4th Quarter 2014 Report, EQUALS

The contract, numbered 306-C-00-11-00512-00, was issued on January 27, 2015, and is focused on expanding and sustaining physical infrastructure in Afghanistan. EQUALS activities are divided into two main categories: Technical Services and Support. Technical Services include Vertical Structures, Roads Quality Assurance, and Power Quality Assurance. In the 4th quarter of 2014, EQUALS completed the Final Warranty Inspection of the Breshna Kot substation, marking the end of EQUALS KHPP activities. The Kandahar office closed on October 31, 2014, with all Power activities relocated to the Kabul office. Under the Construction of Health and Education Facilities (CHEF) program, work is in progress at the 20 Bed and 100 Bed Hospitals in the Paktika and Paktia provinces. EQUALS anticipates substantial completion of these projects by February 2015. The Phase-1 construction activities for all three Faculty of Higher Education (FOHE) projects were completed at the end of September 2014, and handed over to the Ministry of Higher Education on September 27-29, 2014. In the Roads Quality Assurance and Camp Liz O&M section, Quality Assurance (QA) engineers conducted 75 site monitoring inspections in addition to preparing and submitting 9 Interim Payment Certificates (IPC) and 2 Request for Works Inspection (RFWI) reports. The QA team also conducted 2 site visits to the Gardez-Khost Road Phase 4 and provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) on GIS mapping activities. EQUALS approved staffing on December 31, 2014, was 15 internationals and 134 national staff, with 2 international posts vacant and 24 national posts vacant. The majority of these vacant posts will be filled once Kajaki Unit 2 construction commences, as well as in support of Gardez-Khost Road Phase 4 in early spring. Routine expenditures continue to be reviewed to make additional savings to USAID, resulting in a combined reduction in billing of 24% for Job Orders 8, 9, 10, and 11 compared to last quarter. The security situation in Kabul during this reporting period has had limited impact on the ability of EQUALS to conduct inspections and site visits. However, the time frame to receive vetting approval for aviation services in support of Camp Liz life support has had an impact on travel of management staff to and from Camp Liz in support of Gardez-Khost Road Phase 4.