Location Puerto Rico
Client Puerto Rico Department of Housing
Services Construction Management
Project Value $1.5 billion
Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Federal Government issued two major disaster declarations for Puerto Rico, enabling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to begin the work of helping residents recover and rebuild almost all the island’s infrastructure. One key component of FEMA’s assistance was funding for the Puerto Rico Department of Housing’s (PRDOH) Repair, Reconstruction, or Relocation (R3) program. The R3 program helps eligible homeowners with substantial damage from Irma and Maria located in hazard zones (situated in a flood plain, floodway, or other areas vulnerable to landslide) to repair their damaged home and make them more resilient, rebuild their home from the ground up, or relocate to a new home. Ultimately, the PRDOH and R3 program will positively impact all the island’s 78 municipal governments as well as other eligible organizations.
Hill International, as a major subconsultant, is supporting the PRDOH in implementing and executing the R3 program. Specifically, Hill is performing initial reviews of applications, draw requests, change orders, and agreement amendments; providing document control for subrecipients related to CDBG-DR programs; design/bid package reviews for completeness and estimate accuracy; conducting logistics and planning activities related to CBDG-DR programs; and supporting communications and coordination support at the request of PRDOH, including outreach, training, and workshops as well as deliverable preparation and submission.
Hill’s construction management support encompasses progress oversight, environmental compliance reviews, health and safety plan implementation reviews, reviewing and recommending certifications for payment, and conducting monitoring visits to verify health and safety measures are in place as stipulated in contract documents. As needed, Hill personnel also provide technical assistance and recommendations to subrecipients as the program progresses. This includes recommendations for scope, schedule, and estimating and budget planning and control.
