July 2008

$148,944

Completed

Paktiya

RC-East

Project Description

8-room middle school

Project Goals

This District school is priority 4 on the Director of Education''s Priority list. The goal of this project is to increase access to education for underserved Paktya populations in order to stregthen the Development Line of Operation (Education). This school will serve 423 students and is a dual gender school. The Director of Education has 13 teachers available to teach in this school, and one principal. Comments: Transportation costs, delivery costs, and the long distances over current provincial roads make construction costs in Chamkani increasingly prohibitive. Only a limited number of contractors are available to effectively execute mid-sized construction projects in an intermittently secure environment such as this district. Compounding this scarcity is the Paktya construction cycle, which essentially ends in November and does not begin again until March. As construction season moves to mid-point, the number of available contractors diminishes and the market turns in the favor of contractors who demand prices much higher than the Brigade standard for schools.

Contractors in Paktya and nearby provinces are also regularly threatened with night letters, intimidation, and attacks on schools. There is a higher level of insurgent influence in this district, a factor which discourages development and requires contractors to raise prices in order to cover their security costs.

Results

100% complete; constructed as specified in SOW contractor Chamkani Road and Building Construction Company

Updates

Jul 8 2009 

Payment History:

31 Jul 08: $37,235.95 initial payment made

24 May 09: 50% completion payment - $37,235.95 payment cleared 06/11/09

Sep 26 2009 CE COMMENTS:

QA Visit to Ahmad Khel Shatal School 16 Apr 2009

Engineer: Capt Shawn Kreuzberger

Hardly anything has been accomplished on this project. Some foundation work has been done, but this project is behind schedule. Workers state that the contractor is not supplying them with the materials to build with. Other locals stated that the contractor took the initial money and spent it on personal things instead of the materials for the project. What work that has been accomplished is done well. Contractor needs to be brought in and spoken with concerning the issues with this project. 

Contractor meeting set for week of 

11 May 09 

May terminate contract due to poor performance. Director of Education's engineer told the contractor to quit working because he wants the walls to be built into the earth - this would cost an extra $20K.

19-Jul-09:

Project nearly complete and looks very good. Sealing/painting of the plastered walls in progress. Remaining work includes some glass/window work, ground work, pitched roof and some miscellaneous finish work.

09-Sep-09:

Dec 20 2009 

Under construction 

 Apr 5 2010 

A new PRT has taken over this project and is attempting to have one of the engineers visit the site within the next week. Apr 12 2010 School walls and roof framing complete. Most of the roof was finished. Wall around school complete. All work is of good quality. 

 May 19 2010 

Ahmad Khel Shatal continues to proceed at a slow but steady pace. Five local workers were one-site and all work is adequate. The roof is complete as is approximately 75% of the windows. The workers were plastering the interior walls and 20% of the exterior plaster is also complete.

It appears the rain has revealed an erosion problem behind the school. The contractor has submitted a request for the retaining wall behind the school inside of the perimeter wall to combat the issue. The PRT will review. 

 Jun 12 2010 

Working with contractor on a design for an erosion preventing retaining wall. Will schedule a trip north shortly to QA. 

 6 July 2010

When the PRT arrived on site there were 5 craftsmen working, but no site supervisor. Progress is slow but steady. The metal roof has been installed, as well as the window frames. The interior plaster is 85% complete, exterior plaster is 50%. Construction of the latrine and excavation of the well has not begun. The classrooms are wired for 6 light fixtures each. Heater vents have been installed in the offices, but not in the classrooms. The perimeter wall is in progress. The site supervisor could not tell us what kind if power will be supplied to the building. Additionally; the supervisor informed us there were problems with craftsmen getting paid. The PRT will invite the contractor for a meeting to discuss project issues. There is NO CHANGE to the current completion percentage(75%). 

 10 July 2010

MSgt Austin/Mr. Stanislaus conducted a meeting with the contractor to discuss issues from the previous inspection, and the slow progress of the project. The contractor agreed to add the stove vents to all classrooms, and supply a 10Kw generator with concrete pad and protective shelter as stated in the design-build contract submitted to the PRT. When discussing the well, he told us Capt Wilcox removed the well from the project when the school moved locations due to the difficult terrain (we are in the process of verifying this information). We also discussed/approved the location of the latrine. We presented the contractor with documents that prove the project has only progressed 19% since July 2009. MSgt Austin informed the contractor the project must be complete by Sept 30th or he will be removed/replaced. The contractor agreed to hire more workers and have the project completed by the Sept 30 deadline. 

 Jul 25 2010 

MSgt Austin/. Stanislaus conducted a follow-up inspection of the project to check progress and to determine if the contractor had implemented the changes we discussed during our last meeting. Progress is still slow, and the contractor has not hired additional craftsmen to complete the project by the Sept 30 deadline. MSgt Austin sent him an email to stress our position on this issue.

Project is 75% complete. 

 Aug 29 2010 

MSgt Austin/Mr. Stanislaus conducted the site inspection, when the PRT arrived there were 4 craftsmen working under the direction of the site supervisor. Progress has been made since our last inspection on 19 July. All the interior/exterior plaster is complete, the concrete floors have been poured, and the steps to the side entrances have been constructed. The building interior has been primed/painted with the first coat of paint. And all the interior wiring is complete.

The Perimeter wall still needs to be capped, and the wall requires an entrance gate. The school generator needs to be delivered and the electric tested. Construction on the latrine has not yet begun. Additionally, the workers have threatened to walk of the project if they are not paid soon.

We will bring the contractor in for a meeting this week to discuss these issues (and the gabion basket proposal).This project is 80% complete.

 Sep 28 2010 

On 26 September. MSgt Austin/Mr. Mihalfy conducted the site inspection. When the PRT arrived, a contractor representative was there to meet us. There were no craftsmen on the project because they were all attending a funeral of one of the workers--he had been sick for a long time. There has been progress. The exterior paint, sidewalk, steps, and ramps, and glass windows are all complete. A three stall latrine has been constructed and is 50% complete; however, the contract calls for a 6 stall latrine. When we discussed this discrepancy with the contractor, he said he has documentation of the approved change. There is much work left to complete, but the contractor is certain he will complete the project this construction season. We will have the contractor in for a meeting to discuss the following topics: approval documentation for the three stall latrine, classroom heater vents, and review the project time-line for completion.

 Oct 4 2010 

Today TSgt Newman/Mr. Stanislaus conducted a meeting with Amin Afzally, the contractor for the Ahmad Khel Shatal School to discuss the previous site inspection. Mr. Stanislaus opened the meeting and spoke about some small areas on the project that required attention. The latrines need to be completed. There were some glass windows that were broken when installed and need to be replaced, the windows needed to be sealed with silicone, the retaining wall needs to be completed and plastered, the interior walls and doors needed to be replastered and painted with a second coat, the windows need to be repainted as well as the hardware reinstalled properly, the ceiling above the stairs redone, the building expansion joint has to be covered with metal and painted and the generator installed and tested. Mr. Afzally said he would address all the concerns immediately. He also says he will have the project ready for final inspection in three weeks. 

 Oct 15 2010 

12 oct 10 the PRT conducted a site inspection of the Shatal School. The team arrived very early in the morning, the craftsmen were not on the site yet, but the new site supervisor was there to meet us. Progress is slow and steady, and the quality is very good. The concrete cap for the perimeter wall, latrine, and interior paint are all in progress. Additionally, we spoke with the site supervisor about the concrete retaining wall, and showed him exactly what we agreed on with the contractor Amin Afzally. The supervisor was very thankful we took the time to explain the details of the contract modification, and said he would begin construction on the wall soon. We are confident the project will be finished during this construction season. This project is 90% complete.

 Nov 3 2010 

Today the PRT conducted a site inspection of the Shatal School, we arrived in the afternoon, the craftsmen were on site, and the site supervisor was there to meet us. Progress is slow and steady, and the quality is less than satisfactory in regards to the last visit. The window and door framing was not up to standard. We will discuss what course of action we will take. There was also damage to the mortar on the door frames as well as some broken glass that will have to be replaced. The concrete caps for the perimeter wall, latrine, and interior paint are still in progress and almost complete. Additionally, the concrete retaining wall is in progress and is about 50% complete. The project should still be finished during this construction season as soon as we talk to the contractor and get him back on track. No change to project status (90% complete). 

 Nov 14 2010 

Today a meeting was held by TSgt Newman/Mr. Stanislaus with the contractor Amin Afzally to discuss this project. Amin brought numerous photos to show the progress of the school and it is coming along fine. Many of the punch list items discussed in the previous meeting were complete. The photos were helpful in pointing out a few more things that needed to be complete. We discussed the items and Amin said he will take care of them. We should have one last inspection and we can begin closing this project. Dec 1 2010 Today TSgt Newman/Mr.Stanislaus held a meeting with Amin Chamkaniwal to sign for the final payment of the Ahmad Khel Shatal school project. The PRT informed that the payment will be processed as soon as the final inspection is completed and the Director of Education submits an acceptance letter to the PRT for the school. Amin Chamkaniwal understood the circumstances and was in agreement. The project is 100% complete and will be finalized upon receipt of the letter and completion of the final inspection.

 30 November 2010 

The final payment was signed for and sent up for submittal. 

 1 December 2010

Today TSgt Newman/Mr.Stanislaus held a meeting with Amin Chamkaniwal to sign for the final payment of the Ahmad Khel Shatal school project. The PRT informed that the payment will be processed as soon as the final inspection is completed and the Director of Education submits an acceptance letter to the PRT for the school. Amin Chamkaniwal understood the circumstances and was in agreement. The project is 100% complete and will be finalized upon receipt of the letter and completion of the final inspection. 

 9 December 2010

The PRT, TSgt Newman/Mr. Stanislaus, conducted a site inspection on the Ahmad Khel Shatal School. This was to be a final inspection before making the final payment to the contractor. One worker was present at the site who lives near by. When asked where the generator was he replied that it was at his home for safe keeping, also stating that he was holding on to it until the contractor paid him. He was told that the PRT will look into his pay with the contractor and then he agreed to bring up the generator and connect it to the building. Once running the lights were tested finding quite a few that were not operational and some that were. The contractor will have to come out and fix the electrical system so that all lights and fixtures are functioning. Another issue the contractor will have to attend to is repainting the window panes because when the walls were painted with the final coat the wall paint ran off all over the windows. The reservoir used by the contractor to hold water for the project was not filled in, whether or not if it was agreed to leave it will have to be cleared up by the contractor. The latrines were complete and painted. The retaining walls, as well as, the security wall were also complete. The contractor will be given a final punch list to complete prior to submitting the final payment. The PRT is also awaiting the acceptance letter from the Director of Sector. This project is 100% complete with a short punch list to be completed.

 11 December 2010

The PRT, TSgt Newman/ Mr. Mihalfy, conducted a meeting with Amin Chamkaniwal the Vice President of the Ahmad Khel Shatal School. We discussed the recent inspection completed on 9 December 2010 and went over all the punch list items. Amin assured the PRT that all items will be completed within the next two days. There will be another inspection completed to insure all items discussed are finished and to standard. The project is ready to be closed pending final items are completed and the PRT receives a letter of acceptance from the Director of Sector.

 16 December 2010

The PRT, TSgt Newman/Mr. Stanislaus, conducted a site inspection on the Ahmad Khel Shatal School. This was the final inspection before making the final payment to the contractor. There are just a couple of items still needing to be accomplished. There were three windows in the back of the school that were cracked and will have to be replaced, the window and door frames still need touch up paint and the water tank in the front of the school will need to be cleaned out. When these items are complete and the letter of acceptance is received the project will be ready for turnover and closure.

 1 January 2011

PRT was awaiting letter of acceptance from GIRoA. The process is taking a long time. Salerno CERP has advised the PRT to close the project without turnover.

 15 March 2011

Project complete, all docs uploaded. Request closure.

27 March 2011

Resubmitted closure documents for project completion. Closure Packet

Packet does not require drawing 1081 due to it is a Legacy status (2008 project). This was from RM directly. The ODS report will be sufficient as it shows a zero dollar balance.