Annual Performance Report: Nepal Reconstruction Engineering Services Project

The project aimed to "build back safer" facilities through the identification, design, procurement support, and construction supervision of several USAID Nepal Community Reconstruction Program (NCRP) task orders. The NRES Project was implemented through an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract AID-OAA-I-15-00047 Task Order AID-367-TO-17-00001 with CDM International Inc. (CDM Smith). The project's objective was to support USAID in its efforts to rebuild health and educational facilities in Nepal, following a prioritization process and USAID's approval of prioritized districts. The project's first year began on April 24, 2017, and ended on March 31, 2018. During this period, CDM Smith was required to prepare and submit an Annual Performance Report, as per Contract Clause F.5.1 and F.5.3 Task Order Required Reports. The report documented CDM Smith's performance during the first year of the project. The report was organized into several sections, including Project Initiation and Management, Fast Track Prioritization for First Task Order (Kathmandu Valley), Selection of Follow-On Districts, Activities in Sindhuli and Makawanpur, Grant Under Contract (GUCs), Support to Government of Nepal (GON), Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Communication, and Expenditures During the Year. The project initiation and management section provided an overview of CDM Smith's initial mobilization activities, stakeholder engagement, NRES Team and organizational structure, schedule and deliverables. The mobilization and establishment of operations in Nepal began on May 8, 2017, with a startup call conducted by the USAID Contracting Officer (CO) and USAID Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in Kathmandu. The COR informed CDM Smith that the initial NCRP Task Order would focus on the reconstruction of up to five schools within an hour's driving distance of Kathmandu. The fast track prioritization for the first task order in the Kathmandu Valley involved a preliminary rapid analysis, rapid field assessments, project prioritization and selection process, activities with the selected facilities, subcontractor mobilization, community engagement, predesign planning, preparation and studies, design process and activities, environmental reviews and planning, and 611(E) analysis and reporting. The selection of follow-on districts involved assessment guidelines, district ranking, and the identification of districts for the next phase of the project. The activities in Sindhuli and Makawanpur districts included facilities selection, subcontractor mobilization, community engagement, predesign planning, preparation and studies, design process and activities, environmental reviews and planning, and 611(E) analysis and reporting. The grant under contract (GUCs) section discussed the grants awarded to various organizations under the NRES Project. The support to the Government of Nepal (GON) section highlighted the project's efforts to support the GON in its reconstruction efforts. The monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) section discussed the project's monitoring and evaluation activities, including the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan and the implementation of a data management system. The communication section highlighted the project's communication efforts, including the development of a communication plan and the implementation of a stakeholder engagement strategy. The expenditures during the year section provided a summary of the project's expenditures during the first year. Overall, the NRES Project made significant progress during its first year, with the completion of designs for several schools in the Kathmandu Valley and the initiation of activities in Sindhuli and Makawanpur districts. The project's efforts to support the Government of Nepal and its reconstruction efforts were also notable.