South Sudan Feeder and Trunk Roads Program Progress Report – February 2015

The program's objectives include improving road conditions, building technical and managerial capacities in design, tendering, construction supervision, and maintenance of roads, and working with staff of beneficiary institutions. The program's FY14/15 Work Plan de-emphasizes capacity building at the Ministry of Transport, Roads and Bridges (MTRB), and the Contracting Officer has been notified of this variance from the Contract scope of work. The program's activities are focused on Western and Central Equatoria States, with work beginning in Eastern Equatoria in February. Management activities in support of field work include USAID coordination, program transportation, program security, technical staffing, and procurement. Tetra Tech communicates regularly with the Contracting Officer and attends periodic technical coordination meetings. The program continues to rent vehicles for field work, with a high level of activity expected to continue until June 2015. Program security is a concern, with serious criminal activity directed towards the expatriate community in Juba. The Tetra Tech Security and Logistics Manager closely monitors all activity, and the program is engaging communities along survey routes to secure work areas. No projects are expected to be disqualified for security reasons. Tetra Tech has requested Contracting Officer approval for a replacement Roadway Design Engineer and has identified a replacement Geotechnical Engineer. Procurement of an ATV and a second set of GPS equipment for use by the survey crew has been a high priority, with the GPS survey equipment delivered in January and the ATV delivered in February. The program's progress is reported on a monthly basis, with this report covering the period from February 1 to February 28, 2015. The report outlines the activities undertaken and accomplished during the reporting period, including program management, assessment, design, and capacity building work in Western and Central Equatoria States and the beginning of work in Eastern Equatoria. The program's financial status is also reported, with a financial status update provided in Section 6.0. The report also includes indicators, issues requiring the attention of USAID, activities planned for the next reporting period, and deliverables. The program's capacity building activities are focused on building technical and managerial capacities in design, tendering, construction supervision, and maintenance of roads. The program is working with staff of beneficiary institutions, including the Ministry of Transport, Roads and Bridges (MTRB), State Ministries of Physical Infrastructure (SMPIs) in the Equatoria States, local communities, and the South Sudan Roads Authority (SSRA). The program's design and construction activities are focused on improving road conditions in the Equatoria states of South Sudan. The program is using a variety of techniques, including surveying, design, and construction supervision, to improve road conditions and build technical and managerial capacities in design, tendering, construction supervision, and maintenance of roads. The program's security and logistics activities are focused on ensuring the safety and security of program staff and equipment. The program is closely monitoring all activity and engaging communities along survey routes to secure work areas. The program is also working to mitigate the risks associated with carjacking and forced entry into residential compounds in the Thonping district in Juba. The program's procurement activities are focused on acquiring the necessary equipment and materials to support program activities. The program has procured an ATV and a second set of GPS equipment for use by the survey crew, and is continuing to procure other equipment and materials as needed. The program's financial activities are focused on managing the program's budget and ensuring that program activities are carried out in accordance with the program's financial plan. The program's financial status is reported on a monthly basis, with a financial status update provided in Section 6.0. The program's indicators are focused on measuring the program's progress and impact. The program is tracking a variety of indicators, including the number of roads improved, the number of communities benefiting from the program, and the level of technical and managerial capacity built in design, tendering, construction supervision, and maintenance of roads. The program's issues requiring the attention of USAID include security concerns, procurement delays, and capacity building challenges. The program is working to address these issues and ensure that program activities are carried out in accordance with the program's objectives and scope of work. The program's activities planned for the next reporting period include continuing program management, assessment, design, and capacity building work in Western and Central Equatoria States and the continuation of work in Eastern Equatoria. The program will also continue to procure equipment and materials as needed and will work to mitigate the risks associated with carjacking and forced entry into residential compounds in the Thonping district in Juba. The program's deliverables include a variety of reports and documents, including the monthly progress report, the annual work plan, and the final report. The program will also deliver a variety of technical and