Monthly Progress Report No. 16

The project involves the installation of a new 300mm, 250mm, 200mm, and 100mm diameter main transmission pipeline approximately 9.14 kilometers long to supply potable water to the towns of Nahaleen, Wadi Fukin, Husan, and Battir. The project scope includes the installation of approximately 7.24 kilometers of local network connections for Nahaleen, Husan, and Battir, as well as the upgrading of a total of 9.5 kilometers of existing roads within the project area. The road is a two-lane regional road connecting the communities of Nahaleen, Hussan, Battir, and Wadi Fukin to Road 60 and Road 367 in the Bethlehem Governorate. The project is being implemented by APCO/ArCon Construction and Services, with Black and Veatch serving as the Engineer/CMC. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Contract No. 294-I-00-12-00005, Task Order No. AID-294-TO-13-00015. During the reporting period from February 1 to February 28, 2015, the contractor made significant progress on the project. The planned percentage of completion for the project was 84.6% (BL01), 83.4% (BL02), and 62.84% (proposed BL03), while the actual percentage of completion was 60.5%. Safety was a major focus during the reporting period, with zero accidents reported and no Notices of Unsafe Condition (NUCs) issued. A toolbox talk was conducted on February 28, 2015, to refresh the workforce on personal protective equipment (PPE) and general safety measures. Environmental compliance was also a priority, with the implementation of environmental mitigation plan measures, such as public and labor health and safety, dust control, traffic control, and other measures. The contractor submitted and received approval for various traffic control plans, including conditional written approval for traffic control plans in segment D and segment A. Community outreach, public information, and gender consideration were also key aspects of the project, with continued coordination with local councils, utility owners, and residents. The contractor received approval for temporary access to the Natural Reserve from the Highway 260 during construction. The project is expected to be completed by May 28, 2015, with an estimated completion date of May 28, 2015. The project's total value is $11,614,885.00, with a modified total value of $11,891,556.77 (per VO#01). The contractor has made significant progress on the project, with a total float of -2 days.