Project Description

Nangalam to Wama Road DBST Paving 35km

Project Goals

Reason for Project: 35 km of road from Nangalam to Wama is a section of the Nuristan Provincial Capital to Kunar Provincial Capital highway. The existing gravel road will quickly degrade by harsh environment and heavy truck traffic. This action will prolong the life of the road, reduce vehicle maintenance costs, and reduce transit time for heavy truck traffic.

Desired Project Effects: Short term economic benefit from road construction. Long term economic boom from ability to transport heavy loads of wood, iron ore, gems, grain, and textiles from Nuristan to Kunar Provincial Capital and onward to international outlets. Provincial trade will result in growth of materials processing industries. Access to health industry will reduce infant mortality. Access to governance and economic growth will result in regional stability.

Measurable Effects: 35km of DBST pavement from Nangalam to Wama. 20% growth in industry sector. 30% long term economic growth from cross provincial trade. 30% job growth and access to effective governance will result in regional stability. Average vehicle maintenance cost will be reduced by 40%. Transit time will improve from 100 minutes to 55 minutes.

Reference: Road Sector Master Plan (Sheladia Assoc) Apr 06

Funding Source: DIV CERP 2008 $4,235,000 Comments: PM: CDR Lise Pederson

10FEB2011 - first meter of retaining wall is installed. Although original SOW was for 700 meters, only 160 meters (my measurement made in Dec 2010 by taking GPS grids every 10 meters) is being built. Original wall on either end appears to be in excellent shape so the add''l length isn''t needed. PM asked TF Bastogne legal''s opinion on paying the entire amount if the actual work was much less originally contracted. Legal was of the opinion to pay for what was actually built. Contractor was sent SF30 de-scoping the 1. remainder of the paving work as the road construction was cancelled by AED and 2. lowering the amount to be paid for the retaining wall. New SOW will include only the retaining wall.

5/2/11 - Retaining wall is complete.

Results

Project Effects: 

 Followup Inspections: 

 Evaluation of Success: 

 AAR:

Updates

Jan 8 2009 DBST first layer is complete for 1.5km where a signifcant wash area needs RCC foundation built. From AED side -- road widening and improvements progress for up to 8km, with 3.5km total being in good compacted state. Structure work continues -- little or no road crews out in comparison to a similar trip the week before. Senji and Kanday bridges were once again driveable with no work crews present, but approach roads still need to be paved. Jul 27 2009 This contract is to pave over a road that AED contracted to get improved gravel surfacing. AED''s initial contract was cancelled but they apparently are close to resigning another contractor. Once that contract creates the improved gravel surface, this contractor will be standing by to pave it with DBST. Nov 29 2009 AED''s contract defaulted and they only recontracted 12km to Qala (with an additional 3km option).

PRT was contemplating changing the 35km DBST to 15km Asphalt (with some extra money to be returned or used on supporting projects (solar lights along road, additional structures, etc). However, HWCC declining performance on other projects is causing the PRT to hold off on that change to the SOW.

Job Data unk at this point - contract has stalled due to the dependence on AED''s contract. Mar 9 2010 this contract is dependent on AEDs contractor. AED''s contractor will resume work on March 15 2010. 

AEDs new contract is only for 8km so our contract will only go 12km as of now. AED has an extension which they could exercise. Apr 8 2010 Because of the 12-km limit to the amount of work the contractor will be able to accomplish, this contract will require a negotiated modification. PM has received concurrence from contracting officer to add repair work between Nangalam and Asadabad to this contract while negotiating modifications. PRT intends to conduct a QA/QC check on this project 17 April; at same time we will assess the condition of the road between Nangalam and Asadabad in order to inform our negotiations to add the repair work. Apr 25 2010 Update submitted to reflect recent QA/QC inspection and meeting with the contractor. Work is to have resumed again this weekend, after a long delay due to lack of supplies and security difficulties. Intend to meet again with the contractor in two to three weeks to discuss a modification to the statement of work, which will subtract the portion of the contract that the contractor (through no fault of their own) will not be able to fulfill and will add repair work to be accomplished between Nangalam and Asadabad along the same road. QA/QC report has been added to media.

Changed PM from LCDR Gillespie to CDR Pederson. Jun 8 2010 No update on performance of this contract. Contractor has commenced work on cutting, grading, sub-base, etc. for AED contract on the same road. When AED approves first 500m of work, they will turn that section over to us for the paving contract.

Negotiations with contractor regarding no-cost modification to include repair work on Route Rhode Island between Nangalam and Asadabad continuing. Nov 8 2010 Uploaded project update from LCDR Gillespie.

Visited the site on 28OCT2010.

Met with contractor on 4NOV2010 and discussed project quality. Showed him pictures they had sent and pictures we had taken. Informed him that work was substandard which included the footing and rock wall on top. Explained why. He agreed to remove all work and start again. Told him we wanted pictures of the new excavation and form work and that he was not to start until we had approved it. He agreed. Sent him a letter confirming the conversation. Nov 12 2010 Uploaded memo documenting 03 NOV meeting. Had another meeting with the Contractor on 11 NOV, requested by them. They still owe start / end points for the retaining wall. Previous PRT made a payment on 14OCT but it was sent to wrong place. Resent paperwork on 08NOV. 

Dec 5 2010 Uploaded modified scope of work which reduces road paving from 35 km to 12 km and adds 720m of road repair south of FOB Blessing. No legal review was performed on this second SOW.

1/20/2011 Uploaded DEC 30 2010 QA report top media. CTR has resubmitted mix design with admisture for concrete work. Permission for concrete work given on 10 Jan 2011. CTR did not submit progress until prompted multiple times but has finally given reports showing slump tests, cylinder test samples and work in progress showing concrete work for the retaining wall. Should be able to assess project completion % after the next site visit. 

02/27/2011 Met with contractor on 24FEB2011 to discuss de-scoping. AED is cancelling their Nangalam to Wama road construction project so the contingent paving contract (part of this contract) is also being cancelled. Had investigated using some of those funds to repair erosion on Route Rhode Island near Tantil. Contractor developed initial plans but have decided to hold off on this project currently. Issued Stop Work for this to ensure contractor did not incur more costs. Issued modified Statement of Work which only includes the Rhode Island Road repair at Sundray. Requested that the contractor provide costs incurred for paving project (Nangalam to Wama) and new erosion design (Tantil). Waiting on those costs before issuing final SF30 to reduce contract amount. 

3/16/11 - Have received the costs from Holly Wood and have countered with them twice. There will not be an amicable agreement on the de-scoping amount as the PM believes that they are trying to bill for items previously paid for such as anything to do with paving operations (per LCDR Gillespie''s memo to file) and comparing costs with the settlement Holly Wood is trying to negotiate with AED for the road construction. Filed the SF30 and associated paperwork such that the only ongoing work is the 200 meters of retaining wall and associated road (down from 700 meters).

27MAR11 - Met with contractor on 24MAR. Contractor will repair erosion occuring at both ends of retaining wall then we will meet again to determine way forward. Contractor also negotiated the end of the paving part of the contract. The only work open at this time is the Sundare retaining wall and road. This is covered in Invoice No. 6 which will be the last invoice for all other work other than the retaining wall. No costs were covered for the retaining wall were covered in this invoice.

4/4/11 - Added contractor photos of retaining wall erosion repair. 

4/27/11 - Contractor has completed connecting the original wall to the new wall thus preventing more erosion. He said he also put filter fabric around the weep hole in the wall to prevent erosion but no proof this has been submitted. Contractor has also indicated that he wants to finish the job i.e. pave the road but hasn''t started. He says he needs the money from the last payment to do so. He was informed that he needed to start by around 01 May or the paving may be de-scoped and the contract cancelled.

5/31/11 - Contract closed as is. Retaining wall is complete.

7/27/11 - Had a meeting with the contractor. Contractor claims he has not been paid for certain services. I have reviewed the project files and it appears he was paid for the work done. He informed me that he wanted to file a claim per the FARS/DFARS. I told hiom I would send his request to finance. Contractor has been blacklisted for poor work and attempting to double bill the PRT and AED for the same work. LCDR Tengesdal