URGENT MASERU REQUEST FOR 7902 CONTINGENCY FUNDS -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000353

SIPDIS

OBO/OM/AM/AF FOR AMO HERB TREGER
AF/EX FOR PMO ART HERMANSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABLD AMGT AFIN LT
SUBJECT: URGENT MASERU REQUEST FOR 7902 CONTINGENCY FUNDS -
REPLACEMENT OF SUB-STANDARD FILLING UNDER CONCRETE SURFACE BED

REF: A) ANDERSON/TREGER TELCON DTD 9/23/09; B) ANDERSON/TREGER E-MAIL DTD 9/30/09


1. Post urgently requests $60,000 in OBO Special Maintenance
and Repair/7902 funds to rectify serious deficiencies in a
portion of the foundation of our existing warehouse building
(RPA Property X3003). This project is critical because we are
currently converting the warehouse to office space to support
exponential growth of PEPFAR staff and programming. This
conversion project is a follow on to the initial phase completed
in July 2008 and again utilizes PEPFAR funding. This
construction has been reviewed and approved by OBO and DS. Post
can obligate funding immediately upon receipt.

2. Upon excavation of existing concrete floor to pour new
wall foundations, we discovered, to everyone's surprise, that a
portion of the existing concrete flooring foundation was built
on a pile of rubble stone and broken brick with no soil and no
compaction, resulting in an extremely unsafe foundation. The
rest of the excavated floor foundation was properly filled and
compacted, per evaluation by structural and civil engineers
supporting the project. Although there are no building plans or
records at post for this particular building, we surmise that
this, the former USAID office building was extended in the early
1980s as the USAID Mission grew significantly at that time.
USAID Maseru closed its offices mid 1995. The Embassy converted
the building to a warehouse using OBO funding in late 1995.

3. We respectfully request immediate funding for this
critical project which will entirely remove the old substandard
fill and replace the flooring foundation, meeting industry
standards, while minimizing delay of the warehouse conversion
project. The building foundation has been inspected by
structural and civil engineers and the master builder working on
the project and deemed appropriate for the load and stresses of
the existing building perimeter walls.

4. Post Name: Maseru

5. Requirement: Replacement of Sub-Standard Filling Under
Concrete Surface Bed.

6. Post Rating: Critical

7. Special Considerations:

Controlled Access Area: N
Construction Security Plan Required: N
Fire/Life Safety Issues: Y
Hazardous Material Issues: N
Confirm that Post is Capable of Managing Project: Y
Space Planning Needed: N
Swing Space Needed: N
Asbestos Issues: N
Security Issues: N


8. Without this requested contingency funding, it will
virtually impossible for Post to fund this unbudgeted item.


9. Planned start date: 10/05/09


10. Property Name: Warehouse


11. Property ID: 3003


12. Property Type: Warehouse


13. Assumptions:

Gross Square Meters Impacted (non-CAA): 180
Gross Square Meters Impacted (CAA): 0
Impact on Installed Fire Protection System(s): N
Duration of Completion: 30 days
Local Materials: Y
Local Labor: Y
Permits Required: N/A


14. Cost Estimates:

Design: $0
Construction: $55,000
Local Project Supervision: $0
Local Security: $0
Site Improvements: $0
Swing Space: $0
Construction Security: $0
Technical Security Equipment: $0
Project Management Support: $0
Furniture and Furnishings: $0
Telephone Systems: $0
VAT/taxes: $0
Contingencies: $5,000
Other: $0


15. Total Cost Estimate: $60,000


16. Source of Cost Estimate: Local quotations


MASERU 00000353 002 OF 002



17. Submitted by GSO

Approved by A/SPRM: Y
Approved by PSO: Y
Approved by POSHO: Y


18. As mentioned above, post can obligate funding immediately
upon receipt. We greatly appreciate OBO's favorable
consideration of this urgent request.
NOLAN