DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGENCY
201 12th STREET SOUTH, STE 203
ARLINGTON, VA 22202-5408

MEMORANDUM FOR :

COMMANDER, U.S. AFRICA COMMAND, DIRECTOR FOR STRATEGY, PLANS AND PROGRAMS
COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND, DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS
COMMANDER, U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND, DIRECTOR FOR LOGISTICS
COMMANDER, U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND, DIRECTOR FOR INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
COMMANDER, U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND, DIRECTOR FOR LOGISTICS, ENGINEERING AND SECURITY ASSISTANCE
COMMANDER, U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND, DIRECTOR FOR THEATER ENGAGEMENT

SUBJECT :

Increased Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) Minimal Cost Approval Threshold for Humanitarian Assistance Projects, DSCA Policy 12-57 [SAMM E-Change 215]

REFERENCE :

1. Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations, "Policy Guidance for DoD Humanitarian Assistance Funded by the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid Appropriation," June 5, 2012
2. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief and Mine Action Division, "Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Guidance for Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA) Budget Submissions," February 22, 2012

Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief and Mine Action Division, "Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Guidance for Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA) Budget Submissions," February 22, 2012

Per references (a) and (b), the GCC minimal cost approval threshold has been raised from $10,000 to $15,000, effective FY 2013. Accordingly, SAMM sections C12.3.5.2., C12.3.6.6., and C12.4.15.3., have been updated to reflect the new threshold. The changes are included in the SAMM at http://www.dsca.mil/samm/ as E-Change 215, Policy Memo 12-57.

The changes are effective immediately. The DSCA points of contact for this memorandum are Ramon Davis and Andrew MacDermott at (703) 601-3652/601-3856, e-mail: ramon.davis@dsca.mil/andrew.macdermott@dsca.mil.

Scott R. Schless
Principal Director
Strategy

ATTACHMENT :
As stated

SECURITY ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT MANUAL (SAMM), E-CHANGE 215

Increased Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) Minimal Cost Approval Threshold for Humanitarian Assistance Projects

1. Replace "$10K" with "$15,000" for all references to the minimal cost threshold in Chapter 12 of the SAMM:

C12.3.5.2. Projects that are included within an annual CCMD strategy and budget request are "in-cycle" (annual) projects; all others are "out-of-cycle." Additionally, any project estimated to cost $15,000 or less is considered a minimal cost project and should be reflected with other anticipated minimal cost projects as a lump sum in the CCMD strategy and budget submission. Minimal cost projects are approved at the CCMD program manager (PM) level; however, they will still be entered into OHASIS and are required to meet the same legal, policy and program requirements as other projects.

C12.3.6.6. Out-of-cycle nominations over $15,000 will be reviewed and approved or disapproved by DSCA, with an intermediate opportunity for SOLIC to review the projects for consistency with strategic guidance and interests. Regardless of the approval level, a CCMD may fund all approved projects at its discretion.

C12.4.15.3. Minimal Cost Projects. Projects costing less than or equal to $15,000 are referred to as minimal cost projects and may be approved at the CCMD level. Separating a larger effort that would ordinarily exceed $15,000 into distinct minimal cost projects to avoid DSCA-level review is not acceptable. Minimal cost projects are subject to the same criteria for policy compliance and planning guidelines as other OHDACA-funded projects and must be entered and managed in OHASIS.