Ascendant was awarded a $9.5-million five-year contract to furnish research and analysis services in support of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Ascendant Team members perform administrative and substantive research, analytical, and due diligence tasks as well as agency-wide evaluation support functions to the specific programmatic regions in which USTDA operates.

Every year, USTDA evaluates and approves approximately 150 new project activities in a variety of sectors for an ongoing total of 400 project activities. Research Analysts assigned within each region and programmatic department are critical in supporting each department’s monitoring of ongoing projects and the evaluation of new activities. The Ascendant Team provides overall program management, research, analysis, report writing, due diligence, and administrative services in support of global and regional activities and program monitoring and evaluation services in support of the Agency’s Office of Program Monitoring and Evaluation.

As a subcontractor to Wood plc, Ascendant Program Services was recently awarded an IDIQ Contract to provide the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with technical consulting services to support its Power Africa initiative.

Launched in 2013, Power Africa is a partnership between the United States and African governments, the private sector, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and bilateral and multilateral partners that aims to increase installed power capacity by 30,000 megawatts and double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.  

This seven-year framework agreement has an aggregate maximum value of $900 million for the multiple awardees and is estimated to be completed in 2025.  Ascendant will provide support, and or leadership assistance, to Wood plc on all aspects of engineering and other technical assignments, which may include pre-feasibility and full feasibility studies, modeling, technology selection and evaluation, economic analysis, and pricing.

Additional areas of expertise supported by Ascendant will include, but not be limited to, gender diversity, climate change, institutional strengthening, and monitoring and evaluation.

Ascendant is now actively supporting the Power Africa initiative through its work with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

In 2013, President Obama launched the Power Africa initiative to increase electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa.  USTDA has taken a leading role in the initiative, given the Agency’s experience working with project sponsors and U.S. companies to deploy clean energy infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa.  Since the initiative’s launch, USTDA has sponsored 74 project planning activities that support the development of 2,760 MW of renewable power. 

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To support the Agency’s increased efforts with Power Africa, Ascendant has augmented its team of Research Analysts providing programmatic support services for the energy portfolio in the sub-Saharan Africa region.  Their work will be critical in supporting the Agency’s monitoring of ongoing projects and evaluation of new activities.

Ascendant was selected by Montgomery County’s Department of Economic Development as the 2015 Veteran-Owned Company of the Year. Being selected for this honor is a testament to the focus and hard work of our team members along with the incredible support from the County's Business Innovation Network, Department of Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce, and the Veteran Institute for Procurement.

Watch Ascendant's Stephen Khovananth talk more about the award.

Proposed water project in western NM recognized for its legitimate purpose, carbon efficiency, job creation and more

(Albuquerque, NM) – The Augustin Plains Ranch (APR) proposed water project in western New Mexico has made the CG-LA Infrastructure’s Strategic Top 100 list for North American Infrastructure in 2014. APR recently applied for a permit to pump, reclaim and then transport 54,000 acre-feet of water per year from its location near Datil, NM to those Rio Grande River communities that are most in need.According to the CG/LA report, the “Strategic Top 100 North America lays out a roadmap of strategic infrastructure projects with specific, immediate business opportunities that point toward an entirely new level of vitality for North American competitiveness.”Projects were selected through a six-month process and a preliminary list of more than 400 projects, each of which offered business opportunities in the next 3-18 months. The 100 top projects selected represent more than $369 billion in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Of the ranking, AES Corporation President and CEO Andres Gluski said, “Today more than ever, we need innovative proposals, like a national infrastructure bank and greater use of public private partnerships, to start building the infrastructure we need for tomorrow.”

APR was one of only eight water or wastewater projects selected from the three countries and was the only New Mexico project included on the list.

“We are pleased to hear that APR has made the Strategic Top 100 list for 2014,” said Project Director, Michel Jichlinski. “This project is a very big step in developing a new and sustainable source of water for New Mexicans for generations to come, and I am glad that it has been recognized in North America for its innovation, feasibility, and legitimate purpose.”

The APR proposal is pending approval from the New Mexico State Engineer to begin the hearing and research phase on the project.

Innovative water reclamation, transport project would provide large, sustainable source of water for generations to come

(Albuquerque, NM) - The Augustin Plains Ranch, LLC (APR) has submitted its application for a permit to pump, reclaim, and then transport 54,000 acre-feet of water per year (AFY) from its location near Datil, New Mexico to those Rio Grande River communities that are most in need. The application was filed with the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) yesterday and APR is making it immediately available to all interested stakeholders on its website.

“After many months of work we are pleased to present the OSE with an application that provides information which we believe will allow the project to move forward,” said Michel Jichlinski, Project Director. “We have also held numerous meetings to present our proposal to regulators, legislators, members of the press and to the local community. This is a very big step in developing a new and sustainable source of water for New Mexicans for generations to come.”
 

The State Engineer is expected to decide within the coming weeks if APR can proceed to an official hearing phase. The hearing phase could last up to two years and would allow APR the ability to complete a full and comprehensive study of the area’s hydrology, potential impacts to local communities, pipeline right-of-way issues, legal and compact challenges, and more.

“The full and open hearing process will enable New Mexicans to be certain that the project is viable, sustainable, and in the state’s best interest,” said Jichlinski. “The research that will be conducted during the hearing phase will be invaluable in providing data on this resource that is currently sorely lacking. We look forward to having this conversation with all who are interested and wish to fully understand the incredible potential of the San Augustin Basin.”

Water managers and policy makers from local water districts to Washington D.C. are aggressively seeking solutions to both near-term and long-term supply challenges in New Mexico. Senators Udall and Heinrich recently introduced legislation that among other things, calls for an increase in water acquisition programs. In particular, they are requesting emergency funding for projects that will allow the state to acquire “water from willing sellers to enhance stream flow for the benefit of fish and wildlife (including endangered species), water quality, river ecosystem restoration, and other beneficial purposes.”

“We believe APR water can go a long way in solving some of the state’s most pressing challenges for both now and in the future,” said Jichlinski. “All of our elected officials are pressing for answers and we believe APR is one of the state’s best options.”
 

To view the application, visit http://sanaugustinwater.com/Images/Application.PDF

Last week, Ascendant's Michel Jichlinski had the privilege of presenting to the Water and Natural Resources Committee of the New Mexico legislature. The Augustin Plains Ranch project is increasingly seen as one of the best sources of new water for the state.

Ascendant was awarded a $4.7-million five-year contract to furnish research and analysis services in support of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Ascendant Team members perform substantive research and analytical support functions as well as agency-wide evaluation support functions to the specific programmatic regions in which USTDA operates.  
 

Every year, USTDA evaluates and approves approximately 100 new project activities in a variety of sectors for an ongoing total of 400 project activities. Research Analysts assigned within each region and programmatic department are critical in supporting each department’s monitoring of ongoing projects and the evaluation of new activities. The Ascendant Team provides the Worldwide (Global) and Regional departments with research, analysis, report writing, due diligence, and administrative support for their program activities as well as evaluation services in support of the Agency’s Office of Program Evaluation.