UNCLAS MAPUTO 000884

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

OBO/OM/AM/AF EAARON AND AF/EX/PMO BGATES
OBO/RE/RPM FOR WHYDE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABLD AMGT MZ
SUBJECT: FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE STATUS
REPORT AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

REF: A. STATE 96151


B. MAPUTO 687

C. STATE 92659

D. STATE 17188


1. This information is provided in response to reftels.


2. Seventeen of the 36 properties identified as being
oversized are owned or under project-funded leases leased by
USAID and are not currently under the control of the Post
housing officer. These properties are the following (as
identified in reftel A.): 85, 86, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95,
126, 32, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 409. Information in
reftels has been provided to USAID.


3. For some time, Post management has been concerned about
the net space listings in the RPA. This has come to light
most recently after Post finally brought its RPA on line
after years of lack of real-time access by Washington. Some
of the explanations for the significant variations in net
space listings appear to include lack of measurement
information in lease files, misrepresentation of gross
residential space as net, measurement of ancillary buildings
and including them as net space and inconsistent/ incorrect
measurement techniques. It is important to note also that
the impression that OBO staff receive from the data does not
match the reality that officers posted to Maputo experience
in their residences and in comparison to homes claimed to be
the same size at other Posts. In fact, the most common
complaint regarding housing is that there is often
insufficient room inside the homes for people's household
effects and consumables. This has been a chronic complaint
and one compounded by the fact that people are overly
confined to their homes since Maputo is a critical crime
threat Post in a city with a high rate of malaria. In
addition, many houses also lack any semblance of a yard or
pool area which would make outdoor spaces more attractive.


4. Post management has established as a high priority a
rigorous review of all current housing data and has tasked
the GSO to undertake a strict re-measurement of each
residence in the inter-agency housing pool in accordance
with 15 FAM exhibit 238b. To date, four residences have
been re-measured with the following results:

a. Property ID 48 is listed in the RPA with a net space of
292 sq m vs actual measured net space of 269 sq m. due to
inclusion of some gross space in net space calculations.

b. 413 is listed in the RPA with a net space of 201 sq m vs
actual measured net space of 190 sq m, and

c. 109 is listed in the RPA with a net space of 372 sq m vs
actual measured net space of 156 sq m. Upon reviewing the
109 file, Post found a house measurement sheet taken in 2003
which showed a net space of 2064 square feet (192 sq m), so
Post is unable to determine the origin of the 372 sq m
figure that is currently in the RPA. It should be noted
that the 2064 net square foot (192 sq m) number is still too
high because of the inclusion of gross space in the net
space number.

d. 113 is listed in the RPA with a net space of 186 sq m vs
actual measured net space of 131 sq m. It appears that
gross space was included as net space.

e. Post expects to complete measurement of the remaining 21
residences by the end of September.


5. Comments about the status of each residence identified as
"oversize" follow keyed to the Property ID Number followed
by a description of current status and findings.

a. 109 is currently occupied by a standard-rank family of
six. Post's re-measurement of this residence showed a net
size of 156 sq m, so this residence is approximately 30%
less than the maximum guideline (222 sq m) for this size
family. Yet, this residence was assigned in this manner due
to another larger house being held for a particular agency
due to a funding and make-ready deal made two years prior.

b. 97 is assigned to the Chief of Party Defense A