VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #0474/01 1771056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261056Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5136

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000474 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OBO for Area Manager and AF/EX for PMO Johnston 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABLD ABUD AMGT AFIN
SUBJECT: NIAMEY FY10 CONSOLIDATED OBO ANNUAL BUDGET CALL FOR 
MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS 
 
REF: a) STATE 00044506, b) OIG Report of Inspection, Embassy Niamey, 
Niger, ISP-1-09-22A, March 2009 
 
Please find below Embassy Niamey's prioritized list of projects for 
consideration in the OBO Annual Budget Call exercise per ref A. 
Post has undertaken a thorough review of maintenance and improvement 
requirements and identified nine projects for consideration.  Three 
of these projects are critical to post operations and involve 
replacement of equipment that has far surpassed a normal replacement 
cycle.  Equipment failures of chillers and generators would leave 
post in an almost impossible situation.  Five other projects are 
urgent and involve health (sewage) and safety (electrical and 
flooding) considerations.  The final project is based on an OIG 
recommendation from the November 2008 inspection (ref B). 
 
¶1.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Replace GSO Building Chillers 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Purchase, ship, and install two (2) new 
380v, 50Hz, 60 ton chillers to replace the 40 year old units 
presently at post. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Critical 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  NO 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  Parts are no longer available for this chiller, 
which provides cooling to critical areas of the Embassy, including 
the Consular, General Services, and Financial Management sections. 
Neither of the two chillers has sufficient individual capacity to 
cool the building during the high heat load periods and if these 
chillers fail, the building will become uninhabitable in local 
temperatures that regularly exceed 120 degrees in the hot season. 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  6 Months from Funding Date 
¶I.  Property Name:  Building C (GSO Building) 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-3001 
¶K. Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L. Assumptions: 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  8 months (2 mos fabrication; 4 mos shipping; 
2 mos installation) 
d)  U.S. Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Completion Cost:  258,257.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Vendor and Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted by:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶2.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Replace Chancery Building Chillers 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Purchase, ship, and install two (2) new 
380v, 50Hz, 60 ton chillers to replace the 20 year old units 
presently at post. 
¶D.  Post Rating: Critical 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  NO 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F. Justification:  New parts are no longer available for this 
chiller, which provides cooling to critical areas of the Embassy, 
including the Executive Offices, DAO Offices, RSO Offices, phone 
switch and data server rooms, and security system interface cabinet 
(SIC) room.  Neither of the two chillers has sufficient individual 
capacity to cool the building during the high heat load periods and 
if these chillers fail the building will become uninhabitable in 
local temperatures that regularly exceed 120 degrees in the hot 
season. 
¶G. Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  6 Months from Funding Date 
¶I.  Property Name:  Building A (Chancery Building) 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-1001 
¶K.  Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  8 months (2 mos fabrication; 4 mos shipping; 
2 mos installation) 
d)  U.S. Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated completion cost:  258,257.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Vendor and Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted by:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶3.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Replace 18 Year Old Residential Generators 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Purchase, ship, and install fourteen 
(14) new 380v, 50Hz, 45kva generators to replace the 18 year old 
units presently at post. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Critical 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  NO 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  New parts are no longer available for these 
generators, which provide power for our American Officer residences. 
 Reconditioned used parts are now being ordered and the generators 
have exceeded their life expectancy.  Niamey suffers from continual 
blackouts and brownouts and residences are on generator power for 
hours and sometimes days at a time.  The environment of Niamey is 
very harsh and degrades the reliability and longevity of all post 
equipment, particularly the generators.  The lack of generator power 
and resulting loss of security lighting and alarm systems also 
increases the security threat as post has experienced break-ins to 
STL property and theft. 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  6 Months from Funding Date 
¶I.  Property Name:  Listed Short Term Lease Residences 
¶J.  Property ID:  Various 
¶K.  Property Type:  S.T.L. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  6 months (2 mos fabrication & testing; 4 mos 
shipping; 1 week installation) based on equipment availability 
d)  Local Installation Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Completion Cost:  291,774.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted by:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶4.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  GSO Building Sewer Separator Tank Installation 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Install a three-stage septic tank 
system on the GSO building sewer system. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Urgent 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  YES 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  YES 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  The current two-stage septic tank system is too 
small and was installed incorrectly, causing sewer solids to 
overflow into the cesspool tank and run onto the Chancery grounds. 
This presents a bio-hazard from e-coli as well as creating an issue 
with sewer smell in the front of the Embassy.  This is an existing 
safety-related request on the Non-Capital Project Requirements list 
(ID UP-7729). 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  3 Months from Funding Date 
¶I.  Property Name:  Building C (GSO Building) 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-3001 
¶K.  Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  3 months 
d)  Local Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Construction cost:  30,000 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted By: FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶5.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Chancery Building Sewage Three-Stage Separator Tank System and 
Leach Field Sewer Installation 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Install a new three-stage separator 
tank system and a leach field on the discharge of the Chancery sewer 
system to distribute effluent and allow it to enter the ground 
safely. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Urgent 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  YES 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  YES 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  The current two-stage separator tank and 
cesspool tank has collapsed partially, causing sewer effluent to 
overflow the tanks and run onto the Chancery grounds.  This presents 
a bio-hazard from e-coli as well as creating an issue with sewer 
smell in the front of the Embassy.  The separator tanks were 
identified as inadequate this year, but the leach field system is an 
existing safety-related request on the Non-Capital Project 
Requirements list (ID UP-7730).  The cost was modified to reflect 
the additional scope of work. 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  3 Months from Funding Date 
¶I.  Property Name:  Chancery 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-1001 
¶K.  Property Type:  LTL 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  3 months 
d)  Local Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Construction cost:  50,000 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted By:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶6.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Chancery Building Electrical Service Replacement 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Purchase and install a new primary 
electrical service from the incoming utility to the Chancery 
automatic transfer switch.  Project will include new cable and 
conduit, a new primary distribution switchboard, and new circuit 
breakers to meet National Electrical Code. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Urgent 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  YES 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  ON SERVICE TRANSITION 
¶F.  Justification:  The current service does not meet code, is 
mismatched and undersized, and presents a very real danger of fire, 
electrocution, and interruption of Embassy operations.  The primary 
distribution panel is a wood and metal box with exposed breakers 
mounted on locally-fabricated DIN rail and cable connections mounted 
to a wooden back-plane.  Cables change size frequently from the 
service entrance to the distribution panel with connections in 
non-secure locally-fabricated boxes.  The main distribution panel 
for the Chancery is a partially cannibalized fuse panel installed 
circa 1968 and the service transitions from the service entrance to 
the main distribution panel through thin wall PVC conduit across an 
exposed roof of the Chancery Annex building. 
 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  9 Months from Funding Date (2 months 
permitting and purchasing; 4 months shipping; 3 months 
installation) 
¶I.  Property Name:  Chancery 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-1001 
¶K.  Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  9 months 
d)  U.S. Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Construction cost:  165,500.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Vendor and Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted By:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶7.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  IPC Electrical Service Replacement 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Purchase and install a new primary 
electrical service from the Chancery distribution panel to the IPC 
automatic transfer switch.  Project will include new cable and 
conduit, a new Chancery distribution switchboard, and new circuit 
breakers to meet National Electrical Code. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Urgent 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  YES 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  YES 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  YES 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  The current service does not meet code, is a 
security risk, and presents a very real danger of fire, 
electrocution, and interruption of Embassy operations.  The Chancery 
distribution panel is an old Westinghouse panel with mis-matched 
breakers, some of French manufacture.  The cable feed from the panel 
to the IPC ATS is only partially in conduit and makes part of the 
route as open multi-conductor cable mounted less than 8 feet above 
the floor and attached to the supports of a garage roof.  The cable 
run is outside the secure perimeter of the building and is in danger 
of damage by traffic in the area, which is used as storage. 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  9 Months from Funding Date (2 months 
permitting and purchasing; 4 months shipping; 3 months 
installation) 
¶I.  Property Name:  Chancery 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-1001 
¶K.  Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  9 months 
d)  U.S. Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Construction cost:  36,000.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Vendor and Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted By:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶8.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Chancery Annex Flood Drainage 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Install a drainage system from the rear 
of the Embassy, across the property to a lower grade at the front of 
the Embassy.  This will be 12-inch PVC pipe installed underground 
and routed beneath the security wall of the Embassy to empty into a 
storm drain pit at the front of the Embassy and outside the security 
wall.  Project includes purchase and installation of the piping as 
well as fabrication and installation of the storm drain pit. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Urgent 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  YES 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  The rear of the Embassy floods every year when 
the monsoon rains arrive.  This flooding often covers the work areas 
for the motor pool with a foot of water and threatens the Chancery 
Annex, which houses the Health Unit.  In addition, the flooding 
fills the GSO building generator room and enters the GSO building 
basement through the electrical service conduits.  This presents a 
significant electrocution hazard for the Facility Management and 
Security staff as well as damaging equipment and systems each year. 
 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  8 Months from Funding Date (1 month 
purchasing; 4 months shipping; 3 months installation) 
¶I.  Property Name:  Embassy Grounds 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-1000 
¶K.  Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
a)  No Internal Floor Space Impacted 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  8 months 
d)  U.S. Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Construction cost:  40,000.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted By:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
¶9.  (U) 
¶A.  Niamey, Niger 
¶B.  Consular Renovation Project 
¶C.  Description of Project:  Expand the Consular Section to allow 
for additional workspace.  Space limitations and the current 
configuration hamper operational efficiency. There no is controlled 
workspace for the collection of consular fees.  The recent OIG 
report of inspection (ref B) highlighted problem areas and working 
with the Facility Manager, determined that the project could be done 
at modest cost.  The light consular load at post would not require a 
fully detailed A&E project that meets current security and OBO 
consular standards, yet would satisfy the existing limitations. 
¶D.  Post Rating:  Urgent 
¶E.  Special Considerations: 
 a)  Controlled Access Area?  NO 
 b)  Construction Security Plan Required?  NO 
 c)  Fire/Life Safety Issue?  YES 
 d)  Hazardous Material Issues?  NO 
 e)  Post is Capable of Managing Project?  YES 
 f)  Space Planning Needed?  NO 
 g)  Swing Space Needed?  NO 
 h)  Asbestos Issues?  NO 
 i)  Security Issues?  NO 
¶F.  Justification:  The work flow of the Consular Section is 
inefficient and the staff works in cramped office space.  The 
enlarging of the space through non-load bearing wall removal and 
relocation will correct 90% of the problems currently experienced in 
the office.  The absence of a teller window for consular fees also 
reduces accountability.  There also is no privacy between the 
consular officer and applicants because of the limited space. 
¶G.  Planned Start Date:  When Funded 
¶H.  Planned Completion Date:  200 Days from Funding Date (3 months 
purchasing; 2 months shipping; 2 months installation) 
¶I.  Property Name:  Embassy Grounds 
¶J.  Property ID:  X-1000 
¶K.  Property Type:  G.O. 
¶L.  Assumptions: 
a)  Internal Floor Space Reconfigured and Expanded into Existing 
Conference Room. 
b)  No Impact on Installed Fire Protection System 
c)  Project Duration:  8 months 
d)  U.S. Materials will be Used 
e)  Local Labor will be Used 
f)  No Local Permits Required 
¶M.  Estimated Construction cost:  25,000.00 USD 
¶N.  Source of Estimate:  Post Staff 
¶O.  Submitted By:  FM 
¶P.  Approved by SRPM?  YES 
¶Q.  Cleared by RSO?  YES 
¶R.  Cleared by POSHO?  YES 
 
Allen