PPL Surge Capacity Services Quarterly Report – Base Year 3, Quarter 1 October - December 2016

The project's primary objective is to ensure PPL's leadership role in policy, strategic planning, project design, donor engagement, monitoring, evaluation, and learning. The project's quarterly report for October-December 2016 highlights several key accomplishments. All technical deliverables were approved and successfully completed, and all report deliverables were submitted on time and approved. The project also successfully extended the consultancy of Carissa Page and William McCormick to avoid any gaps in service and to allow time for other hiring mechanisms to take effect. The project's management activities during this reporting period were focused on completing contract deliverables and implementing short-term technical assistance. Program Manager Celeste Buccola worked closely with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Greg Raney to identify hiring possibilities and run different scenarios to best utilize the funds under the contract. Additional use of surge support included a request to extend William McCormick, Senior Program Analyst, and the hiring of James Bednar as the Analyst for the PPL Senior Development Counselor positions. The project's staffing status as of December 31, 2016, includes several key personnel. Celeste Buccola is the Program Manager, who was officially confirmed as permanent on April 1, 2015. Michael Ferry is the Administrative Assistant, who started on December 1, 2014. Carissa Page is the Project Design Specialist, who started on November 16, 2015, and transitioned into a consultant role on September 20, 2016. William McCormick is the Senior Program Analyst, who started remotely on February 25, 2016, and will continue his work until December 31, 2016, with a possible extension. The project's priorities for the next quarter include submitting a quarterly project status report, hiring additional surge personnel as needed, scheduling additional technical deliverables, and scheduling a meet and greet with the new COR, Georgette Giles. The point of contact for the project is Greg Raney, who will be leaving in January, and will be replaced by Georgette Giles.