2 FAM 120
UNIFORMITY AMONG THE AGENCIES
(CT:GEN-529; 10-09-2018)
(Office of Origin: M/PRI)
2 FAM 121 POLICY
(CT:GEN-423; 08-07-2014)
(Uniform State/USAID)
a. Uniformity in the treatment of overseas personnel
and in overseas administrative practices is a major goal of the Department of
State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
b. Achievement of uniformity necessitates recognition
of each Agency's responsibilities and differing legislative, policy, and
organizational restrictions.
2 FAM 122 RESPONSIBILITIES
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Agencies are responsible for uniformity in Washington and in the field.
2 FAM 122.1 Washington
(CT:GEN-423; 08-07-2014)
(Uniform State/USAID)
a. The Washington offices of State and USAID are
responsible for issuing regulations on uniform administrative practices among
the two Agencies (and others, such as the Peace Corps, Department of Defense,
etc., whenever feasible).
b. A Joint Regulations Board, composed of the Chief,
Directives Branch, Department of State, who is chairperson, and one
representative from USAID, administers the uniform regulations program under
direction of the senior administrative officers of the two Agencies.
2 FAM 122.2 Field
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
a. The President's letter of September 23, 1981 (see 1 FAM 013.2),
places on the ambassador the responsibility "to oversee the operation of
all United States Government programs and activities" in the ambassador's
country of assignment.
b. Therefore, after consultation with heads of other
Agency missions, the ambassador:
(1) Issues uniform local rules and practices to
implement effectively the uniform regulations issued by Washington; or
(2) On administrative matters not covered by uniform
regulations from Washington, issues uniform local rules subject to law and to
the policies and regulations, if any, separately prescribed by either of the
three Agencies' headquarters.
c. Difficulties in adopting uniform local rules and
practices because of differences in the Agencies' policies or program
requirements should be reported to Washington with suggestions for development
of uniform regulations.
d. In drafting messages to Washington on subjects
involving uniform regulations, drafting officers should collaborate with
counterparts in other Agencies with a view to making the message uniform.
2 FAM 123 AND 124 UNASSIGNED
(CT:GEN-94; 08-16-1967)
2 FAM 125 BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR OVERSEAS
COMBINED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
2 FAM 125.1 General
(CT:GEN-423; 08-07-2014)
(Uniform State/USAID)
a. Under the direction of the ambassador, who is
responsible for the supervision and coordination of all activities of the
United States diplomatic mission in the country of the ambassador's assignment,
the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and other
U.S. Government Agencies participate, where practical, in joint arrangements to
provide required levels of administrative support services to their personnel
assigned overseas.
b. Administrative support at diplomatic missions is
normally provided by the Department of State. However, at specific missions
where another Agency may be in the best position to provide certain
administrative support services to other Agencies, such an Agency with
Washington approval may be delegated responsibility for providing these
services.
2 FAM 125.2 Criteria/Guidelines
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Combined servicing is encouraged when the criteria that
follow are or will be met to the satisfaction of potential participating
Agencies.
2 FAM 125.2-1 Effectiveness
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
All administrative support arrangements will provide an
essential level of service rendered in a manner which is responsive to the
needs of the serviced Agencies.
2 FAM 125.2-2 Capability
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Normally, the Agency in the best position, in terms of
support personnel at the mission, should provide administrative services to
other Agencies. When full consolidation is not practical, cross-servicing which
results in economy or improved services is encouraged.
2 FAM 125.2-3 Economy
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Combined services should result in savings to the U.S.
Government when it is possible to:
(1) Reduce or combine staffs, whether supervisory or
nonsupervisory, U.S. or local national;
(2) Eliminate duplicate facilities, such as
warehouses, motor pools, office space, or printing plants; or
(3) Combine the management of expendable and nonexpendable
sup-plies. Nonexpendable supplies and equipment will continue to be purchased
by and carried on the inventory of the using Agency.
2 FAM 125.3 Methods
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
There are two basic methods of combining administrative
support arrangements.
2 FAM 125.3-1 Individual
Functions
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
a. Service may be acquired by one Agency from another
Agency at post for any individual service:
(1) Where the capacity of the servicing Agency enables
it to provide the service;
(2) Where the acquiring Agency does not have and does
not wish to develop the capability necessary to provide essential support of
this nature; and
(3) When the servicing Agency can provide adequate
service at lower cost.
b. Under these circumstances, the administrative
element of the serviced Agency maintains a simple contractual relationship with
the servicing Agency.
2 FAM 125.3-2 Total Support
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
When essentially all administrative support functions
(excluding the USAID mission controller function) are performed by one Agency
for two or more other major Agencies at post, these services are managed by a
joint administrative office (JAO).
2 FAM 125.4 Approval
(CT:GEN-94; 08-16-1967)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Approval authority for entering into joint servicing
agreements depends upon the method employed. Under
"individual/functional" cross-servicing, chiefs of Agency missions
are authorized to enter into arrangements under the criteria specified in
section 2 FAM
125.2. When the degree of service obtained from one other Agency at post
meets the level described as "total support," or when formal JAO's
are established, Washington approval is required.
2 FAM 125.5 Funding
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Reimbursement to the administering Agency for all combined
support arrangements will be made in accordance with the provisions of the
Foreign Affairs Administrative Support System (including funding for cross-servicing
arrangements). Each Agency directly funds costs from its own allotments for
goods and services required solely for the use of that Agency. In this
connection, funding of cross-servicing agreements may be handled at post
directly between the Agencies concerned.
2 FAM 125.6 Staffing
(CT:GEN-94; 08-16-1967)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Since the competence of key personnel is the major factor
in the success of any combined support organization, qualified individuals are
selected without regard to parent Agency and, as appropriate, may be detailed
or assigned to the Agency providing the support service on a reimbursable
basis. Assignments of key individuals to JAO positions will be cleared by the
Washington regional management, executive, or administrative office of
appropriate Agencies.
2 FAM 125.7 Regulations
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Major Agencies participating in combined administrative
support arrangements will attempt to enlarge the body of uniform regulations
which govern the provision of these services. Where an Agency has special
legislative authority or restrictions not applicable to other Agencies, the
regulation will recognize variations in support.
2 FAM 125.8 Washington Backstopping
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
a. Major Agencies participating in combined
administrative support arrangements will designate coordinators at the Washington level to whom problems relating to joint servicing can be referred.
Specifically:
(1) A single individual will be designated in such
Agencies to resolve problems of agency-wide significance that may arise; and
(2) Single representatives, at the regional management
or administrative office level, will be designated to respond to operational
requirements.
b. A list of Agency representatives will be prepared
and maintained by the Office of the Under Secretary for Management in State and
made available to the Agencies involved.
c. Responsibility for leadership and coordination of Washington back-stopping will rest with the appropriate regional Assistant Secretary of the
Department of State, in conformity with the principles of NSAM-341 of March 2,
1966.
2 FAM 125.9 Performance Review
2 FAM 125.9-1 Operations
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
All Agencies concerned in combined administrative support
arrangements will periodically appraise and review the performance of combined
service organizations. Particular attention will be placed on USAID to the
identification of problem areas and the development of mechanisms to improve
the service. Primary responsibility for the maintenance of satisfactory
service is vested in the office of the appropriate regional Assistant Secretary
of the Department of State.
2 FAM 125.9-2 Staff
(CT:GEN-262; 10-05-1989)
(Uniform State/USAID)
Supervisors will rate subordinates in combined support
arrangements according to the standards and on the rating forms used by the
subordinates' parent Agencies. The ambassador or deputy chief of mission (DCM)
will rate the JAO chief. When the DCM is the rating officer, the ambassador
will act as reviewing officer. The head of each serviced Agency will provide
the ambassador or DCM with an advisory report to assist in preparing the
evaluation. With the exception of USAID employees, such an advisory report by
the rated member's parent Agency will also be included as an attachment to the
evaluation. USAID procedures do not permit the use of attachments to the EER.
However, written comments on special acts or special performance by USAID
employees, above and beyond those normally treated as evaluation factors in the
yearly EER, may be forwarded for review and possible inclusion in the
employee's evaluation folder as a separate exhibit.
2 FAM 126 THROUGH 129 UNASSIGNED