Reducing costs and improving performance in construction of public works

THESE HOST-COUNTRY INSTITUTIONS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS -- PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ROADS, DAMS, BRIDGES, CULVERTS, SEWERS, AND RETAINING WALLS. EFFORTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO INCREASING THE CAPABILITY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS IN THE ANALYSIS, TESTING, AND INNOVATIVE ASPECTS OF MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY. THE CONTRACTOR WILL ASSIST IN AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY, CLARIFICATION OF GAPS AND WEAKNESSES, IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE FORMULATION OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO ADOPT THE CONCEPTS OF COST REDUCTION AND VALUE ENGINEERING. SUMMARY REPORTS WILL BE PREPARED FOR EACH COUNTRY. THE CONTRACTOR WILL ALSO ASSIST THE INSTITUTIONS TO ORGANIZE CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS FOR GOVERNMENT PLANNERS, FINANCIAL MANAGERS, BUILDING ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENGINEERING FIRMS IN ORDER TO GAIN A BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, IN ADDITION, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LITERATURE SEARCH AND CONSULTATIONS WITH US EXPERTS CONCERNING THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE PUBLIC WORKS FIELD. POSSIBLE HOST-COUNTRY CANDIDATES INCLUDE NIGERIA, KOREA, COLOMBIA, AND THAILAND.