Guide
What are accessorial charges in Foreign Military Sales?
Accessorial charges are the costs of issuing, selling and transferring materiel that its standard price or contract cost does not include, chiefly packing, crating and handling and transportation. They sit below the line on a . A dedicated airlift mission is instead charged above the line as a , and detention and demurrage may be charged to the line of the materiel being delivered.
What are accessorial charges in Foreign Military Sales?
The and 7000.14-R, Financial Management Regulation () Volume 15, Chapter 7, define accessorial charges as certain expenses incident to issues, sales, and transfers of materiel that are not included in the standard price or contract cost of materiel, such as packing, crating, and handling, transportation, pre-positioning, staging of materiel in , and port loading and unloading.
Transportation costs for other than CCBL shipments are considered accessorial costs. Transportation rates are assessed when the provides transportation for materiel, when items are shipped on a GBL or , and when packages are shipped prepaid through the USPS, FedEx, UPS, or through any commercial carrier. Table C9.T4A sets out the transportation rates, and Table C9.T4 how they are applied.
A may be required to deliver sensitive or classified materiel to an overseas destination when the recipient country does not have the capability to pick up its materiel at a DoW , 8. A involves the chartering of an or commercial aircraft for a dedicated flight. The costs to the customer include the cost of round-trip flying hours, round-trip aircrew support and port loading and handling fees. The costs for flights vary widely depending upon the distance and type of aircraft used. It is not unusual that the cost of the exceeds the value of the cargo being delivered. Special Assignment Airlift Missions must be charged as “above-the-line” direct costs.
Detention is a charge made on a carrier held by or for a consignor or consignee beyond the allowable free time for loading or unloading, for forwarding directions, or for any other purpose authorized and documented by the consignor or consignee. Demurrage is a charge against a consignor or consignee for holding carrier equipment beyond the allowable free time for loading and unloading, for forwarding directions, or for any other purpose authorized and documented by the consignor or consignee. Transportation costs assessed for detention or demurrage in the delivery of materiel are not considered accessorial costs and may be charged against the line of the materiel being delivered.
References
SAMM
- SAMM GLOSSARY/accessorial-cost — Accessorial Cost
- SAMM C9.3.6 — Direct and/or Indirect Charges.
- SAMM C7.6.2.1.2 — Special Assignment Airlift Mission Flights.
- SAMM C7.12.1 — Defense Transportation System Costs.
- SAMM C9.4.9.1.5 — Transportation.
- SAMM C9.T4 — Table of Charges
- SAMM C9.T4A — Table of Delivery Term Codes and Percentage
Related
Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA)
The legal instrument used by the USG to transfer itemized defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services to foreign partners.
When used under the authorities provided in the Arms Export Control Act for Foreign Military Sales, the LOA is a binding agreement signed by the USG and the foreign partner to transfer such articles and services.
When used under Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) authorities, the BPC LOA is not signed by the Benefitting Partner.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Direct Cost
The costs of resources directly consumed by an activity. Direct costs are assigned to activities by direct tracing of units of resources consumed by individual activities. They are a cost that is identified specifically with a single cost object.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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SAMM — Security Assistance Management Manual
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) →
CONUS — Continental United States
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DTS — Defense Transportation System
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Special Assignment Airlift Mission (SAAM)
A dedicated U.S. military aircraft, chartered to deliver sensitive, classified or explosive defense articles to a specific customer location when no commercial delivery capability exists.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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POE — Port of Embarkation
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DTC — Delivery Term Code
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
SAAM — Special Assignment Airlift Mission
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Delivery Term Code (DTC)
A single character code that represents how far the USG is responsible for arranging transportation of defense articles going to an international customer.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Defense Transportation System (DTS)
The portion of the worldwide transportation infrastructure that supports DoD transportation needs in peace and war. DTS consists of two major elements: military and commercial resources. These resources include aircraft, assets, services, and systems organic to, contracted for, or controlled by the DoD. DoD's infrastructure, including ports, airlift, sealift, railway, highway, in-transit visibility, information management systems, customs, and traffic management that the DoD maintains and exercises in peacetime, is a vital element of the DoD's capability to project power worldwide. It provides for responsive force projection and a seamless transition between peacetime and wartime operations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Continental United States (CONUS)
U.S. territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within the North American continent between Canada and Mexico. Does not include Hawaii or Alaska.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Trust Fund
A single account that is authorized to be credited with receipts that may be obligated and expended in accordance with the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Trust Fund receipts must be apportioned prior to obligation and expenditure; however, an official, designated under 31 U.S.C. 1513 (as per 31 U.S.C. 1516), may exempt trust funds from apportionment. The FMS Trust Fund is managed as a single cash entity, regardless of the source of the deposits. All FMS Trust Fund deposits are accounted for at purchaser and FMS case level by source of financing. Examples of funds include Foreign Military Financing (FMF) (FMS Credit and FMS Credit (nonrepayable)) and the Military Assistance Program (MAP) Merger. Examples of other types of funds are a purchaser's national funds, which include third-party funds, and other DoD appropriated funds.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Cost Clearing Account
An account used when standard rates are employed. The actual expenses are debited to the cost clearing account and the amounts billed to customers are credited to the account. At the end of the fiscal year, the account is closed with analysis performed to determine if rates require adjustment.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Service Contract
A contract that calls directly for a contractor's time and effort rather than for a physical end product.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Implementing Agency (IA)
The military department or defense agency responsible for the execution of military assistance programs. With respect to FMS, the military department or defense agency assigned responsibility by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to prepare an LOA and to implement an FMS case. The implementing agency is responsible for the overall management of the actions that will result in delivery of the materials or services set forth in the LOA that was accepted by a foreign country or international organization.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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DSAMS — Defense Security Assistance Management System
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Defense Security Assistance Management Systems (DSAMS) →