Third Quarter Report FY2014: Afghanistan Engineering Support Program

The program is implemented by Tetra Tech, Inc. and consists of a Kabul-based core of expatriate engineering professionals leading a competent staff of local Afghan engineers and support professionals. The program's primary objective is to support the USAID OEGI mission in energy, transportation, vertical structures, and water and sanitation sectors. Tetra Tech AESP performs activities that complement and reinforce the activities and engineering expertise of USAID OEGI staff. The program has been active since November 9, 2009, and is scheduled to close on November 8, 2014. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, Tetra Tech AESP submitted 149 deliverables, including final conceptual designs for transmission lines and substations, installation guides for relay coordination studies, and Request for Proposals (RFPs) in support of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) and USAID OEGI's effort to improve power distribution. The estimated worth of all RFPs produced is significant. In the energy sector, Tetra Tech AESP continued working closely with DABS and its commercial contractors to increase access to electricity in Afghanistan. The team provided manufacturing facility assessments for DABS facilities, produced assessments to identify modifications and equipment necessary to make the facilities fully functional, and assisted DABS with a RFP for the substation construction. Tetra Tech AESP also provided technical support and oversight services, including quick response services related to a landslide in Badakhshan Province. The team coordinated with the Afghan Air Force to provide transport to Badakhshan, mobilized a geotechnical subcontractor to collect in-situ soil test data, and met with village elders to support data collection. In addition, Tetra Tech AESP continued to provide mentoring and professional growth opportunities to four selected female interns under the Afghan Women Internship Program. The interns participated in shadowing of USAID engineers, training, and workshops, and began work on their resumes, interview preparation, and presentation work. The program's geographic coverage includes Afghanistan, with a focus on energy, transportation, vertical structures, and water and sanitation sectors. The program's activities are designed to support the USAID OEGI mission and contribute to local national capacity building, mentoring, and collaboration/coordination with USAID. Tetra Tech AESP has a strong track record of adaptability, mobility, and responsiveness to the needs of USAID. The program's team has demonstrated a commitment to supporting the USAID OEGI mission and contributing to the development of Afghanistan's infrastructure and economy.