Monthly Progress Report: A-E Services to Support Infrastructure Related Programming in Solomon Islands

The Strengthening Competitiveness, Livelihoods, and Environment (SCALE) Activity supports this strategy by developing local economies in Malaita at a sub-provincial level to drive expansion of market access and supporting infrastructure. SCALE's purpose is to improve the enabling environment for investment and trade, strengthen the agribusiness sector, and enhance governance of natural resources, particularly in the forestry sector. SCALE-A&E, a qualified architectural and engineering services provider, has been contracted to support SCALE's objectives. The contract focuses on completing analyses, feasibility studies, design, and construction oversight of small-scale infrastructure at approximately 10-15 sites. The project's six tasks include providing sectoral analyses, feasibility studies, and design for small-scale agribusiness infrastructure, completing planning, feasibility studies, cost estimates, and preliminary designs for small-scale infrastructure, and supporting procurement for small-scale infrastructure. Task 1 involves providing sectoral analyses, feasibility studies, and draft designs, with a deliverable including five reports and appendices submitted to USAID on June 27th, 2021, and cleared by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on September 12th, 2021. Task 2 focuses on completing concept and pre-feasibility studies for the National Transport Commission (NTC) and related infrastructure, including identifying potential projects, analyzing legal and statutory conditions, and preparing pre-feasibility studies. Task 3 involves providing concept reviews for six small-scale infrastructure projects, with four concept notes submitted in June 2021. Task 4 requires completing pre-feasibility studies for seven selected small-scale infrastructure projects, with data and field data collected from visits to Gwa, Gwa, and Malu, and Atori, and Afio. Task 5 involves completing planning, feasibility studies, cost estimates, and preliminary designs for small-scale agribusiness infrastructure, with a request for a three-month extension until March 27, 2022, approved by USAID on September 17th, 2021. Task 6 requires completing written and tender documents and supporting procurement for small-scale infrastructure, with a request for a three-month extension until March 27, 2022, approved by USAID on September 17th, 2021. Task 7 involves managing construction contractors to adhere to designs and specifications, with no task start date. The project has made progress in various areas, including the identification of potential wharf rehabilitation sites, the assessment of the Solomon Islands Water in Auki, and the establishment of a sub-group meeting to investigate a public-private sector partnership and establishing a trust to hold ownership of infrastructure. An Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) was prepared by GPTech and submitted to USAID on November 14th. The project has also made progress in data collection and analysis, with Planet Partnerships working with two consultants on feasibility studies and conducting workshops to discuss potential infrastructure and potential obstacles to their implementation. The Winrock office in Auki is still not ready to move into due to ongoing negotiations between the owner and the owner, with the SCALE-A&E staff member based in Auki working remotely from their home.