Engineering Design & Construction Supervision Program Monthly Progress Report – October 2015

The program is a response to deficiencies in the housing and civil construction of the EKAM settlement, which was built between October 2011 and October 2013. The Caracol EKAM New Housing Settlement was constructed to provide housing for households impacted by the 2010 earthquake and other critical groups in the Northern Corridor. However, an Independent Assessment in March 2014 revealed design and performance deficiencies, including leaking roofs, missing or sub-specification roof fasteners, sub-specification foundations, and substandard concrete reinforcement in wall construction. In October 2014, USAID contracted Tetra Tech to provide independent Architectural and Engineering (A-E) and construction management services to inspect the EKAM site, provide A-E recommendations, manage and supervise remedial works, and provide support to USAID for contractual adjustments. During the reporting period from October 1, 2015, to October 31, 2015, Tetra Tech continued to implement its Action Plan and Budget Realignment submitted in September. The long-term staff relocated to accommodations that more appropriately reflect the duration of the project and reduce overhead costs. The interim Chief of Party continued to work in Cap Haitien until the return of the Chief of Party on October 29, 2015. A new staff member mobilized to Cap Haitien on October 30, 2015, to spearhead the creation of the community outreach program and meet with selected firms that responded to Tetra Tech's Request for Proposals for construction inspectors and a community liaison. At the Caracol EKAM site, Tetra Tech and the Chief of Party finalized the shear wall repair designs and submitted revised housing architectural and structural plans to USAID for review. The engineers estimate (Independent Government Cost Estimate IGCE) for the proposed civil and sanitation designs were finalized and submitted to USAID for review and comment. Tetra Tech prepared and delivered an RFI documenting the civil, sanitation, and structural changes proposed for the Caracol site and met with DFS to provide an overview of these documents. Tetra Tech finalized negotiations with a construction management company to provide submittal reviews, field inspections, and RFI responses for the shear wall installations at the houses. The contract extension with the company to cover this work should be finalized in November. Tetra Tech received responses to their RFP for site inspectors and a community liaison and have begun reviewing the received proposals and setting up interviews in Cap Haitien. The Community Outreach team continued their biweekly meetings to push forward their conceptual framework for how to manage the impact of construction on the residents. At the Terrier Rouge site, Tetra Tech continued daily monitoring of CEEPCO's progress on site. Leech field repairs are continuing to progress, with leach fields LF-2, LF-6, and LF-7 completed. Leach field LF-9 was only lacking surface grading to complete, and sand fill was completed in LF-10. Rough excavation of LF-1a was completed. Percolation tests were completed in leach fields LF-7, LF-9, and LF-10. The tower repairs were started but stopped due to a dispute over the time required to complete the repairs. This issue was resolved, and work is expected to resume shortly. At the Ouanaminthe site, CEEPCO performed no work, and therefore, Tetra Tech made no site visits during this period. The financial status update indicates that Tetra Tech signed a lease for apartment space and staff moved in at the end of October. Estimated costs through October 31, 2015, are shown in the table below, and a burn-down chart is provided as Attachment 1. The issues requiring the attention of USAID include the updated civil and sanitation package and other matters that require further review and discussion.