received from IPTANA and other departments and agencies concerned, procure such goods and services required for the Project as shall be procured in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 to this Agreement and financed out of the proceeds of the Loan or as shall be imported from outside of Romania; (c) the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration and the Danube-Black Sea Canal Central shall, under their respective responsibilities and in accordance with the technical assistance received from IPTANA and other departments and agencies concerned, procure the goods and services required for the Project other than those referred to in the foregoing paragraph (b); and (d) the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration shall: (i) if necessary, update its detailed schedule for the implementation of the Project in such form and substance as shall be satisfactory to the Bank and the Borrower; (ii) make timely arrangements, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank and the Borrower, with IPTANA for the supply of the general engineering services required for the Project, and with the Danube-Black Sea Canal Central or any other appropriate construction trusts or centrals of Romania as required for all works included in the Project; and (iii) have overall responsibility for the implementation of the Project and the supervision thereof and for the coordination of the Project-related activities of other departments and agencies of Romania. Section 3.02. The Borrower shall cause all necessary measures to be taken for the canal included in the Project to be opened to through traffic by December 31, 1982, and for the Project to be completed by December 31, 1984, according to the implementation schedule referred to in Section 3.01 (d) (i) and the Bank and the Borrower agree that it shall be necessary to ensure that adequate construction equipment and materials as well as the equipment to be incorporated in the facilities included in the Project shall be made available on site in due time. Section 3.03. (a) The Borrower shall cause adequate provision to be made for the insurance of the imported goods to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan against hazards incident to the acquisition, transportation and delivery thereof to the place of importation into the territory of Romania, and for such insurance any indemnity shall be payable in a currency freely usable by the Borrower to replace or repair such goods. (b) Except as the Bank and the Borrower shall otherwise agree, all goods and services financed out of the proceeds of the -5- Loan shall be used exclusively for the Project until its comple- tion. ARTICLE IV Other Covenants Section 4.01. The Bank and the Borrower agree that, in order to realize the purposes of the Project, it shall be necessary: (a) for the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration: (i) to operate the facilities established under the Project with due regard to ecological, environ- mental and safety factors; (ii) to maintain records adequate to reflect in accor- dance with consistently maintained appropriate accounting practices its operations, resources and expenditures; (iii) to submit its accounts and financial statemen s (balance sheets, statements of income and expenses and related statements) for each fiscal year to an independent audit conducted, in accordance with appropriate auditing principles consistently applied, by the Ministry of Finance of Romania; (iv) at all times to manage its affairs, plan its future expansion and carry on its operations, all in accordance with appropriate engineering, transport, financial and administrative practices and under experienced and competent management, assisted by qualified staff in adequate numbers; (v) to be granted all such rights and interests in land and all such other rights and powers as are necessary in the management or operation of the assets managed or operated by it; (vi) at all times to operate and maintain the installa- tions, equipment and other property managed or operated by it, including all structures con- structed and machinery installed under the Project and, as and when. required, make all necessary - 6 - repairs and renewals thereof, all in accordance with appropriate administrative, engineering and transport practices; (vii) except as the Bank and the Borrower shall otherwise agree, not to transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the assets managed or operated by it, except in the normal course of its business; (viii) to be provided with sufficient working capital for the normal course of operations of the canal and the other facilities included in the Project; and (ix) to ensure that in the first full fiscal year after the opening of the canal included in the Project to through traffic, and in any fiscal year thereafter, the sum of the annual benefits of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration shall be at least suffi- cient to cover the sum of (A) the equivalent in Lei of one sixty-fifth (1/65) of the total investment in the Project (exclusive of interest and commit- ment charges payable thereon but inclusive of any other charges payable thereon), (B) the equiva- lent in Lei of one-twelfth (1/12) of the total amounts of interest and commitment charges payable on the external loans incurred to finance the Project, including interest during construc-ion, and (C) one-fifteenth (1/15) of the total amount of the working capital provided and estimated to be provided under the preceding subparagraph (viii), provided, however, that for the first full five fiscal years after the opening of said canal, the foregoing requirements may be met on the basis of such five years rather than on a yearly basis; for the purposes of this subparagraph (ix), the term "Lei" means Lei in currency of Romania, and the term "annual benefits" means the difference between gross revenues and operating and adminis- trative expenses (including adequate provision for maintenance but excluding the amortization of investment) accountable to any one fiscal year; and - 7 - (b) that the construction of South Constanta-Agigea seaport, construction of the Danube ports of Galati and Calarasi, improve- ment of the river between Cernavoda and each of the above two ports, and provision of the barge and pusher tug fleet be com- pleted to the extent necessary for the canal included in the Project to handle the forecast traffic for the canal from the time it shall be opened to through traffic. The Borrower shall, to the extent that it is authorized under the laws of Romania, ensure that the requirements set forth in this Section will be met. ARTICLE V Management and Operations of the Borrower; Financial Covenants Section 5.01. The Borrower shall manage and conduct its operations and affairs in accordance with appropriate administra- tive and financial standards and practices and in accordance with the Charter. Section 5.02. The Borrower shall maintain records adequate to reflect in accordance with consistently maintained appropriate accounting practices its operations in respect of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration. Section 5.03. (a) It is not the practice of the Borrower to create liens as security for debt. Accordingly, the Borrower represents that at the date of this Agreement no lien exists on any of its assets as security for any debt. (b) For the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a lien shall be created on any of the Borrower's assets as security for any debt, the Borrower undertakes that, except as the Bank shall otherwise agree: (i) if the Borrower shall create the lien, such lien will equally and ratably secure the payment of the principal of, and interest and other charges on, the Loan, and in the creation of such lien express provision will be made to that effect, at no cost to the Bank; and (ii) if the lien shall be created by law, the Borrower shall grant, at no cost to the Bank, an equivalent lien satisfactory to the Bank to secure the payment of the principal of, and interest and other charges on, the Loan. -8- Section 5.04. The Bank and the Borrower agree that in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement the Borrower shall take such measures as shall be necessary according to the State Plan of Romania and the applicable laws in order to achieve the purposes of the Project. ARTICLE VI Cooperation and Information; Financial Data Section 6.01. The Bank and the Borrower shall cooperate fully to assure that the purposes of the Loan will be accomplished. To that end: (a) the Bank and the Borrower shall from time to time at the request of either party furnish each other such information as the other party shall reasonably request and exchange views through their representatives with regard to the progress of the Project, the operation of the facilities included in the Project, the benefits derived from the Project, the performance of their respective obligations under the Loan Agreement, the operation, resources and expenditures of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Adminis- tration, the compliance by the Danube-Black Sea Canal Adminis- tration with the requirements set forth in Section 4.01 (a) of this Agreement, the other essential investments as described in Section 4.01 (b) of this Agreement, other matters relating to the purposes and the general status of the Loan, and the compliance by CONTRANSIMEX with the requirements of Schedule 4 to this Agree- ment; and the Borrower shall enable the Bank's representatives to exchange views with representatives of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration and other agencies of Romania with regard to the Project, the operation of the facilities included in the Project, the benefits derived from the Project, the operation, resources and expenditures of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration and the compliance by the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration with the requirements set forth in Section 4.01 (a) of this Agreement and with representatives of the Romanian transport industry with regard to the benefits of the Project to the Romanian economy aild the position of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration in such industry; (b) the Borrower shall obtain from the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration and the other agencies of Romania concerned with the Project, and furnish to the Bank, upon their preparation, - 9 - the plans, specifications, reports, contract documents and con- struction and procurement schedules for the Project, and the material modifications thereof or additions thereto, in such detail as the Bank and the Borrower shall agree; (c) the Borrower: (i) shall maintain or cause to be main- tained records adequate to record the progress of the Project (including the cost thereof) and to identify the goods and services financed out of the proceeds of the Loan, and to disclose the use thereof in the Project; and (ii) shall furnish to the Bank within forty-five calendar days Jfter each calendar quarter a report, of such scope and in such detail as the Bank and the Borrower shall agree, on the progress of the Project during such quarter; (d) the Borrower shall enable the Bank's representatives to visit and examine the goods financed out of the proceeds of the Loan, installations, sites, works, buildings and equipment of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration, the factories, installations, sites and works in Romania where goods required for the Project are manufactured insofar as the Project is concerned, the other facilities and construction sites included in the Project and the records and documents of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration insofar as they concern the Project and the other records and documents relating to the Project; (e) the Borrower shall for each fiscal year of the Danube- Black Sea Canal Administration: (i) obtain from the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration and furnish to the Bank not later than six months after the end of such year, (A) certified copies of the financial statements (balance sheets, statements of income and expenses and related statements) of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration for such year audited in accordance with the pz-)visions of Section 4.01 (a) (iii) of this Agreement, and (B) the report of such audit by the auditors referred to in said Section 4.01 (a) (iii) of such scope and in such detail as the Bank and the Borrower shall agree; and (ii) furnish to the Bank such information concerning the beforementioned financial state- ments of the Danube-Black Sea Canal Administration and the audit thereof as the Bank shall find to be necessary and shall reasonably request; (f) the Borrower shall: (i) furnish to the Bank not later than six months after the end of each of its fiscal years, (A) certified copies of its financial statements (balance sheets, - 10 - statements of income and expenses and related statements, as agreed between the Bank and the Borrower) for such fiscal year submitted to an independent audit conducted, in accordance with appropriate auditing principles consistently applied, by the Ministry of Finance of Romania, and (B) the report of such audit by said auditor of such scope and in such detail as the Bank and the Borrower shall agree; and (ii) furnish to the Bank such information concerning the beforementioned financial statements of the Borrower and the audit thereof as the Bank shall find to be necessary and shall reasonably request; and (g) promptly after completion of the Project, but in any event not later than June 30, 1985, or such later date as may be agreed for this purpose between the Bank and the Borrower, the Borrower shall prepare and furnish to the Bank a report, of such scope and in such detail as the Bank and the Borrower shall reasonably agree, on the execution and initial operation of the Project, its cost and the benefits dLrived and to be derived from it, the performance by the Bank and the Borrower of their respective obligations under the Loan Agreement and the accom- plishment of the purposes of the Loan. Section 6.02. The Bank and the Borrower shall promptly inform each other of any condition which interferes with, or threatens to interfere with, the progress of the Project, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Loan, the maintenance of the service thereof or the performance by either party of its obligations under the Loan Agreement. ARTICLE VII Effective Date; Termination Section 7.01. The date ) , is hereby specified for the purpose of Section 12.04 of the General Con- ditions. ARTICLE VIII Addresses Section 8.01. The following addresses are specified for the purposes of Section 11.01 of the General Conditions: - 11 - For the Bank: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 United States of America Cable address: Telex: INTBAFRAD 440098 (ITT) Washington, D.C. 248423 (RCA) 64145 (WUI) For the Borrower: Telex: Banca de Investitii 011238 BINVR Str. Doamnei No. 4 011239 BINVR Bucharest 011188 BINVR Romania IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, acting through their representatives thereunto duly authorized, have caused this Agreement to be signed in their respective names in the District of Columbia, United States of America, as of the day and year first above written. INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT By Q Regional Vice Prei ident, Europe, Middle East and North Africa BANCA DE INVESTITII By IS!peettv Authorized Representative - 12 - SCHEDULE 1 Withdrawal of the Proceeds of the Loan 1. The table below sets forth the Categories of items to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan, the allocation of the amounts of the Loan to each Category and the percentage of expenditures for items so to be financed in each Category: Amount of the Loan Allocated % of (Expressed in Expenditures Category Dollar Equivalent) to be Financed (1) Equipment to be 25,000,000 100% of foreign incorporated in expenditures facilities in- and 100% of local cluded in the expenditures, Project ex-factory (2) Construction 35,000,000 100% of foreign materials expenditures and 100% of local expenditures, ex-factory (3) Construction 40,000,000 100% of foreign equipment expenditures and 100% of local expenditures, ex-factory TOTAL 100,000,000 2. For the purposes of this Schedule: (a) the term "foreign expenditures" means expenditures for goods or services supplied from the territory and in the currency of any country other than Romania; and - 13 - (b) the term "local expenditures" means expenditures in the currency of Romania and for goods or services supplied from the territory of Romania. 3. The disbursement percentages have been calculated in compliance with the policy of the Bank that no proceeds of the Loan shall be disbursed on account of payments for taxes levied by, or in the territory of, Romania on goods or services, or on the importation, manufacture, procurement or supply thereof; to that end, if any event occurs which shall affect the amount of any such taxes included in the cost of any item to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan, the Bank may, by notice to the Borrower, correspondingly adjust the disbursement percentage then applicable to such item. 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 above, no withdrawals shall be made in respect of payments made for expenditures prior to the date of this Agreement. 5. Notwithstanding the allocation of an amount of the Loan or the disbursement percentages set forth in the table in paragraph 1 above, if the Bank has reasonably estimated that the amount of the Loan then allocated to any Category will be insufficient to finance the agreed percentage of all expenditures in that Cate- gory, the Bank may, by notice to the Borrower: (i) reallocate to such Category, to the extent required to meet the estimated shortfall, proceeds of the Loan which are then allocated to another Category and which in the opinion of the Bank are not needed to meet other expenditures; and (ii) if such reallocation cannot fully meet the estimated shortfall, reduce the disbursement percentage then applicable to such expenditures in order that further withdrawals under such Category may continue until all expenditures thereunder shall have been made. 6. If the Bank shall have reasonably determined that the procurement of any item in any Category is inconsistent with the procedures set forth or referred to in this Agreement, no expenditures for such item shall be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan and the Bank may, without in any way restricting or limiting any other right, power or remedy of the Bank under the Loan Agreement, by notice to the Borrower, cancel such amount of the Loan as, in the Bank's reasonable opinion, represents the amount of such expenditures which would otherwise have been eligible for financing out of the proceeds of the Loan. - 14 - SCHEDULE 2 Description of the Project The Project consists of the following Parts: Part I: Civil Works (a) The Canal Construction of a canal about 64 km long, 7 m deep, 70 to 90 m wide at the bottom and 135 to 95 m wide at water surface between Cernavoda on the Danube and South Constanta-Agigea on the Black Sea, provided with signaling and control system for navigation and water quality and quantity monitoring system. (b) The Locks Construction of two locks, one at Cernavoda and another at Agigea. Each lock has: (i) two reinforced concrete chambers about 310 m long and 25 m wide; (ii) double drop-type gates at one end and mitre-type gates with protection devices at the other end; and (iii) other necessary equipment and facilities. (c) Canal Ports Construction of three canal ports at Cernavoda, Medgidia and Basarabi equipped with necessary equipment and facilities. (d) Utilities Construction of service roads, railway connections, power facilities, water supply and sewerage, telecommu- nication systems and provision of equipment therefor. (e) Buildings Construction of administrative buildings needed for canal construction and operation, as well as for a pumping station at Cernavoda. - 15 - (f) Reconstruction of Affected Facilities Replacement, reconstruction or relocation of transport facilities, irrigation and other facilities dismantled or removed as a result of canal construction. Part II: Miscellaneous (a) Expropriation, reclamation and compensation for the land occupied by the canal, ports and other works included in the Project as well as for vineyards and orchards affected thereby and buildings demolished as a result of the construction thereof. (b) Provision of miscellaneous facilities needed to imple- ment the Project, including, inter alia, housing for workers, concrete plants, gravel and sand sorting plants, transport means and workshops. The Project is expected to be completed by December 31, 1984; however, the canal included in Part I (a) of the Project is expected to be opened to through traffic by the end of 1982. - 16 - SCHEDULE 3 Amortization Schedule Payment of Principal Date Payment Due (expressed in dollars)* On each January 15 and July 15 Beginning January 15, 1984 through July 15, 1994 4,350,000 On January 15, 1995 4,300,000 * To the extent that any portion of the Loan is repayable in a currency other than dollars (see General Conditions, Section 4.02), the figures in this column represent dollar equivalents determined as for purposes of withdrawal. - 17 - Premiums on Prepayment The following percentages are specified as the premiums payable on repayment in advance of maturity of any portion of the principal amount of the Loan pursuant to Section 3.05 (b) of the General Conditions: Time of Prepayment Premium Not more than three years before maturity 1.60% More than three years but not more than six years before maturity 3.20% More than six years but not more than eleven years before maturity 5.85% More than eleven years but not more than thirteen years before maturity 6.90% More than thirteen years before maturity 7.95% - 18 - SCHEDULE 4 Procurement A. International Competitive Bidding 1. Goods and services shall be procured in accordance with procedures consistent with those set forth in the "Guidelines for Procurement under World Bank Loans and IDA Credits" published by the Bank in March 1977 (hereinafter called the Guidelines), on the basis of international competitive bidding as described in Part A of the Guidelines. 2. For goods to be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding, and in addition to the requirements of paragraph 1.2 of the Guidelines, the Borrower shall prepare and forward to the Bank as soon as possible, and in any event not later than 60 days prior to the date of availability to the public of the first tender or prequalification documents relating there- to, as the case may be, a general procurement notice, in such form and detail and containing such information as the Bank shall reasonably request; the Bank will arrange for the publication of such notice in order to provide timely notification to prospective bidders of the opportunity to bid for the goods in question. The Borrower shall provide the necessary information to update such notice annually so long as any goods remain to be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding. 3. Identical or similar items to be procured for the Project shall be grouped together, wherever practicable, for the purpose of bidding and procurement, and such grouping of items shall be subject to agreement between the Bank and the Borrower. 4. Bidders are required to prequalify in accordance with cri- teria agreed between the Bank and the Borrower in respect of goods and services to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan under Categories (1) and (3) in the table in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Loan Agreement. The list of prequalified bidders, together with a statement of their qualifications and of the reasons for the exclusion of any applicant for prequalification, shall be furnished by CONTRANSIMEX, through the Borrower, to the Bank for its comments before the applicants are notified and CONTRANSIMEX shall make such additions to or deletions from such list as the Bank shall reasonably request. - 19 - B. Evaluation and Comparison of Bids for Goods; Preference for Domestic Manufacturers 1. For the purpose of evaluation and comparison of bids for the supply of goods to be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding: (i) bidders shall be required to state in their bid the c.i.f. (port of entry) price for the imported goods, or the ex-factory price or off-the-shelf price of other goods, offered in such bid; and (ii) customs duties and other import taxes levied in connection with the importation, or the sales and similar taxes levied in connection with the sale or delivery, pursuant to the bid, of the goods shall not be taken into account in the evaluation of the bids. 2. Goods manufactured in Romania will be granted a margin of preference in accordance with, and subject to, the following provisions: (a) All bidding documents for the procurement of goods shall clearly indicate any preference which will be granted, the information required to establish the eligibility of a bid for such preference and the following methods and stages that will be followed in the evaluation and comparison of bids. (b) After evaluation, responsive bids will be classified in one of the following three groups: (1) Group A: bids offering goods manufactured in Romania if the bidder shall have established to the satisfaction of the Borrower and the Bank that the manufacturing cost of such goods includes a value added in Romania equal to at least 20% of the ex-factory bid price of such goods. (2) Group B: all other domestic bids. (3) Group C: bids offering any other goods. (c) In order to determine the lowest evaluated bid of each group, all evaluated bids in each group shall first be compared among themselves, without taking into account customs duties and other import taxes levied in connection with the importation, and sales and similar taxes levied in connection with the sale or delivery, pursuant to the bids, of the goods. Such lowest eva- luated bids shall then be compared with each other, and if, as a - 20 - result of this comparison, a bid from group A or group B is the lowest, it shall be selected for the award. (d) If, as a result of the comparison under paragraph (c) above, the lowest bid is a bid from group C, all group C bids shall be further compared with the lowest evaluated bid from group A after adding to the c.i.f. bid price of the imported goods offered in each group C bid, for the purpose of this further comparison only, an amount equal to: (i) the amount of customs duties and other import taxes which a non-exempt importer would have to pay for the importation of the goods offered in such group C bid; or (ii) 15% of the c.i.f. bid price of such goods if said customs duties and taxes exceed 15% of such price. If the group A bid in such further comparison is the lowest, it shall be selected for the award; if not, the lowest evaluated bid from group C shall be selected. C. Review of Procurement Decisions by the Bank 1. With respect to all contracts estimated to cost the equiva- lent of $300,000 or more: (a) Before bids are invited, CONTRANSIMEX shall furnish, through the Borrower, to the Bank, for its comments, the text of the invitations to bid and the specifications and other bidding documents, together with a list of prequalified bidders to whom the invitations to bid will be sent, and shall make such modifi- cations in the said documents or procedures as the Bank shall reasonably request. Any further modification to the bidding documents shall require the Bank's concurrence before it is issued to the prospective bidders. (b) Promptly after the bids have been opened, CONTRANSIMEX shall inform the Bank, through the Borrower, of the names of the bidders and the respective amounts of the bids. (c) After bids have been evaluated, CONTRANSIMEX shall, before a final decision on the award is made, inform the Bank, through the Borrower, of the name of the bidder to which the contract is intended to be awarded and shall furnish to the Bank, in sufficient time for its review, a detailed report, on the evaluation and comparison of the bids received, together with the recommendations f)r award and such other information as the Bank shall reasonably request. The Bank shall, if it determines that the intended award would be incon3istent with the Guidelines or - 21 - this Schedule, promptly inform the Borrower and CONTRANSIMEX, and state the reasons for such determination. (d) The terms and conditions of the contract shall not, without the Bank's concurrence, materially differ from those on which bids were asked or prequalification invited. (e) Two conformed copies of the contract shall be furnished to the Bank promptly after its execution and prior to the submis- sion to the Bank of the first application for withdrawal of funds from the Loan Account in respect of such contract. 2. With respect to each contract estimated to cost less than the equivalent of $300,000 and to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan, CONTRANSIMEX shall furnish, through the Borrower, to the Bank, promptly after its execution and prior to the submission to the Bank of the first application for withdrawal of funds from the Loan Account in respect of such contract, two conformed copies of such contract, together with an analysis of the respective bids, recommendations for award and such other information as the Bank shall reasonably request. The Bauk shall, if it determines that the award of the contract was not consistent with the Guidelines or this Schedule, promptly inform the Borrower and the Danube- Black Sea Canal Administration and state the reasons for such determination. INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original in the archives of the Interna- tional Bank for Reconstruction and Develop- ment. In witness whereof I have signed this Certifi- cate and affixed the Seal of the Bank thereunto this 30 day of &Aj , 198 c. FOR SECRETARY