KHARKIV TO RECEIVE $535,000 GRANT FROM U.S. GOVERNMENT TO EVALULATE DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) today announced a $535,000 grant to the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration to conduct a feasibility study to upgrade the district heating system of the city of Kharkiv. The Grant Agreement was signed today in Kharkiv by U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual and Yevhen Kushnaryov, Head of the Oblast State Administration.

The feasibility study will examine the heating system's present status, its needs, and the proposed scope for the technical improvement of the heating service in Kharkiv over the next 10-15 years with regard to institutional structure, performance and reliability. Many specialists believe that the Kharkiv district heating system could benefit tremendously from new investments in maintenance and repairs. The study will lay the groundwork for potential loans from the World Bank and the EBRD to update and improve the efficiency of the district heating system.

Proposals to carry out this feasibility study will be solicited by the Kharkiv Oblast Administration from a short list of qualified U.S. firms. The Oblast Administration will form a committee to evaluate the proposals, and will negotiate a contract with the firm that submits the highest-ranked proposal.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is an agency of the U.S. Government. It helps form mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. private sector companies and overseas project sponsors. Last year, TDA provided assistance in more than 63 nations around the world.