DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGENCY  2800 DEFENSE PENTAGON  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-2800	7/31/2019

MEMORANDUM FOR :

DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR DEFENSE EXPORTS AND COOPERATION
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
DIRECTOR, DEFENSE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AGENCY
DIRECTOR FOR SECURITY ASSISTANCE, DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE - INDIANAPOLIS OPERATIONS
DIRECTOR, DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY
DIRECTOR, DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
DIRECTOR, DEFENSE LOGISTICS INFORMATION SERVICE
DIRECTOR, DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY DISPOSITION SERVICES
DIRECTOR, DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY
DIRECTOR, MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INFORMATION ASSURANCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAM OFFICE

SUBJECT :

Acquisition Planning Activities, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Policy 19-10 [SAMM E-Change 386]

REFERENCE :

1. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Report to Congress on Notional Milestones and Standard Timelines for Contracts for Foreign Military Sales, June 7, 2018

In an effort to streamline procedures and reduce contract award timelines after Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) implementation, effective immediately, E-Change 386 updates Chapter 6 of the Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) to allow Implementing Agencies (IAs) to, when specific conditions are met, conduct certain FMS Administrative Surcharge-funded acquisition planning activities after offering an LOA, rather than waiting until the LOA is implemented.

Under this policy, if an acquisition planning activity is already an FMS Administrative Surcharge-funded activity, per Table C9.T2 of the SAMM, and the IA has high confidence that the LOA will be accepted by the customer and subsequently implemented, then IAs may perform the following acquisition planning activities prior to LOA implementation: development of an acquisition strategy; drafting the performance work statement/statement of work to include a detailed item description; defining cost, schedule, and performance objectives; drafting funding documents; and other applicable acquisition planning documentation. This change is to assist program offices in meeting established FMS contracting milestone, as defined in Reference (a).

The following parameters apply:

• This authorization is limited only to acquisition planning activities and does not allow for issuance of Request For Proposal (RFP) or other contracting actions which would require an implemented LOA to be in place.
• LOA offer or implementation must not be delayed as a result of beginning or completing these acquisition planning activities early.
• No acquisition planning activity may, in any way, commit the United States government or obligate funds in advance of case implementation.

DSCA will require the IAs to track acquisition planning activities performed prior to case implementation in order to measure effect on overall case performance. A report template is attached for IAs to record time applied and specific actions performed for each case. Instructions for submitting the report to DSCA are included on the template.

Thank you for your continued support and assistance in executing our Security Cooperation programs. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Mr. Stephen Suh, DBO/Financial Policy and Analysis, Stephen.w.suh.civ@mail.mil, (703) 697-8899.

Charles W. Hooper
Lieutenant General, USA
Director

ATTACHMENT : 
As stated