Quarterly Report: A-E Services to Support Infrastructure Related Programming in USAID/Ukraine and USAID/Moldova

This goal ensures the compliance of ongoing infrastructure activities with USAID requirements, health and safety standards, quality standards, and best engineering practices. The scope of these activities includes a wide range of renovation activities for existing facilities and public buildings, small-scale outdoor spaces, sports facilities, industrial, and commercial projects. The A/E Services Activity objectives are to provide quality assurance services during all construction phases, provide the full range of professional services of an architectural or engineering nature, and foster well-planned, cost-effective, safe, sustainable, and quality construction. During the second quarter of the second year, the A/E Services Activity continued to accomplish required tasks despite the challenges of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) until February 24, 2022, when war with Russia started. Prior to the war, employees were evacuated to safer places in Western Ukraine and Europe. Currently, four employees remain in Ukraine in safe haven locations, and two are in Europe. A refugee crisis has arisen as Ukrainian refugees move to Western Ukraine, Moldova, and other neighboring countries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The A/E Services Activity has proposed to support refugees and internally displaced people through creating temporary shelters and improving educational infrastructure in transit communities. The Activity revised existing contracts with Ukrhydroproject and Gleeds in Ukraine to comply with VAT exempt contracts in January before the war started. The A/E Services Activity has suspended work with the ERA Program due to war. Construction site visits to the LNAU1 Project did not occur, and construction start for the Phytosanitary Laboratory was first delayed and then suspended because of war. Work on the Cold Chain Logistics Hub, MAF kiosks, and LRLC Building were also delayed and then suspended because of war. Design reviews for the LNAU2 Project and the Berdiansk Center and progress in developing the Belgian Heritage and Kamatorsk Center Projects have also been suspended due to war. The HealthLink program was suspended because of war. The A/E Services Activity has continued engaging with the Ukraine National Identify Through Youth (UNITY) Program until the start of the war. Seventeen reviews were completed from the start of January until the war began. In Moldova, the A/E Services Activity is continuing with the Comunitatea Mea Program, which involves up to 70 small infrastructure development projects. The A/E Services Activity is continuing work on the training sessions for Implementing Partners, Agreement Officer's Representative/Contracting Officer's Representatives, and other stakeholders for both Ukraine and Moldova. The A/E Services Activity completed eighteen reviews and two concept notes this quarter. The A/E Services Activity continues to submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on time. The revised Annual Work Plan reflects the current projected timeline for reviews. The A/E Services Activity is planning to conduct full technical assessments of several projects, including the Lysychansk Belgian Heritage Center and the Rivne project. However, these activities have been temporarily suspended due to the war.