Monthly Progress Report – August 2016: Engineering Design & Construction Supervision Program

The program was established in response to deficiencies in the housing and civil construction of the EKAM settlement, which was built between October 2011 and October 2013. The 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 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 August 1, 2016, to August 31, 2016, Tetra Tech continued to provide construction supervision for DFS. CEEPCO is substantially complete with their construction activities and are working on closing out the project by finishing the remaining administrative tasks. DFS is focusing their work on the shear walls at the Caracol EKAM site and have begun the repairs of the onsite drainage system. DFS ran out of epoxy for the shear walls and were unable to continue with that work for about 1 week. CEEPCO is in the process of closing out their activities at Terrier Rouge and Ouanaminthe and has initiated project closeout procedures. Tetra Tech is working with USAID to finalize the closeout documentation and provide input on the credits and debits owed by CEEPCO to USAID. On August 25, 2016, was approved to become Tetra Tech's field Construction Manager. On August 31, 2016, was approved for travel to Haiti to fill that role. He is expected to be onsite in early September. At the Caracol EKAM site, DFS has completed the majority of the work on the secondary canal and have transitioned to work on the new Channel. They have begun excavation of Channels A, B, and D. DFS has finished relocating the fence that is now along the path of the new channel. Review of DFS submittals is ongoing, and the house submittals are finalized. USAID and DFS have come to an agreement on the project duration. The project is to be completed by the end of February. If DFS is not complete at that time, they will be given a no-cost extension through the end of April. After that time, liquidated damages will be applied. DFS will be submitting a schedule that shows the work being completed at the end of February. Tetra Tech continues to provide construction supervision for DFS, and CEEPCO is substantially complete with their construction activities. The project is progressing, and the team is working to finalize the closeout documentation and provide input on the credits and debits owed by CEEPCO to USAID.