REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES

UNCLAS QUITO 000094 SIPDIS FOR INL/RM TIM BARRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES FOR GOE JUDICIAL POLICE AIRPORT 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 Judicial Police Airport unit at the International Airport in Quito. Cooperating Country: Ecuador Authorizing document: LOA dated August 25, 2009. Project: Judicial Police Program Nature of funding: FY-08 Judicial Police Training Description of commodity: Foreign-manufactured vehicles: Quantity - 1 (One) 4 door Sedan, 1.6 liter, manual transmission, air conditioning Approximate total value: USD $16,500.00 Origin: Special Free World Source: Ecuador Contracting agent: RPSO ¶2. Discussion: This vehicle is for operational use by the Judicial Police's Quito Airport Unit. Judicial Police is the Government of Ecuador's investigative police arm of the National Police. The DHS/ICE office cooperates closely with this unit. Funding for this vehicle comes from the Judicial Police Program. For the security of its personnel and on-going operations, it is highly recommended for Judicial Police 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 this vehicle in Ecuador. ¶4. Please expedite reply. Thank you. ¶5. Signed: Drew Schufletowski, NAS Director, Narcotics Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy, Quito, Ecuador. HODGES