Engineering Services for Rural Roads Rehabilitation (ES3R) Progress Report (To March 2015)

The project's objectives are aligned with the Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, which aims to address the root causes of global hunger by sustainably increasing agricultural productivity. The ES3R project will provide infrastructure investment in the rehabilitation of rural farm-to-market roads to support the Food and Enterprise Development (FED) program, capacity development for routine maintenance systems within the Government of Liberia, and capacity development of Ministry of Public Works (MPW) rural roads engineers and local Architect and Engineer (A&E) firms. The ES3R project has three main objectives: to provide construction oversight for the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties; to produce engineering designs and construction documents for the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, and Grand Bassa counties; and to train and pre-qualify local A&E firms capable of providing oversight for road rehabilitation activities. The project will also develop alternative low-volume road pavement pilot projects, standards, and design specifications. In January 2015, the ES3R project leadership transitioned in Brussels to Francisco Perez, the new Chief of Party (COP). The COP arrived in Monrovia on January 23, 2015, and met with the USAID Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on January 27, 2015. The project team initiated Health Assessment #2 in Bong and Lofa counties from January 24 to 31, 2015. The USAID Mission Director and the CO visited construction sites in Bong and Lofa counties from January 29 to 31, 2015. In February 2015, the ES3R project team submitted Health Assessment 2 for review on February 10, 2015, and received approval on February 12, 2015. The team also participated in the Y2 Work Plan for USAID FED on February 13, 2015, and submitted the Draft Year 2 Work Plan to USAID/Liberia on February 20, 2015. The team presented the Year 2 Work Plan, including cost estimates, to USAID/Liberia on February 27, 2015. In March 2015, the ES3R project team met with A&E firms directors for preparatory discussion for on-job training on March 6, 2015. The team also conducted a site visit to Bridge Lee in Nimba County on March 13, 2015, and received approval for travel for Frederick Were-Higenyi, the Field Team Leader (FTL), on March 25, 2015. The team submitted Contract Amendment 4 to USAID on March 27, 2015.