Sheladia Associates, Inc.

When the USAID office re-opened in January 2002, the first objective was to prevent a major humanitarian crisis. Programs were put in place immediately to ensure sufficient supplies of food and shelter, especially for returning refugees and displaced persons, and to prevent the outbreak of hunger and epidemic diseases. The USAID/Afghanistan mission is now working on the building blocks of a reconstructed Afghanistan. The new phase of reconstruction builds on achievements in the past year: the building of schools and clinics; the immunization of children; the development of infrastructure; and the introduction of a new, stable currency. The first of six building blocks of the current program is infrastructure. Highways and roads are the commercial lifelines in Afghanistan. USAID is rebuilding key road links, including the Kabul-Kandahar-Herat highway, which contribute to the revitalization of the economy and reunification of the country’s people. These roads also provide access from the vast rural areas to markets, health services and schools.

The Program Support objective (PSO) funds activities that are being implemented exclusively to support the achievement of other programs in Afghanistan. The targets and results of this objective are visible through and attributed to USAID/Afghanistan’s three other strategic objectives: Reestablish food Security; Create Conditions for Stability; Rehabilitate Afghanistan as a Nation-State. PSO support to these programs includes training, evaluation, administrative support, and technical support.

Brief Description of Services Provided
Under the technical direction of USAID/Afghanistan’s Office of Infrastructure Engineering and Energy, SHELADIA is providing the following services:

• Monitoring of the primary and secondary roads improvement program overall
• Preparation of Terms of References for engineers and interviews
• Reviewing of designs, specifications and all parts of bid documents for completeness and compliance with standards
• Review and checking of all reports such as studies, materials reports, design reports, etc.
• Monitoring the work of contractors
• Review of physical and financial progress of projects and ensuring that USAID is accurately informed of the progress and any problems/issues that may affect progress
• Taking or recommending necessary actions to ensure that the engineer and/or contractor take appropriate actions to prevent contractual or other issues delaying projects or to bring delayed projects back on schedule
• Making site visits, attending progress meetings, holding discussions with consultants, etc., to ensure that the required quality of consultancy services and construction is being achieved in all respects and that the impact mitigation plans and other pertinent environmental and social guidelines are being duly respected
• Providing advice and assistance in the resolution of claims and disputes and in other issues that require contractual decision by USAID and the various ministries
• Maintain and update project schedules
• On-the-job training and technology transfer to counterparts through day-to-day collaboration.