REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES

UNCLAS QUITO 000088 SIPDIS FOR INL/RM TIM BARRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES FOR GOE DINAPEN POLICE UNIT ¶1. Issue: Post requests a source origin waiver from geographic code 000 (United States only) to geographic code 935 (special free world) to permit the procurement of vehicles in the Host Country local market for operational use by the Ecuadorian National Police's DINAPEN Guayaquil unit. Cooperating Country: Ecuador Authorizing document: LOA dated August 25, 2009. Project: Migrant Smuggling Program Nature of funding: FY-08 G-TIP Program Description of commodity: Foreign-manufactured vehicles: Quantity 3 - 4 door Sedan, 1.6 liter, manual transmission, air conditioning Approximate total value: USD $50,000.00 Origin: Special Free World Source: Ecuador Contracting agent: RPSO ¶2. Discussion: These vehicles are for operational use by the DINAPEN Guayaquil police unit. DINAPEN is the Government of Ecuador's human trafficking police unit which cooperates closely with DHS/ICE office. Funding for these vehicles comes from the migrant smuggling program. For the security of its personnel and on-going operations, it is highly recommended for DINAPEN to use nondescript vehicles that are locally common rather than the more conspicuous and distinctive U.S.-made vehicles. ¶3. Recommendation: For the reasons stated above, we recommend approval of this request for a source/origin waiver to permit acquisition of these project vehicles in Ecuador. ¶4. Please expedite reply. Thank you. ¶5. Signed: Drew Schufletowski, NAS Director, Narcotics Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy, Quito, Ecuador. HODGES HODGES