Individual projects implemented in
Latvian- Swiss cooperation programme
by State Regional Development Agency
Solvita Zvidrina
Director of State Regional
Development Agency
20.05.2014
Content
• Individual
project
“Implementation
of
local
governments
activities
by
ensuring
the
transportation of school children and related
support measures”
• Individual project “Support for fire safety measures
in local government general education institutions”
Individual project
“Implementation of local governments activities
by ensuring the transportation of school
children and related support measures”
Implementation period: 12.08.2009 - 30.06.2011
Total project costs: 20 885 355 CHF
About the project
110 school buses for 59 local governments have been
purchased in the period of 2010 - 2011
SRDA ensures the supervision of the project result
sustainability by:
- checking the overviews from the local governments about
the bus exploitation status,
- conducting on spot check in local governments
According to the contract of project implementation, SRDA has
to monitor the exploitation of buses 6 years after the project
completion (until year 2016)
Monitoring the exploitation of buses I
Project objective - to provide transportation of school
children
The regular transfer routes for school children are increasing:
2013 - 228 school bus routes
2012 – 224 school bus routes
2011 – 204 school bus routes
Average amount of daily transported school children:
2013 - 6819 school children
2012 – 7262 school children
2011 – 6755 school children
Monitoring the exploitation of buses II
The intensity of buses exploitation increases:
The total kilometrage in year 2013 was 3 296 386 km,
which is 4,2% more than in 2012
The total kilometrage in year 2012 was 3 158 628 km,
which was 12,1% more than in 2011
The total kilometrage in year 2011 was 2 775 447 km
The increase in kilometrage in year 2013 compared to
2011 is 15,8%
Monitoring the exploitation of buses III
Daily average kilometrage are increasing for all buses:
For the bus Mercedes-Benz Sprinter:
2013 - 177 km
2012 - 167 km
2011 - 142 km
For the bus Mercedes- Benz Intouro:
2013 – 165 km
2012 – 160 km
2011 - 145 km
For the bus BMC Probus:
2013 – 204 km
2012 – 148 km
2011 - 130 km
Monitoring the exploitation of buses IV
In the overviews local governments have indicated information
about the technical problems:
Monitoring the exploitation of buses V
Local governments have mentioned damages of various types
in the exploitation overviews, e.g.:
- brake system repairs,
- tire change because of the wear level,
- the fuel supply component repairs,
- battery change,
- gearbox repairs
In cases of technical emergencies, local governments have
substituted buses, to ensure the transportation of school
children.
Monitoring the exploitation of buses VI
According to the agreements the guarantee period for the
buses is valid for a period of 2 years after the delivery of the
buses or until the kilometrage exceeds 410 000 km
The guarantee period for the buses ended at the beginning of
year 2013
Since then all investments (for the spare parts and repair jobs)
have to be paid by the local governments
There is a gradual increase of overall exploitation costs:
In 2013 costs amounted 1 444 643 EUR, which was a 9,1%
more than in 2012
In 2012 costs amounted 1 312 807 EUR, which was a 19,3%
more than in 2011
In 2011 costs amounted 1 058 859 EUR
Monitoring the exploitation of buses VII
Exploitation costs in 2013 by the expense categories (%)
7.0
2.0 1.8
18.5
70.7
Technical examinationand road tax costs Fuel costs
Maintenance costs
Other costs
Insurance costs
Monitoring the exploitation of buses VIII
SRDA has on spot check in 27 local governments about
exploitation of 40 buses in the period 2011-2013.
After the inspections it has been concluded that buses are
used for the intended aim – transportation of school
children. Commercial transfers are not conducted.
Local governments ensure the transportation for school
children in routes where public transportation is not
available.
Technical condition of buses are impacted, mainly, by:
• The increase in exploitation
• Condition of roads
Some local governments have expressed that the amount of
buses for transportation school children is still not
sufficient.
Further activities
In accordance with the recommendations from 2013 Swiss
Confederation Federal Department of foreign affairs audit
report, SRDA has planned to increase the amount of on
spot check in year 2014.
The State Regional Development Agency plans to:
- on spot check in 16 local governments in 2014
- on spot check at least in 20 local governments in 2015
Individual project
“Support for fire safety measures in local
government general education institutions”
Implementation period: 01.02. 2012 – 28.02. 2015
Total project costs: 2 799 682 CHF
About the project
Overall objective of the project is to improve children safety
in case of fire incidents in general education institutions in
peripheral and disadvantaged regions of Latvia.
Purpose of the project is to increase safety of pre-school and
school children by ensuring their safety in local government
general education institutions where children stay in the
overnight accommodation.
Project partners59 local governments in peripheral and disadvantaged
regions of Latvia
Main activityacquisition of fire safety
educational institutions
systems
in
118
general
Implemented activities I
Amendments in the project were made by decreasing the
number of project partners and education institutions because:
- Durbes local government decided to close the educational
institution
- Burtnieku local government the renovation of education
institution including installation of fire safety system is
planned within another project.
Fire safety systems installation works are successfully finished
from July 2013 until March 2014 in 116 general educational
institutions in 57 local governments.
Implemented activities II
Various components are set up in educational institutions
where children stay in the overnight accommodation:
- Automatic fire detection and alarm signalisation system
– Automatic voice fire alarm system
– Illuminated exit and fire escape direction signs
Implemented activities III
Competition for school
children was held for 2
target groups from January
till May 2013 :
- “Little Lord of the Fire”:
creative work contest for
pre-school and primary
school children (age group
5 to 8 years)
- “Lord of the Fire”:
theoretical and practical
knowledge contest for all
general education
institutions 7th and 8th
grade pupils
Implemented activities IV
“Little Lord of the Fire”
- competition just for pre-school and primary school children
- 36 applications received
- all creative works were rewarded with diplomas and Swiss
sweets
- all creative works have been exhibited in the Firefighting
Museum, Riga
Implemented activities V
“Lord of the Fire”
- competition for all school children
- participants formed a teams of 6 people
- competition was organized in 2 parts:
I Part was held on the website on social network
draugiem.lv/ugunspavelnieks
- Online application: 224 applications were received
- Online theoretical test
- Creative work and voting on the website
II Part participants were tested in a variety of tasks
demonstrating their theoretical and practical knowledge
- 5 regional competitions in Riga, Valmiera, Liepāja,
Daugavpils and Jelgava, where 5 most point winning
teams of each region participated
- final in Riga with each regional winning team
Implemented activities VI
“Lord of the Fire”
- 1,344 school childrens participated in all competition parts
together
- publicity:
• 46 publications in the media and on the Internet
• 60 radio advertising playbacks
• hour-long competition final TV broadcast on Latvian TV
• specifically designed website on social networks
draugiem.lv with 23 000 followers
Implemented activities VII
In August 2013 the winners school children team from
Salacgrīva visited
Switzerland, the fire training
center and met with the
Swiss school children to
exchange with cultural and
educational experiences.
Implemented activities VIII
On 19 September 2013 Swiss competent authorities approved
new sub activity “WEB game for children about fire safety
issues”.
On May 2014 SRDA initiated amendments in fire safety
project for prolongation of project implementation period
until 28 February 2015 in order to complete project
activities and to perform additional post-completion visits
for Fire safety and for School busses project.
WEB game will be developed to educate children in the age
group of 6 -15 about fire safety issues. The game simulates
a variety of life situations and teach them proper behavior.
The game will be integrated in internet and social network to
reach the target audience.
Implemented activities IX
Procurement of WEB games development is in two stages
1. Meta competition
• ended in April 2014 with 9 applications received
• the assessment of the applications have been done and
the final decision is made in May 14, 2014
• companies ranking in the top 3 places will receive money
prizes (1st - 5000 EUR, 2nd - 3000 and 3rd - 1500 EUR)
2. Negotiated procedure
• Negotiations with the 1st and the 2nd place is conducted
• Contract for the development of the game with the winner
of the negotiations will be signed
• Development of the game in a period of 7 months since the
signing of contract will be provided
Activities
- Cooperation with a project partner: Institution of
Fire Safety and Prevention of Natural Disasters of the
Canton of Vaud
-
The Steering committee meeting to discuss the project
implementation process and cooperation by Swiss partners
-
Final project seminar about the project achievements and
results to the local governments and educational
institutions
-
External audit
Thank you!