OPERATION OF COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY (CPA)

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000123

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT APER OTRA ETRD KU IZ
SUBJECT: OPERATION OF COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY (CPA)
FEDERAL DEPLOYMENT CENTER (FDC) IN KUWAIT



1. Summary. All personnel assigned to CPA Baghdad
currently must transit Kuwait in order to board military
aircraft to/from Baghdad International Airport (BIAP).
These personnel are assisted by CPA's Federal Deployment
Center (FDC) Forward-Kuwait, who provide the travelers with
briefings and equipment. The FDC is planning to move to
Baghdad once commercial flights are permitted to land there.
However, if commercial flights cannot land in Baghdad by
July 2004, the support provided by the FDC may still be
required after the transition of CPA to Embassy Baghdad. It
is unclear to us now, who will assume this responsibility
and its associated very large costs and staffing. This
cable is to alert the Department of the issues and some
thoughts on a possible course of action. End Summary.


2. Post officers met with Colonel William Porter, Chief of
the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Federal Deployment
Center (FDC) Forward-Kuwait and Timothy Haines, Kellogg
Brown & Root (KBR),on 3 January.


3. COL Porter advised that the FDC Forward-Kuwait plans to
move to Baghdad International Airport once commercial air
flights are permitted to land there. When, he said, depends
on the security situation. COL Porter also mentioned that
the FDC has, since October 2003, been providing pick-up and
transport support to British troops and personnel. This
support is several times a week for a small number of
personnel (about less than 15 a week).


4. The staff at the FDC Forward-Kuwait (located at Kuwait
Hilton Resort) currently consists of one U.S. Army Officer,
one Army NCO and about 50 KBR contract personnel. FDC
Forward has about 20 plus cars/trucks used for
transportation support. At the Hilton, FDC leases 13 villas
and KBR leases 13 villas, most for lodging and some for both
lodging/offices. In addition, FDC rents a number of rooms
in the main hotel complex for briefing/office/supply space.
FDC-Kuwait is currently averaging about 30 persons arriving
and departing a day for normal operations. During peak
periods, the figure moves up to about 60 persons
arriving/departing. Personnel deploying to CPA must spend
one day at the FDC receiving equipment (flak jackets,
helmets, gas masks) and briefings.


5. Under the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP),
KBR provides logistics support to CPA. Task Order #44 of
the LOGCAP directs KBR to provide logistics and life support
services to CPA at numerous locations. Task Order #63
directs KBR to provide LOGCAP support for the CPA Federal
Deployment Center, to include FDC-Kuwait. Embassy has
received copies of both task orders. Embassy understands
the total dollar value of Task Order 63 alone is $10,411,948
(this also includes operation of the deployment activities
at Fort Belvoir).


6. Embassy has set up an Iraq Support Unit, consisting of a
coordinator (Eligible Family Member),one administrative
assistant position (also EFM, shared by two individuals who
work on a WAE basis providing meet/greet and other travel
assistance),one Travel Assistant/Secretary (LES),and one
contract chauffer/vehicle. This unit provides support to
the increased level of Codels and other visitors transiting
Kuwait to Iraq, and also coordinates with the FDC for
support for their travelers that the FDC cannot provide
(mainly ticketing, visas).


7. Embassy Kuwait understands that by July 2004, CPA will
in effect transition to Embassy Baghdad. While it is
impossible to determine at this time what the exact
situation will be in July, if BIAP is still not be open to
commercial flights then many of the services provided by the
FDC will still be needed. This is considerably beyond what
Post's Iraq Support Unit as currently configured could
provide. The easiest solution would be to continue the
appropriate portions of LOGCAP Task Order 63. Post has
requested a 02 Management Officer and an OMS be assigned to
Kuwait summer 2004. These positions could in effect replace
the current FDC Chief and NCO, as well as take over the
overall coordination of Embassy Kuwait's Iraq support
efforts.


8. Action Requested: Department please advise of any plans
for how personnel will be deployed to Embassy Baghdad after
July 1. If deployment will be through Kuwait, we will need
to enter into detailed discussions on how to make the
transition as seamless as possible.

URBANCIC