Project Description

PAVED ROAD FROM PULI ALAM TO AKHUNDKHEL ROAD

Project Goals

ALL RESIDENTS AND MARKETS WITHIN BOTH DISTRICTS WILL BENEFIT IMMENSELY FROM THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT. Comments: PROJECT IS VETTED THROUGH LOCAL GOV., MoPW AND PDP.

Results

The actual completion of the project paved 29km of road from HWY2 all the way to Dobandi Village in Khoshi District. The road goes virtually straight east through the Khoshi District and enables the free movement of people, information and goods. Traffic has substantially increased over the last two years causing the road to become the key piece of infrastructure in the district. The economic sectors that most greatly benefitted from this road are agriculture, lumber and the stone quarries on the Koshi-Azra border. In addition, the main bazar near the Khoshi District Center has seen significant growth in the last two years. This project is having a direct impact on the economic development of the district and is assessed by TF DAGGER to have accomplished its intended purpose.

Updates

27 JULY 2011-- The status of this project are as follows: 27 culverts without denial systems; 4 denial systems damaged; 4 systems are succesfully installed; THUNDER S9 and BDE S9 USACE Engineering Representative held a meeting with the contractor and gave the contractor until 15 AUGUST 2011 to complete the project. If it is not complete, TF THUNDER S9(PPO) will recommend liquidated damages to RCC Shank after 15 AUGUST 2011. THUNDER S9 has streesed to the contractor that he must install and repair the culvert denial systems ASAP to prevent future damage to the culverts which will delay the completion of the project.

19 JUNE 2011-- On 7 June 2011, TF THUNDER recieved a report that there was an IED blown in place which left a blast crater and damaged culvert at GRID 42SWC 07914 62184. TF S9 is coordinating with this project contractor and the Emergency Road Repair contract to fill this crater and repair the culvert. 

27 MAY 2011-- QA/QC TF THUNDER conducted a fly-over inspection of the project on 10 MAY 2011 and with the help of USACE, assessed the project to be 85% cmplete.TF THUNDER submitted an invoice and DD250 through RCC SHANK for a progress payment on 21 MAY 2011. The contractor informed THUNDER that Afghan National Police confiscated weapons permits from their security personnel which prohibits them from carrying weapons. TF THUNDER informed the contractor that he is still obligated to continue work and finish the project, and that it is his responsiblity to resolve the issue with the weapons permits for the security detail.

 that f27 APRIL 2011-- TF THUNDER S9 held a meeting with the contractor on 23 APR 2011. The company representative reported the following:

 - 25 of the 30km of the road has the first layer of asphalt completed.

 - 27 of the 30km has the coarse gravel completed

 - installation of Culvert Denial Systems has begun

 - the company needs to purchase more BITUMEN to complete the project 

27 MAR 2011-- ASPHALT WORK HAS BEEN RE-INITIATED. THE ESTIMATED COMPLETION IS 15 JULY 2011. Slab casting for culverts is in its process. FMCC reports that their crush plant has produced a sufficient amount of aggregate crush for the remainingg aggregate base course, binder course, and wearing course for the road. They also report that they are having difficulty with purchasing an adequate amount of Bitumen for this project.

24 FEB 2011-- WORK IS STILL AT A STAND-STILL BUT WORK WILL RESUME IN MID MARCH.

The Road project is 80% cmplete.

25 JAN 2011--TF THUNDER S9 MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND CONFIRMED THE RE-INITIATION OF ASPHALT WHICH IS TO COMMENCE ON 15 MARCH 2011.

Dec 1 2010 A TOA Memo for each Paying Agent and PPO/COR and an updated ADR have been uploaded on to CIDNE showing the transfer of authority from TF Raptor to TF Thunder.

Nov 12 2010 Meeting with road contractors. Sceduled fly over with contractors 25 DEC 2010. Exspected to be completed with all 30km of the road at this time. Currently 20km are complete and 10km require the second layer of asphalt. Culvert Denial Systems will be installed once the entire road is complete do to negaive reaction from locals. Nov 29 2010 A DD FORM 250 (MATERIAL INSPECTION AND RECIEVING REPORT, AND INVOICE #8B WERE SUBMITTED TO CONTRACING AND TO FINANCE FOR PAYMENT FOR COMPLETION OF MILESTONE 13 IAW APPROVED MILESTONE CHART. 

Oct 25 2010 From: CEO FMCC [mailto:XXXX] 

Sent: Thursday, 14 October, 2010 15:52

To: Song, Jason L CPT USA TF RAPTOR BN S9 OIC; Brunson, Tracy E CIV USA USACE Engineering Tech

Cc: Nguyen, Quoc-Nam T Capt RCC SHANK Contracting Officer; XXXX

Subject: SECURITY PERSONNELS DISARMING FROM OUR PROJECT PULI ALAM TO AKHUNDKHIL ROAD

Dear sir, 

Today I has been informed by KHOSHI DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF ( AHMAD NABI ) that as per PRESIDENT HAMED KARZIA command for dissolving all security companies along with security groups wants to disarm our security also who are working for us on the project. 

I told him that you don''t have enough police to make our jobsite secure and you want to disarm our security either, so it will be difficult for us to keep our job site secure. As he did not has any logic answer then he told me that he along with our project security manager want to meet me on next Wednesday to talk about this problem. I expressed my concern to LOGAR POLICE DEPUTYCHIF MR.GHLAM NABI CHARKHI either and he also did not have a clear answer either.

I tried to call GOVERNOR LODEEN but he did not pick my call.

I hope you help us regarding this important issue. Looking forward for your kind reply.

Dr. Abdullah Faizi

CEO

Office Cell # ( 93)-793-557700

Home Cell # ( 93)-799-236332

 Nov 1 2010 Contacted contractor for an update on road. He sent several pictures and invoices. Attached the most recent picture update. 

Contractor was a no show at last agreed meeting.

Replied in an email to conduct meeting with FMCC on 08 NOV if possible.

Oct 4 2010 550m per day currently trying to accomplish 700m per day They have stopped work for 15 days They need to send daily QC Questioned invoice number 7B We have not received updates since July Contractor questioned the 20% rtention and if he could reduce that amount According to contractor they are still 55% cmplete Road has been paved from 0 00 to 5 700 and to 14 800 Paved from Cop Sanchez to Khoshi Bizarre. The only thing is that they haven''t stopped work right now, but he said several months ago they stopped work for about 15 days. Currently they''re still doing some 700m of asphalt each day. 

Jul 31 2010 With due respect it is to inform you that on last Thursday July 29, 2010 at 9:30 AM one bad accident happened. While our grader was working in location N: 34.00424,,, E: 69.09826. one old Russian''s era mine blasted on the grader. As the mine was too deep fortunately no injury was happened. The grader got damages and the work was stop two days. Aug 20 2010 Actual email from the contractor:

With due respect it is to inform you that on 18th of August 2010 at 1:45 PM one bad accident happened. While our staff and security guards were coming back to office, at KM 4 960 grid coordination N: 34.00026, E: 69.08552 one land mine exploded on our security guards vehicle. The target was our security guards but luckily the mine was exploded just in front portion of the vehicle and thus there were no death casualties. Only small and light injures happen to the guards which were treated in Pule Alam hospital. Sep 6 2010 Uploaded recent flood damage on the road that will delay progress. 

 

Jul 20 2010 An issue of Dobandi arose, the contractor said that the problem there is security. The Dobandi Villagers used to provide security on top of an OP as well as unskilled laborers, but as a result of INS influence, the Dobandi villagers have decided to stop participating. The contractor is working with the village elders to begin security again, but they don''t think they''ll be willing to assist until it gets closer to the winter time.

The contract will begin asphalting work in approximately 2 weeks between HWY 2 and COP Sanchez. The asphalt work will take approximately 15 days.

Jul 8 2010 Contractor will focus on completing the length between HWY 2 and COP Sanchez over the next month to include final scraping/grading and asphalt work. Contractor has completed the infrastructure (culverts), and is currently working on creating the culvert denial systems (which the contractor has confirmed is USACE approved). 

Jun 23 2010 1. Generally slow progress - most common complaint, but there are lots of days where it seems like nothing is going on.

2. Route of road through Dobandi Bazaar area. Locals claim the original plan and survey was for the new road to follow the old roadbed. This road goes through the center of their bazaar and next to the river. The new surveyor wants to cut through a bunch of fields and take a ''higher ground'' path behind the bazaar and school. The new path would be cheaper, but the locals are pissed because they think the contractor is just trying to save money instead of considering the original plan and their wishes.

Jun 2 2010 updated payment percentage, and uploaded new contract modification with payment schedule Jun 4 2010 PEA to Akhundkhel Road (FMCC):

Attendees: CPT Song (COR), Tracy Brunson (PRT Engineer), 3x FMCC Representatives, 1x interpreter

Purpose: Provide update on PEA to Akhund Khel Road Project

Summary:

Approximately 40% cmplete as of 03JUN

~5 days ago, FMCC found a mine and with the help of ANSF and CF, were able to dispose of the mine without damage of equipment or personnel

FMCC reported that Alpha Company at COP Sanchez has been very helpful: disposing mines, and allowing the contractor to use MHE (ie cranes, etc).

Expect the Sanchez-UTAH segment of the road to be finished and easier to navigate within 2-3 weeks (currently the route has multiple detours around culverts). Limiting factor has been the curing of cement for the culverts.

FMCC reported no issues with government corruption.

FMCC provided 2x packets of files containing km-by-km pictures and updates (given to Tracy Brunson for analysis)

Workforce Summary on Project:

285 contract based workers (employees and subcontractors, not local workers)

125 local unskilled labor

10 local foremen

9 local watchmen

34 local skilled workers

 

Feb 7 2010 18JAN2010 Flew over entire length of road using Army Corp flight and saw culverts being dug, rock crushing under way and over 20 trucks working on road construction. Apr 24 2010 Met with the contractor, Faizi stated that he needs his milestone payment to proceed with the road. CPT Raymond Spees has been removed as the S-9 OIC and CPT Jason Song has taken his place. CPT Song met with contracting to address the payment issues. Word Document of the meeting is uploaded in media. 

Dec 29 2009 Construction work is slowed during winter due to cold weather, Contractor is concentrating on preperation activities such as crushing rock and preparing for asphalt this spring.

Nov 24 2009 Project was visited for QAQC on 1 NOV 09. The decision was finally made to go forward with culverts vs. low water crossings so the contractor is able to proceed with construction in locations where they were waiting on the decision. Work is being conducted in 3 locations, primarily on the sub-base and leveling process with which they intend to have almost completed to the Khoshi DC before having to stop work for winter. During the winter months the majority of the crush work will be done for the asphalt. 

Nov 5 2009 Project was visited for QAQC on 1 NOV 09. The decision was finally made to go forward with culverts vs. low water crossings so the contractor is able to proceed with construction in locations where they were waiting on the decision. Work is being conducted in 3 locations, primarily on the sub-base and leveling process with which they intend to have almost completed to the Khoshi DC before having to stop work for winter. During the winter months the majority of the crush work will be done for the asphalt. 

Oct 6 2009 Work is going as planned. Grating and leveling has been executed almost all the way out to RTE Utah from Khoshi District Center. Paving will begin within the next month in and around the District Center. The only concern is that of the culverts vs. low water crossings that is being evaluated currently. The current scope of work calls for culverts with culvert denial systems, and coalition forces are pushing for low water crossings which they feel would make the road less susceptible to IED''s. The contractor has submitted the increased cost analysis to the contracting department for evaluation, however he is at a point in his work where a decision will need to be made soon in order for him to continue with his work. 

Sep 11 2009 Currently working on the section in the Khoshi Bazaar near COP Sanchez. Plan to pave that section and then move out to the beginning of the road off of RT Utah and work East back towards Khoshi, DC. Goal is to get the majority of that paved before winter and then work the mountainous section in the spring. 

Mar 24 2009 Work is going as planned. Grating and leveling has been executed almost all the way out to RTE Utah from Khoshi District Center. Paving will begin within the next month in and around the District Center. The only concern is that of the culverts vs. low water crossings that is being evaluated currently. The current scope of work calls for culverts with culvert denial systems, and coalition forces are pushing for low water crossings which they feel would make the road less susceptible to IED''s. The contractor has submitted the increased cost analysis to the contracting department for evaluation, however he is at a point in his work where a decision will need to be made soon in order for him to continue with his work.