VZCZCXRO8162
RR RUEHMR
DE RUEHMR #0353/01 2731533
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301533Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4406
INFO RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4840

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