NSDD-38-COM APPROVAL FOR DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 001018 SIPDIS STATE FOR M/PRI,AF/W,AF/EX, DIA PASS TO CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2018 TAGS: AODE KMRS AMGT LI SUBJECT: NSDD-38-COM APPROVAL FOR DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REQUEST TO ESTABLISH TECHNICIAN POSITION IN MONROVIA, LIBERIA REF: A. 07 STATE 127543 ¶B. 07 MONROVIA 1354 Classified By: AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, REASON 1.4(d) (C) THE CHIEF OF MISSION APPROVES THE CREATION OF THE GG-10 INTELLIGENCE TECHNICIAN POSITION REQUESTED IN REF A. POST HAS NOW FILLED ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT POSITIONS AND HAS LOCATED ADDITIONAL OFF-COMPOUND HOUSING, SO THE CONSTRAINTS THAT PREVENTED EARLIER APPROVAL (REF B) ARE NO LONGER A FACTOR. AS NOTED IN REF B, COM AGREES WITH DIA'S ASSESSMENT OF DAO MONROVIA STAFFING GROWTH NEEDS, FULLY SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THIS POSITION, AND UNDERSTANDS DIA EXPECTS TO FILL IT BY SUMMER 2009. WHEN THIS POSITION IS FILLED, DAO MONROVIA WILL HAVE FOUR POSITIONS. RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS IN & GUIDANCE FOR COM NSDD-38 REQUESTS: ¶2. (U) QUESTION 1: IS THE NEED FOR THE PROPOSED STAFFING CHANGE REFLECTED IN THE MOST RECENT MSP? IF SO, UNDER WHICH GOAL? IF NOT, WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED TO JUSTIFY THE NSDD-38 PROPOSAL? ¶3. (C) ANSWER: NO, THIS POSITION WAS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR MSP. WE UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST IS A RESULT OF DOD/WASHINGTON'S DECISION ABOUT HOW DEFENSE ATTACH OFFICES SHOULD BE STAFFED TO MEET NEW AND EMERGING REQUIREMENTS. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS COORDINATION BETWEEN STATE AND DOD REGARDING THIS POSITION, AND CAN CONFIRM THAT THIS POSITION HAS BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN THE OFFICE SPACE PLANNING FOR THE NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND, WHICH IS SLATED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2011. THE MSP GOAL SUPPORTED WOULD BE REGIONAL SECURITY. ¶4. (U) QUESTION 2: IF THE AGENCY PROPOSES TO ADD STAFFING BASED ON WORKLOAD, ARE THERE OTHER RESOURCES ALREADY PRESENT AT POST THAT ARE PERFORMING OR COULD PERFORM THE FUNCTION? ¶5. (C) ANSWER: CURRENTLY, THE DATT, MARA, AND OPSCO ARE CARRYING OUT THEIR OWN DUTIES AS WELL AS THE DUTIES AN INTELLIGENCE TECHNICIAN WOULD PERFORM. THE USDAO IS UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS, AND THE ADDITION OF A TECHNICIAN WOULD ENHANCE OPERATIONAL AND INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION ACTIVITIES. 6.(U) QUESTION 3: COULD THE FUNCTION BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF TDY, FOREIGN NATIONAL, CONTRACT, OR OTHER LOCAL HIRE PERSONNEL? ¶7. (C) ANSWER: THE CLASSIFIED NATURE OF THE FUNCTION AND ONGOING NATURE OF THE PROPOSED WORK PLAN REQUIRE A DIRECT HIRE CLEARED AMERICAN. IN PRINCIPLE, A SERIES OF TDYERS COULD PROVIDE THE SUPPORT NEEDED, BUT IN REALITY THAT IS NOT FEASIBLE BECAUSE OF TDY COSTS WOULD BE COST-PROHIBITIVE AND TDY STAFF WOULD CREATE A HEAVY DEMAND FOR CONSTANT ORIENTATION AND SUPERVISION. ¶8. (U) QUESTION 4: IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, SPACE AND FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE INCREASE IN STAFFING. ¶9. (C) ANSWER: OFFICE SPACE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THIS POSITION ON THE EMBASSY COMPOUND AND HOUSING WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE EMBASSY HOUSING POOL. FULL RANGE OF ICASS SUPPORT SERVICES ARE APPROXIMATELY $95,000 PER YEAR. START UP COSTS AND FIRST YEAR RENT TOTAL $130,750. DIA WILL COVER THESE EXPENSES AS WELL AS ONGOING EXPENSES SUCH AS SALARY, ALLOWANCES, AND TRAVEL. ICASS COST CENTERS: 6150 BASIC PACKAGE, 6145 GENERAL SERVICES, 6225 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, 6443 CLO, 6445 PERSONNEL SERVICES, 5458 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT, 5624 HEALTH SERVICES, 5826 LOCAL GUARD PROGRAM, 6196 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, 7810 BUILDING OPERATIONS/GO/LTL RESIDENTIAL, 7820 BUILDING OPERATIONS/CO/NON-RESIDENTIAL, 7850 BUILDING OPERATIONS/STL/RESIDENTIAL, AND 8790 OVERHEAD START-UP COSTS: FF&AO (FURNITURE POOL)=$67,000 RENTAL = $48,000/YEAR UTILITIES - $15,000/YEAR LL TELEPHONE SE = $250 LICENSE =$500 10.(U) DO THE BENEFITS OF INCREASING THE STAFF OUTWEIGH THE INHERENT SECURITY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL? 11.(C) YES. THIS POSITION IS CRITICAL TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MONROVIA'S DAO OPERATIONS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MONROVIA IS STILL A 15% DANGER PAY POST, BUT LIBERIA IS ON A POSITIVE TRACK. WE HAVE WEIGHED THE BENEFITS AND RISKS AND WE BELIEVE THE BENEFITS GREATLY OUTWEIGH THE RISKS. THOMAS-GREENFIELD