Monthly Progress Report – December 2015: 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 EKAM 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, Tetra Tech continued to implement its Action Plan and Budget Realignment submitted in September. The company mobilized staff in anticipation of the start of water tower repairs at Caracol EKAM, but delays in material deliveries and the lack of a final Notice to Proceed (NTP) caused the staff to be underutilized. Tetra Tech is concerned that the delays in getting the Design and Field Services (DFS) fully engaged on the project will adversely affect the budget and schedule. At Caracol EKAM, DFS provided pricing on the Request for Information (RFI) documenting the civil, sanitation, and structural changes proposed for the site. Tetra Tech reached out to USAID to see if they needed any additional information or support as they work through the documentation and make a determination as to how they would like to proceed. USAID provided questions that Tetra Tech is working on answering. DFS continued work on the water tower foundation repairs and is looking at how they will get the steel for the tower repairs across the border. DFS requested clarification of how the field conditions affect the shear wall foundations, and Tetra Tech finalized their contract with a field inspection company to provide field inspectors and a community liaison. At Terrier Rouge, Tetra Tech continued daily monitoring of CEEPCO's progress on site. Leech field repairs are continuing to progress, and leach fields LF-1b and LF-11a were completed. Work continued on leach fields LF-11 and LF-12, including completion of excavation, installation of infiltration chambers and gravel, and the start of sand placement. Percolation tests were completed in leach field LF-12, and tower repairs under CEEPCO have continued. Repairs were monitored by Derek James of QC Laboratories Inc. up to a week before the holiday break. DFS has been working on the off-site drainage work along RN-6 and have completed a majority of the work. It is anticipated that they will complete the remaining work in January. Tetra Tech is recommending that USAID, DFS, and Tetra Tech meet to bring all parties up to speed on the proposed design changes, cost implications, schedule implications, and how this will affect the project in both the short term and long term.