VINNELL CORPORATION CONTRACT AID-493-37 ACCELERATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

to assist the Royal Thai Government (RTG) to establish and staff a regional repair and maintenance shop (ROS) as part of its Accelerated Rural Development (ARD) Program. This final evaluation covers the period from 6/64 to 5/70. No evaluation methodology is indicated. With substantial help from Vinnell, a regional overhaul shop (ROS) was built at the Northeast ARD center in Korat, and less elaborate shop complexes have been set up in each province in which ARD is operative. The Vinnell training courses at Korat were very important, since trained personnel in the operation of heavy equipment were essentail to the project. On-the-job training however, had mixed results. Also with Vinnell help, the ROS repaired $10 million worth of equipment. Activities at the provincial level are harder to quantify, although Vinnell has been active at that level also. With the help of ROS, ARD has been able to construct 2,400 kms of standard roads; 1,500 kms of service tracks, village streets, and access roads, and to engage in numerous other construction projects. The biggest disappointment was the failure to convince RTG officials of the value of maintenance and supply management. Also, management problems that had existed within ARD from the start continued and inadequate supervision was visible at all levels. This was reflected in equipment nonuse and misuse, and a depression of individual morale and loss of whatever spirit ARD personnel had achieved during their training experiences with Vinnell. The non-availability of repair parts caused project delays and was often a result of fiscal management difficulties. After 1966 there was a let down on the part of the contractor, particularly at the management level, due to the dissolution of contractor training, the deterioration of ARD support, and the degradation of all parties. The separation of contract representatives from the contractor's operational area made communication difficult and reduced their effectiveness. Also, contracts should not be made on a fixed price basis and repeated short-term extensions should be avoided.