1. Preamble
   1. This Agreement sets forth the terms, conditions, and procedures under which the Government of the United States of America (U.S.) and the Government of the Republic of Turkey (hereinafter referred to as "the Governments") shall provide one another with reciprocal Government Quality Assurance (GQA) services for the procurement of defense materials and services, regardless of the method of purchase. Such GQA Services shall be accomplished without charge in accordance with established and documented directives, regulations and procedures acceptable to, and in compliance with the laws of the Governments. The objective of this Agreement is to ensure each participating government is able to employ the most effective and efficient GQA services possible when acting under this Agreement. This Agreement will be implemented prospectively and will be applicable to new Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases and commercial contracts with implementation dates on or after the effective date of this Agreement.
   2. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement. if special arrangements for QA support are made under an international cooperative project in which the Governments participate, those special arrangements shall have precedence over this Agreement.
2. General Scope and Definitions
   1. The obligations of the Parties under this Agreement are subject to the availability of funds for such purposes.
   2. While GQA shall be performed without charge to the Delegator. the expenses for product expended in GQA will be borne by the contracting parties. In the event of unusually heavy costs being incurred by the Delegatee, appropriate charges may be negotiated.
   3. The following definitions apply for this Agreement:
      1. Delegator: The representative authorized by the purchasing government to request GQA support from the host government.
      2. Delegatee: The representative authorized by the host government to ensure GQA support is performed on behalf of the purchasing government.
      3. Government Quality Assurance (GQA): The process by which the appropriate national authorities establish confidence that the contractual requirements relating to quality are met.
   4. Referenced documents (most recent edition):
      1. NATO STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENT (STANAG) 4107: Mutual Acceptance of Government Quality Assurance and Usage of the Allied Quality Assurance Publications.
      2. Allied Quality Assurance Publication (AQAP) 170 - NATO Guide for the Delegation of Government Quality Assurance.
   5. Requests for GQA support under this Agreement will normally be restricted to those cases in which quality cannot be verified satisfactorily after receipt of the deliverables of a contract or GQA support at source is considered essential.
   6. Purchases by Turkey from the U.S. under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program shall be in accordance with the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and associated regulations, policies, and procedures. Normally, such FMS purchases shall be afforded the: same GQA support as the U.S. Department of Defense invokes for similar procurements that it makes for its own use.
   7. For all other contracts issued by the U.S. or Turkish Governments, e.g. direct procurements of defense products the purchasing government may request the host government to provide any GQA services considered appropriate based on AQAP 170.
   8. When GQA support is contemplated the purchasing Government shall assure:
      1. Provisions are made for the host government to act on behalf of the purchasing government as their GQA representative.
      2. Authorization for host government GQA representative's access to contractor facilities and records, and use of contractor assets. as necessary for the performance of GQA support, and :
      3. Appropriate contract quality requirements are a part of the contract. The Governments may use contract quality assurance documents. standards, or models other than Allied Quality Assur3.nce Publications (AQAPs) (e.g. ISO 9000 standards).
   9. If the host government believes GQA support is necessary at a subcontractor facility in a third country, it shall notify the purchasing government. The purchasing government shall be responsible for GQA support in a third country.
   10. Each government will establish and identify a c:entrdl control point(s) 10 receive requests for GQA support via the focal point of the other government:
       1. Requests by the U.S. for GQA support by Turkey shall be sent via:

1. Requests by Turkey for GQA support by the U.S. shall be sent via:

1. Each central control point shall be responsible for arranging for the performance of the required GQA support by its appropriate national organization. The central control point of each government shall endeavor to keep the focal point of the other apprised of current GQA practices and resources to help ensure that requests for QA support are reasonable and prudent. The focal point of each government shall advise the central control point of the other, regarding requirements for contract quality assurance and Clarify requests for GQA support as requested.
2. The purchasing government may perform other necessary contract administration functions (e.g . government property surveillance), including GQA functions not delegated to the host nation, through its own on-site representatives. If this election is made, the purchasing government shall so inform the host government in order to avoid duplication of work that otherwise might be performed by the host government. In the spirit of teamwork, terms of reference will be established describing the working relationship between the host and purchasing government representatives. The terms of reference will be included in the QA Delegation Implementation Plan.
3. Visits by representatives of the purchasing government to its contractor at a site within the territory of the host government shall be coordinated with the host government, who shall have the right to accompany the visitors. Access of the purchasing government to its contractors, subcontractors, and their records, as may be authorized contractually, shall not be impaired or affected in any other way by the provisions of this Agreement.
4. GQA Delegation Implementation Plan
   1. In order to implement the provisions of this Agreement, a mutually agreed upon GQA Delegation Implementation Plan shall be developed by the national authorities in each country. The plan shall describe, in detail, the actual GQA delegation process and specific, information concerning delegation requirements, i.e ., forms, responsibilities, communications, problem resolution, records, risk assessment feedback, surveillance plans, etc. The plan shall be reviewed annually and modified, as necessary, to ensure that the intent of the Agreement is being implemented properly.
5. Procedures
   1. Requests for GQA service:; shall be made in accordance with STANAG 4107 and AQAP-170 in a format that is agreed upon by the Delegator and Delegatee. Electronic transmission of requests is encouraged and e-mail addresses, if Available, will be provided in the GQA Delegation Implementation Plan. The specific forms to be used and delegation process will be as provided in the GQA Delegation Implementation Plan. Each request will include. as a minimum
      1. Reference to this Agreement;
      2. Applicable contractual instrument;
      3. Contractual Quality Assurance requirement (e.g. specification or standard);
      4. A listing of the minimum GQA support functions or tasks being requested;
      5. If technical communication regarding the affected work is to be addressed to anyone in addition to the Delegator, the request for GQA support must identify the addressee;
      6. Unless otherwise mutually agreed in the GQA Delegation Implementation Plan, the request for GQA will be accompanied by tile applicable contractual instrument, changes or amendments thereto, and related technical data;
      7. Method of product release after GQA, and
      8. Blank copy of Statement of GQA Performance/Completion, as defined in the QA Delegation Implementation Plan. (e.g., CoC in accordance with Annex F to AQAP 170);
      9. Delegator's address. phone. fax. e-mail, etc.
   2. The Delegator may modify a request for GQA support during contract performance after consultation with the Delegatee.
   3. Risk assessments shall be performed, by the delegator, on each contract prior to delegating GQA to the host government. Each request for GQA will identify the GQA functions or tasks required to be performed by the Host Government to mitigate the identified risks. A copy of the risk assessment should accompany each request for GQA.
   4. Upon receipt of the request for GQA, the delegatee shall develop a GQA surveillance plan detailing the surveillance activity to be performed based on the delegation received and the contractors past performance. Upon request, the delegatee shall provide the delegator a copy of the GQA surveillance plan.
   5. Within 45 days after receipt of a request for GQA support, the Delegatee shall provide acknowledgment of the request to the Delegator in a format agreed upon in the QA Delegation Implementation Plan. With its acknowledgment, the Delegatee shall also indicate one of the following:
      1. Acceptance of the request without qualification.
      2. Acceptance of the request with qualification explained in writing, or
      3. Rejection of the request for reasons explained in writing.
   6. Rejection of delegations will be on an exemption basis only and will be limited to unusual circumstances. If the requirements imposed by a request for GQA support include functions beyond the current technical capabilities or resource capacities of the host government, the Delegatee shall immediately notify the Delegator. In such cases, the Delegator shall make other arrangements for the performance of the affected functions. If any GQA support function requested by the Delegator is beyond the capability or capacity of the host government, the Delegatee shall not procure the resources needed to perform such function without the written consent of the Delegator.
   7. In order to ensure appropriate GQA functions are requested on the delegation, the Delegatee should advise the Delegator on the acknowledgement form when requests for GQA are consider excessive or insufficient, based on risk assessment and the Delegatee's knowledge of the contractors current or past performance. The Delegator is the final authority for defining the GQA requirements.
   8. The GQA Delegation Implementation Plan shall allow for situations that require immediate and urgent GQA surveillance activity that would not be possible within the established delegation acknowledgement cycle times. Acceptance or rejection of such urgent GQA requests remains with the Delegatee.
   9. Upon acceptance of a request for GQA support, the Delegatee shall implement a quality assurance program to accomplish the requested surveillance activity, in accordance with established national practices. The Delegator and Delegatee may mutually establish the requirements for the required GQA support.
   10. The purchasing government shall inform its contractor as to who shall perform the required GQA or this will be Slated in the contract.
   11. The Delegatee shall inform the Delegator of the accomplishment of OQA support on each batch, lot, and/or shipment in the format stated on the request of GQA. If a Statement of GQA Performance/Completion is required, it should be so stated on the request for GQA. The statement shall be in a format that is agreed upon by the Delegator and Delegatee in the GQA Delegation Implementation Plan. A blank copy of the statement form, if required, should be provided to the delegatee with the request for GQA. The statement will not be signed by the delegatee until the affected material or equipment is ready to deliver. The Statement of GQA Performance/Completion shall include. as a minimum. the following:
       1. A statement attesting the supplies and/or services have been subject to GQA services;
       2. Contract number and/or order number and date.
       3. Supplier and supplier generated shipment number.
       4. Contract schedule information (contract line item number. stock/pan number and name. and item quantity), and
       5. Name and signature of Delegatee and date of signature.
   12. The Delegalee shall maintain records of all GQA surveillance activity performed in support of a request for GQA. The specific details for record retention (e,g, length of time to retain) shall be described in the GQA Delegation Implementation Plan. GQA surveillance records shall be made available to the Delegator upon request.
   13. Direct communication, both written and verbal, between the Delegatee and the Delegator is encouraged. Written communications shall be dispatched by the most effective and efficient means possible as appropriate are to the circumstance.
   14. Risk information relative to contract and contractor performance shall be exchanged between the Delegator and Delegatee during the execution of GQA surveillance activity, for a specific request for GQA. The GQA Delegation Implementation Plan shall describe the methods by which this information will be exchanged.
   15. Correspondence between the Delegator and the contractor, pertaining to quality assurance shall be transmitted through the Delegatee. The Delegatee shall provide copies of any GQA repons or records related to a specific request, for quality assurance upon the request of the Delegator.
   16. The purchasing government shall retain final authority over contract interpretations and enforcement actions. and it shall advise the assigned GQA support office in a timely fashion on such matters.
   17. The Delegatee should be empowered to approve a request for deviation or waive by a contractor unless such request affects safety, reliability, maintainability, interchangeability, storage life, performance, or cost. This authorization shall be clearly stated on the request for GQA. Upon request, the Delegatee shall forward to the Delegator for record any request for deviation or waiver approved by the Delegatee. The Delegatee shall forward to the Delegator for action any request deviation or waiver received that is not actionable by the Delegatee. The format
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   1. ... Official Government Use Only. To the extent authorized by law, such data shall be exchanged by the Governments in confidence and shall be safeguarded in a manner that ensures its proper protection from unauthorized disclosure.
   2. Any classified information, data, or material exchanged under the terms of this Agreement shall be protected in accordance with the U.S./Republic of Turkey General Security of Military Information Agreement of 21 March 1986 and the U.S./Republic of Turkey Industrial Security Agreement of 14 July 1986.
   3. To assist in providing the desired protection, each Government shall mark classified information furnished to the other with a legend indicating the country of origin, the security classification, the conditions of release, and the fact that the information relates to this Agreement.
   4. Each Government shall take all lawful steps available to it, to keep information and data exchanged in confidence under this Agreement free from disclosure under any legislative provision, unless the other Government consents to such disclosure.
   5. In the event of termination or expiration of this Agreement, the provisions of this Article shall continue to apply.
8. Charges
   1. GQA services. provided under this reciprocal Agreement shall be provided free of Charge, subject to a joint review of the services being exchanged at not less than three-year intervals to ensure general reciprocity is being maintained. Any such review will include the quality of GQA services being provided. If, as a result of such a review, either Government determines that charges will be necessary, charges may be imposed after not less than twelve months advance notice in accordance with Section IX.
9. Review and Revision
   1. This Agreement shall be reviewed not less often than every three-years to determine if implementation has been as intended and to revise the Agreement as necessary. Minor changes, such as address changes to the central control points, shall not, in themselves, necessitate revision to this Agreement. Current addresses will be maintained in the GQA Delegation Implementation Plan until such time as this Agreement is revised.
10. Duration and Termination
    1. A. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the last signature and will remain in effect for a five-year period following its signing. Unless otherwise agreed by the governments. the duration will automatically extend for another five-year period.
    2. If, however, either government considers it necessary to terminate this Agreement, written notification of its intention will be given to the other government twelve months in advance of the effective date of the termination.
    3. Unless otherwise agreed. if either party terminates this Agreement. GQA services will continue to be provided until contract completion for those contracts for which GQA support is being provided under this Agreement.
    4. Any misunderstanding regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement will be resolved by consultation between both Parties and will not be referred to an international tribunal or third party for settlement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF

The undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement in both English and Turkish languages. In case of conflicts between the different language texts, the English language text shall be the governing text.