Infrastructure veterans win IDIQ USAID contract

The U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded two five-year contracts to experienced firms in the construction and engineering field. United Infrastructure Projects and AMEC Environment & Infrastructure Inc. have each won a $70 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to provide design and construction services for the East Africa Regional Construction project. UIProjects was founded 15 years ago in the United Arab Emirates. Headquartered in Dubai, the firm has won more than 230 infrastructure and construction-related projects funded by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Navy, USAID, International Security Assistance Force, the World Bank and Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment. The firm’s infrastructure portfolio with USAID includes Alternative Livelihood Program and NLCC Power Plant. Both projects were implemented in Afghanistan. U.K.-based AMEC, meanwhile, is an international engineering and consulting firm that has implemented more than 100 projects in more than 40 countries. Founded 160 years ago and headquartered in London, the firm specializes in construction, geotechnical, materials testing, road weather information systems, and utility and pavement engineering, among others. Some of AMEC’s past projects include Development of an Environmental Management System for the Upgrade of the East Coast Main Line, Due Diligence Support in the Purchase of Newquay Cornwall Airport and Draft Master Plan Public Consultation. Under the East Africa Regional Construction IDIQ, infrastructure services will be provided to Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Burundi, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and the Central African Republic. These services may involve dredging, excavation, renovation and refurbishment of buildings, roads, bridges, power plants, water treatment facilities and vertical structures. Except in “unusual situations” that may require a degree of flexibility, the IDIQ will issue only firm fixed-price task orders. Hybrid task orders may be issued on occasion, but any construction work under such plans will still be FPP. UIProjects and AMEC are expected to develop and maintain an implementation and mobilization plan, which should apply to all work performed in accordance with the International Building Code. The contractors are also expected to fulfill environmental requirements in the implementation of this project. Among the key personnel required for this contract are a program manager, a lead engineer and a quality assurance manager. These are the positions considered essential for the work to be performed for this specific contract. Compared with the Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community of West African States, East Africa fares poorly in infrastructure development. Transportation and ICT-related challenges are, in fact, among the main impediments to achieving regional integration in East Africa. In addition to building and renovating crucial infrastructure, the East Africa Regional Construction project aims to deliver construction and rehabilitation support for technical assistance programs in agriculture, health, water supply, sanitation, trade, energy, economic development and natural resources. Check out more practical business and development advice online, and subscribe to Money Matters to receive the latest contract award and shortlist announcements, and procurement and fundraising news.