While Vietnamese companies have been involved in USAID dioxin remediation work in both the Danang Airport remediation and Bien Hoa Airbase remediation projects, until now they have been subcontractors of U.S. firms. Last week, for the first time, USAID awarded a prime construction contract to a local Vietnamese contractor for USAID’S Dioxin Remediation at Bien Hoa Airbase Area project. Through this contract, several on and off-base areas with high levels of dioxin contamination will be environmentally remediated, including areas of high traffic posing greater exposure risks. The contractor will also construct a long-term storage facility for excavated soil, as well as an access road and fencing.
So what? Through careful oversight by the project’s U.S. construction management contractor, USAID will build the capacity of a Vietnamese construction contractor to lead implementation of state-of-the-art environmental remediation work, furthering the country on its journey to self-reliance.