12 FAM 050
POLICY and Planning COORDINATION
(CT:DS-304; 10-17-2018)
(Office of Origin: DS/MGT/PPD)
12 FAM 051 ESTABLISHING POLICIES,
PROCEDURES, AND STANDARDS
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security (DS)
establishes all policies, procedures, and standards for the bureau. DS program
directors make policy, procedures, and standards recommendations, after
thorough coordination with all affected bureaus and outside agencies, through
the Deputy Assistant Secretary, or the Executive Director in their
chain-of-command.
12 FAM 051.1 Coordinating Review of
Other Bureaus Policies
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. The Policy and Planning Division (DS/MGT/PPD) is the
coordinator for all policies, procedures, and standards requiring DS clearance
from other bureaus within the Department.
b. Any DS office having representation on multi-bureau,
Department-wide, or interagency committees must coordinate with DS/MGT/PPD
proposed policy, standards, or agreements for which DS has final approval
authority.
c. DS/MGT/PPD ensures the appropriate offices in DS
have an opportunity to provide substantive comments on the proposed issues.
After receiving the comments, DS/MGT/PPD coordinates drafts, clears
recommendations with the appropriate Deputy Assistant Secretary and/or the
Executive Director, and obtains final clearance from either the Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) of DS or the assistant secretary.
d. DS/MGT/PPD coordinates meetings with the action
bureau, as necessary, to address issues to obtain clearance.
12 FAM 051.2 Coordinating Review of
Interagency or National Policies on Security Issues
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. DS/MGT/PPD is the Department clearance coordinator
for all diplomatic security-related policies, procedures, and standards
originating through interagency committees, agencies, and other organizations
to which the Department is or will be a party.
b. Any DS office having representation on interagency
committees must coordinate with DS/MGT/PPD committee-proposed policy,
standards, or agreements for which DS has final approval authority.
c. DS/MGT/PPD is responsible for ensuring a
DS-consolidated position prior to requesting comments from other Department
offices and constituent agencies.
d. DS/MGT/PPD drafts the final response, with
appropriate Deputy Assistant Secretary or the Executive Director clearance for
the bureau.
12 FAM 052 POLICY DEVELOPMENT
12 FAM 052.1 Drafting
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Program managers or working groups complete the
first draft of proposed security policies, procedures, and standards.
b. The DS/MGT/PPD policy analysis staff works with
program managers to develop substantive policy and provide editorial assistance.
The policy analysis staff ensures consistency with other existing policies,
procedures, and standards. The policy analysis staff also takes the lead in
resolving policy inconsistencies and issues.
c. DS/MGT/PPD prepares draft policies, procedures, and
standards in the approved Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) and Foreign Affairs
Handbook (FAH) format prior to clearance distribution.
12 FAM 052.2 Publication
(CT:DS-304; 10-17-2018)
All policies, procedures, and standards must be published
in the FAM or FAH in accordance with 18 FAM 201.1-6.
Volume 12 of the Foreign Affairs Manual (12 FAM, Diplomatic Security) contains
the bureaus security policies and directives, volume 12 of the Foreign Affairs
Handbook (12 FAH) contains the bureau's standards and implementation
procedures.
12 FAM 052.3 Application
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
Security policies, procedures, and standards published in
12 FAM/FAH are applicable to all agencies under chief of mission (COM)
authority (22 U.S.C. 3927), unless otherwise directed. DS must clear all 12
FAH 6 policies and standards that may impact other agencies operating under COM
authority with the Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB), see 12 FAM 056. The
OSPB members clear the 12 FAH 6 standards after DS and Department clearance.
Direct all policy issues and coordination questions to DS/MGT/PPD.
12 FAM 052.4 Signatory Authority
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security or the
Director of the Diplomatic Security Service sign all cables and memoranda that
establish bureau policy or are sent as security officer collective, engineering
security collective, or to all diplomatic and consular posts (ALDAC).
12 FAM 053 MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING
And agreement
(CT:DS-164; 07-15-2011)
DS/MGT/PPD is responsible for coordinating the development
of DS-related memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and memoranda of agreement
(MOAs) between DS and other entities, such as other Department bureaus, Federal
agencies, or other organizations.
12 FAM 053.1 Signatory Authority
for MOUs and MOAs
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Based on the security issue, the Assistant Secretary
for Diplomatic Security generally signs all MOUs and MOAs that involve multiple
security programs with one or more U.S. Government agencies. DS/MGT/PPD
advises on pertinent considerations.
b. Based on the subject, the appropriate DS Deputy
Assistant Secretary or the Executive Director sign all MOUs and MOAs for DS
that involve a single security program with one or more government agencies.
c. The Executive Director must clear or sign all
DS-related MOUs and MOAs involving funding or human resources.
12 FAM 053.2 Guidelines for
Developing MOUs and MOAs
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. An MOU is a document describing a bilateral
agreement between parties. It indicates an intended common line of action.
MOUs are a means to coordinate security programs with DS, the Department, and
other federal agencies domestically and abroad. Generally, the action of one
party does not depend on the actions of the other party.
b. An MOA is a document written between parties to
cooperatively work together on an agreed upon project or meet an agreed upon
objective. An MOA is often more specific in nature than an MOU and pertains to
the goods and/or services stated in the agreement. Generally, the actions of
one party depend upon the actions of the other party, and may involve the
transfer of funds.
c. DS program managers, in coordination with the other
entities in the proposed agreement, serve as subject matter experts to
determine the issues to be specified in an MOU or MOA. The policy analysis
staff ensures that MOUs and MOAs are coordinated and cleared through the
appropriate Department and interagency channels.
d. DS/MGT/PPD maintains a library of current and archive
MOUs and MOAs to which DS is a signatory and keeps an inventory of pending
agreements.
12 FAM 053.3 MOU and MOA Drafting
and Clearance Procedures
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. DS/MGT/PPD must process all DS-related MOUs and
MOAs. The policy analysis staff works with program managers to review all
draft agreements to ensure compliance with Department guidelines and policies,
and assists with developing a final draft.
b. DS program managers provide the policy analysis
staff with a subject matter experts initial draft of a proposed MOU/MOA. The
policy analysis staff reviews and edits this material, works with managers to
develop subsequent drafts, and coordinates appropriate clearances in DS, the
Department, and with other Government agencies. In the case of MOUs/MOAs used
as reimbursable agreements between DS and other agencies for goods and
services, the program office must first coordinate with the Office of the Chief
Financial Officer, DS/EX/CFO. After all funding requirements have been addressed
in the draft and DS/EX/CFO has cleared, DS/EX/CFO provides the draft to PPD for
further coordination and clearance. DS/EX/CFO also provides final clearance
prior to submission for final signature.
c. When the final version of an MOU or MOA is ready
for signature, the policy analysis staff prepares a memorandum to the Assistant
Secretary for Diplomatic Security, PDAS, deputy assistant secretary, or
executive director (required on all MOU/MOAs involving DS resources)
recommending that the Bureau sign the document.
d. All MOUs and MOAs require the following DS
clearances:
(1) Policy and Planning Division (DS/MGT/PPD);
(2) Office of the Chief Financial Officer (DS/EX/CFO)
when MOUs or MOAs involve fiscal resources;
(3) Human Resource Management (DS/EX/HRM) when MOUs or
MOAs involve personnel resources;
(4) Contracting and Procurement Division (DS/MGT/CAP)
when MOUs or MOAs involve contracts;
(5) Office director(s) and other assistant director(s)
with equity in the MOU or MOA;
(6) Executive Director (DS/EX);
(7) Office of the Legal Adviser (L/M/DS); and
(8) Diplomatic Security Service Director or Assistant
Secretary, as appropriate.
NOTE: Those initiating an MOU/MOA
should contact DS/MGT/PPD if they have any questions regarding which offices
need to clear and sign these agreements.
12 FAM 054 PLANNING
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
DS performs both program and operations planning. Program
planning manages the resources supporting DS mission requirements. Operations
planning directs the action of people performing DS investigative, protective,
and overseas missions. Both aspects of planning mutually support DS people and
programs at every level of the organization.
12 FAM 054.1 Bureau Program and
Performance Planning
(CT:DS-304; 10-17-2018)
a. The DS/MGT/PPD program and performance planning
staff centrally manages the diplomatic security planning structure (DSPS) which
integrates program planning, including certain functions of the long-term
strategic planning derived from the functional bureau strategy (FBS), performance
management, organizational goals, and post and program requirements as well as
resource availability for the bureau.
b. DS/MGT/PPD ensures the bureau is in compliance with
the Department's Program Evaluation Policy (18 FAM 301.4-4)
and leverages the DSPS when developing the bureau's evaluation plan (BEP).
12 FAM 054.1-1 DS Planning
Structure (DSPS)
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The DSPS is a bureau-wide framework for:
(1) Establishing strategic alignment with Bureau
responsibilities, objectives, and activities;
(2) Outlining program deliverables against available
resources and requirements;
(3) Reporting program progress on a quarterly basis
towards achieving defined deliverables, while identifying potential program
issues, constraints, and mitigations;
(4) Evaluating program performance and alignment with
bureau strategic goals based on established annual program plans; and
(5) Providing decision support for DS senior
management.
12 FAM 054.1-2 Bureau Planning
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Functional bureau strategy (FBS):
DS/MGT/PPD coordinates the development of the FBS for DS. The FBS is a
multi-year planning document that articulates the bureau's priorities. It is a
critical component of the overall planning and performance management cycle
mandated by the quadrennial diplomacy and development review (QDDR). The FBS
is updated regularly and sets priorities, goals, and objectives for the
bureau. The FBS also helps drive the bureaus annual resource request (funding
and positions) through the bureau resource request (BRR) process.
b. Bureau resource request (BRR):
Based on guidance from the Bureau of Budget and Planning (BP), DS/MGT/PPD
supports DS/EX/CFO with preparing the annual BRR, which represents the bureaus
official out-year resource request, to include both funding and staffing, in
alignment with the bureau's strategic goals, high-priority initiatives, and
performance indicators as outlined in the functional bureau strategy. The BRR
establishes the main link between policy, program planning, resources, and
impact metrics.
12 FAM 054.1-3 Evaluations
(CT:DS-304; 10-17-2018)
a. DS/MGT/PPD ensures bureau-wide compliance with the
Department's Program Evaluation Policy (18 FAM 301.4-4),
including:
(1) Ensuring that the number of programs being
evaluated every year meets or exceeds the Departments standards;
(2) Developing, submitting, and updating as needed a
three-year bureau evaluation plan (BEP); and
(3) Identifying a senior staff person to serve as the
bureau evaluation coordinator (BEC). The BEC for DS is the DS/MGT/PPD division
chief.
b. The BEC and PPD staff provide overall management of
the evaluation process during the planning, implementation, and reporting
stages to include:
(1) Analyzing stakeholder interests, time and budget
constraints, and cost-benefit to the bureau to determine appropriate program
selection for evaluation;
(2) Assisting with drafting and vetting statements of
work (SOW);
(3) Coordinating with the DS contracting and
procurement (CAP) division to request bids for proposals and serving on
technical panels as needed;
(4) Facilitating kick-off and check-in meetings with
evaluation contractors;
(5) Liaising with key stakeholders;
(6) Uploading completed evaluations to the evaluation
management system (EMS);
(7) Integrating evaluation results into future program
and performance planning; and
(8) Monitoring evaluation recommendations, through the
DSPS and other means, to improve bureau performance.
12 FAM 054.1-4 Program Planning
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Program plans: As part of
the DSPS, DS/MGT/PPD facilitates the development of annual program plans for
individual DS programs. The plans establish program overview, objectives,
resource levels, performance measures, and quarterly targets.
b. Quarterly performance reports
(QPRs): The QPRs are prepared at the program level and are based on
established annual program plans. QPRs help track programs' planned
deliverables for the fiscal year by reporting on programs actual versus
planned performance results.
c. Program results briefing:
At the end of each quarter, DS/MGT/PPD analyzes the information that the QPRs
provide, and prepares an executive briefing for the assistant secretary.
d. Program reviews with the Assistant
Secretary: Based on senior management input, DS/MGT/PPD will facilitate
meetings between program managers and the assistant secretary in order to
review results in individual programs.
12 FAM 054.2 Bureau Operations
Planning
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Comprehensive, well-developed operations plans
ensure DS mission success by ensuring unified, synchronized action, and
empowering subordinates to take action appropriate to their level of
responsibility.
b. DS operations planning occurs at the, operational,
and tactical levels. Operational-level planning coordinates action within DS
offices and divisions. Tactical-level planning coordinates action at the unit
level.
c. The operations planning staff, within the High
Threat Programs Directorate (DS/HTP), leads bureau-level operations planning.
The DS deliberate planning process (DPP) provides DS leaders with a
standardized, repeatable process to plan operations and solve problems across
the broad range of DS investigative, protective, and overseas missions. The
DPP, coordinates bureau-wide action among DS directorates in support of
large-scale Department operations. The DPP used for operational and
tactical-level operations, coordinates action within DS organizations below the
directorate-level. The Department also utilizes a deliberate planning process
(see 2 FAM
423.4).
12 FAM 054.2-1 DS Deliberate
Planning Process
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The baseline seven-step DS DPP provides a framework to
ensure every mission critical task is identified, planned, prepared for,
rehearsed, and assessed. The process begins with a mission analysis to
identify key operational and planning priorities, review mission risks, and
ensures subordinate understanding to the lowest level through operations plans
and rehearsals, then drives improvement using an after action review to assess
mission performance. Based on the complexity of the mission and time and
resources available, the DS DPP may be either formal or informal, with levels
of detail appropriate to mission requirements. Regardless of the planning product,
the DS DPP serves as a common language and process giving DS leaders,
individuals, and teams a unified approach to operations planning consistent
with other U.S. Government departments and agencies.
12 FAM 055 Overseas Security Policy
Board (OSPb)
12 FAM 055.1 General Operations
(CT:DS-304; 10-17-2018)
a. The OSPB is an interagency body that assists the
Secretary of State in carrying out statutory responsibilities to provide
security of U.S. Government operations at U.S. missions abroad (see 12 FAH-6 H-014).
The OSPB considers, develops, coordinates, and promotes security policies,
standards, and agreements on security operations, programs, and projects that
affect all U.S. Government agencies working abroad under COM authority. The
Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security chairs the OSPB,
guides the activities of the Board, and exercises the authority of the
Secretary of State as set forth in the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and
Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-399).
b. OSPB voting members include the security directors
of the following agencies: Department of State, U.S. Agency for International
Development, Broadcasting U.S. Agency for Global
Media, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Central Intelligence
Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Commerce, Department of
Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury,
Department of Transportation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Aviation
Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Foreign Agricultural Service,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Security Agency, Office
of the Director of National Intelligence's Center for Security Evaluation,
Office of Management and Budget, and Peace Corps. Members may be added by a
majority vote of members.
12 FAM 055.2 OSPB Executive
Secretariat
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. The Chief of the Policy and Planning Division
(DS/MGT/PPD) serves as the OSPB Executive Secretary. DS/MGT/PPD provides the
administrative support for all OSPB meetings. (See 12 FAH-6
H-014.1 for details.)
b. DS/MGT/PPD is also responsible for tracking the
status of all OSPB standards, including the status of OSPB working groups
draft standards. DS/MGT/PPD coordinates the official clearance of all
new/revised OSPB standards (see 12 FAM 057, DS
Clearance Procedures, and 12 FAH-6
H-014.1, OSPB Charter).
c. DS/MGT/PPD serves as a member of each OSPB working
group to assist the designated chairperson in accomplishing the working groups
objectives. (See the 12 FAH-6
H-014.2 for the OSPB Working Group Guidelines.)
12 FAM 056 SPECIAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
REVIEW BOARD (SPERB)
12 FAM 056.1 General Operations
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. The SPERB, formerly the Firearms Protective Review
Board (FPRB), is an advisory board to the Director of the Diplomatic Security
Service (DS/DSS). The SPERB meets once a month to develop and recommend
policies, procedures, and guidance applicable to DS special agents, and others,
on the authorities and use of special protective equipment (SPE). SPERB
responsibilities cover such topics as the use of force, and U.S. Government
firearms, impact weapons, chemical deterrents, restraining devices,
less-than-lethal devices, and ancillary equipment issued to or controlled by, DS
direct-hires, personal services contractors (PSCs), third party contract
personnel, local national personnel, and the United States Marine Corps Embassy
Security Group (MCESG). The SPERB adjudicates issues and requests submitted by
a post, DS Directorate, or other entity as required by Department policy.
b. The SPERB consists of seven voting members and eight
non-voting members. The voting members are Deputy Assistant Secretaries (DAS)
of the DS directorates and the Executive Director for DS. The SPERB also
maintains two standing working groups (WG); the firearms, optics, and
protective equipment (FOPE) WG and the less-than-lethal and emergency
technologies (LTLET) WG. The SPERB creates ad-hoc WGs as needed.
12 FAM 056.2 SPERB Executive
Secretariat
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The division chief of DS/MGT/PPD serves as the SPERB's
Executive Secretary. DS/MGT/PPD provides the administrative support for SPERB
and associated working group meetings. Responsibilities are similar to those
of the OSPB Executive Secretariat, see 12 FAM 055.2.
12 FAM 057 DS CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
12 FAM 057.1 General Clearance
Requirements
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. DS/MGT/PPD coordinates the clearance of all security
policies, procedures, and standards within DS and the Department. DS/MGT/PPD
also coordinates the clearance of those security policies, procedures, and
standards having a potential impact on other foreign affairs agencies that
participate in the OSPB. Security policies having an impact upon, or requiring
the cooperation of an agency not represented on the OSPB, still require the
appropriate agencys clearance.
b. DS program managers clear the initial draft of all
policies through their deputy assistant secretary or the Executive Director.
c. DS/MGT/PPD obtains any additional DS, Department,
and OSPB clearances.
d. DS/MGT/PPD reviews and clears all DS policies.
e. During the clearance the Office of the Legal Adviser
(L/M/DS) must clear policies with identifiable legal issues.
f. DS/IP, DS HTP, and the PDAS must clear all policy
issues affecting Foreign Service posts and regional security officers.
g. DS/EX/CFO must clear all policy issues with
financial implications. DS/EX/HRM must clear all policy issues with personnel
implications.
h. Any office in the bureau or the Department mentioned
in or affected by the text of the proposed policy, procedure, or standard must
be given the opportunity to clear.
i. As a general rule, security policies, procedures,
and standards are not sent for clearance outside of DS until full DS clearance
is obtained.
j. While DS strives to resolve differences and obtain
all clearances, statutory responsibility may require DS to set certain
security-related policies without full concurrence of all affected parties.
12 FAM 057.2 DS Clearance and
Approval Procedures for Outgoing Cables
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Approval requirements for DS outgoing cables: The
minimum approval requirement for all outgoing cable traffic from DS is at the
Division Chief level. No direct-hire employee below this management level, or
contractor, is authorized to approve outgoing DS cables, except if an employee
is officially acting for a division chief or office director.
b. Clearance requirements for outgoing cables
pertaining to policy, procedure or standards: All outgoing cables pertaining
to security policy or standards originating from DS program offices must be
cleared by the DS directorates with substantive interest as well as DS/MGT/PPD,
DS/EX, and DS/DSS.
12 FAM 057.3 Department Clearances
(CT:DS-304; 10-17-2018)
a. DS/MGT/PPD is the Diplomatic Security 12 volume
coordinator and is responsible for coordinating the bureau clearance of all new
or revised provisions of 12 FAM and associated FAHs, as well as the bureau
clearance of any other FAM/FAH submissions that have a security impact. (See 18 FAM 201.1-6 and 2 FAH-1 for the volume coordinators
responsibilities.)
b. The Office of the Under Secretary for Management
must clear on all DS policies, procedures, and standards. The Office of the
Inspector General must review all policies, procedures, and standards.
c. In most cases, the executive offices of the
regional bureaus are to clear, depending on whether or not the proposed policy
affects their bureau operations.
d. The Departments Office of the Legal Adviser (L)
must clear.
e. All other clearances are determined by content.
12 FAM 058 IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Projects are funded and equipment furnished,
installed, and maintained in accordance with existing agreements and
procedures. These agreements and procedures are catalogued by program in 12
FAM and related Foreign Affairs Handbooks.
b. Agencies allowed to exceed DS standards based on
heightened threat/risk may be required to:
(1) Fund all or a portion of the additional costs that
result therefrom;
(2) Furnish equipment including spares; and/or
(3) Provide for installation and maintenance.
12 FAM 058.1 Noncompliance
Procedures
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. Whenever security policies and procedures cannot be
complied with or standards cannot be met, the post must provide a full
explanation to DS and the parent agency cognizant security authority through a
formal exception to the standards request. The post must include recommended
actions and mitigations that might compensate to some extent for the reduced
security that may result. Where such non-compliance involves agencies other
than the Department, DS, in consultation with the cognizant security authority
of the parent agency, will determine what remedial action will be required.
b. In those instances where the standards cannot be met
due to a lack of resources, chiefs of mission and principal officers must
ensure that all agencies are treated equally and that equal protection is
provided whenever and wherever the threat level is the same.
c. In the case of posts designated Special Conditions
Posts (see 12
FAM 057.3), the post must request approval for non-compliance with security
policies, procedures or standards from the assistant secretary for DS through
DS/IP and/or DS/HTP.
12 FAM 058.2 Exceeding Standards
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. When an agency lead at a post believes that it is
necessary to exceed the requirements of a security policy, procedure, or
standard, the agency lead must make a proposal to the emergency action
committee (EAC) or the counterintelligence working group (CIWG), as
appropriate, which makes a recommendation to the chief of mission or principal
officer. If the EAC supports the agency leads proposal, the post, through the
COM, must seek Department and DS clearance/concurrence.
b. The agency lead may appeal the EAC or CIWG decision
to the parent agency, which should attempt to resolve the issue with the
Department.
c. In the case of posts designated Special Conditions
Posts (see 12
FAM 058.3), the post must request approval to exceed security policies,
procedures or standards from the Assistant Secretary for DS through DS/IP or
DS/HTP.
12 FAM 058.3 Special Conditions
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. The final decision to open, close, or change the
status of a diplomatic mission is made by the President. The final decision to
open, close or change the status of a foreign service post such as a consular
post, consular agency, branch, or special office is made by the Under Secretary
for Management (see 2 FAM 400).
b. The Under Secretary for Management, in coordination
with the Assistant Secretary for DS and the Director of Overseas Buildings
Operations, must approve funding diverted for posts designated special
conditions posts for projects previously funded in accordance with existing
agreements and procedures (see 12 FAM 058 paragraph a).
c. The threat categories established on the Security
Environment Threat List (SETL) are a composite, and the countermeasures
associated with the level assigned may not address the dynamic threat at a
given post. In accordance with the Diplomatic Security Risk Management Policy
(see 12 FAH-6
H-511) there are also a number of factors that make the general application
of existing standards impossible or inappropriate because the nature of the
threat varies, as does the vulnerability. Such factors or special conditions
may include:
(1) Ongoing U.S. Military operations within the
country or bordering country;
(2) Contested territory, contingency area, or war zone
in the country or bordering the country;
(3) Proximity to a country or area recovering from a
natural disaster;
(4) A remote location without infrastructure; or
(5) Other special conditions recognized by DS as
requiring consideration outside the application of established security
standards.
d. Where such special conditions exist in specific
countries, or at particular posts within countries, countermeasures outside the
established security standards should be considered in accordance with the
established Diplomatic Security Risk Management policy and 12 FAM 057.1
and 057.2.
12 FAM 058.3-1 Designation as a
Special Conditions Post
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
a. The request to be designated as a special conditions
post must be made in consultation with post EAC or CIWG, with concurrence of
the RSO and the COM, and must include what factor(s) form the basis for the
request. Post must submit its request to the Assistant Secretary for DS.
b. The Assistant Director for Threat Investigations and
Analysis (DS/TIA) in consultation with the Deputy Assistant Secretaries for
Countermeasures (DS/C), International Programs (DS/IP), and/or High Threat
Programs (HTP) must review the posts request for designation as a special
conditions post with the appropriate parent agency representatives and make a
recommendation to the assistant secretary for DS within 10 working days. The
Assistant Secretary will make the final determination.
c. A post designated as a special conditions post by
the Assistant Secretary may, as circumstances warrant:
(1) Request noncompliance with existing standards; or
(2) Request to exceed existing standards in accordance
with the procedures outlined in 12 FAM 058.1
and 058.2.
12 FAM 058.3-2 Expedited Review
for Special Conditions Posts
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The Assistant Secretary must ensure that DS fully
considers the post request and recommendation, including any necessary
consultation with parent agencies or Department bureaus. To the maximum extent
possible, the consideration of post requests for exceptions will follow
established exceptions processes (e.g. 12 FAM 315, 12 FAH-5 H-200,
etc.). DS program offices responsible for evaluating the request must prepare
a recommendation for the Assistant Secretarys approval within 20 working days of
posts request.
12 FAM 058.3-3 Annual Review
Requirement
(CT:DS-254; 03-07-2016)
The Assistant Secretary must review all special conditions
posts on the one-year anniversary of their designation or in conjunction with
the annual SETL process (whichever occurs later) to ensure the factors of that
post still warrant treatment as a special conditions post.
12 FAM 059 UNASSIGNED