Guide
What are terms of sale and type of assistance codes?
The , stated on the first page of a , show when payment is due and whether the case is paid with the purchaser's own funds, Foreign Military Financing or another source. The type of assistance code on each line records that line's funding source and whether the item comes from stock or new procurement.
What are terms of sale and type of assistance codes?
The terms of sale and the estimated payment schedule on the sample LOA in SAMM Figure C5.F8. Bandaria is the manual's fictional training country; the figures are the SAMM's example, not a real case. The first page states the estimated cost, the initial deposit and the terms of sale; the second sets out the payments the purchaser should plan for, quarter by quarter.
In addition to the , the related case Type of Assistance () codes (on each line) document the line’s funding source, indicate whether the sale of an article is from DoW stock or new procurement, and the applicable statute authority. codes are listed and defined in the information page ( Figure C5.F10). The Term of Sale is documented on the first page of the . If a case involves more than one term of sale, all of the applicable will be cited. C9.T11 provides a list and definitions of the for use on .
References
SAMM
- SAMM GLOSSARY/terms-of-sale — Terms of Sale
- SAMM C9.T11 — Terms of Sale
- SAMM C9.8.1 — Terms of Sale Breakouts.
- SAMM GLOSSARY/type-of-assistance-ta-code — Type of Assistance (TA) Code
- SAMM C9.8 — Letters of Offer and Acceptance - Terms of Sale.
Related
Terms of Sale (Letter of Offer and Acceptance)
Standard descriptions entered by the Implementing Agency on a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) that indicate when payments are required and how the LOA is financed (e.g. cash, Foreign Military Sales credit, etc.).
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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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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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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LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
A process, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, through which eligible foreign governments and international organizations may purchase defense articles, services, and training from the United States Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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AECA — Arms Export Control Act
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
SAMM — Security Assistance Management Manual
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) →
Cash with Acceptance (FMS)
A term of sale in which U.S. dollar currency, check, or other negotiable instrument is submitted by the customer concurrent with acceptance of an Foreign Military Sales sales offer for the full amount shown as the estimated total cost on the Letter of Offer and Acceptance.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC) (Credit Assured Payment Schedules (CAPS) Term of Sale)
A legal document that serves as the eligible bank's guarantee to pay DSCA if the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) partner fails to make complete and timely quarterly payments on an FMS Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), in accordance with the DD 645. It is a formal independent undertaking issued by a bank to DSCA, as the "beneficiary," which specifies the responsibilities of the bank and the FMS partner and establishes the ability for DSCA to draw upon the value of the SBLC when the FMS partner does not make a complete and timely payment.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Dependable Undertaking (FMS)
An excepted term and condition within the Foreign Military Sales case (or Letter of Offer and Acceptance). A firm commitment by a foreign government or international organization to pay the full amount of a contract for new production or for the performance of defense services which will assure the U.S. against any loss on such contract and to make funds available in such amounts and at such times as may be required by the contract, or for any damages and costs that may accrue from the cancellation of such a contract, provided that in the judgment of the DoD there is sufficient likelihood that the foreign government or international organization will have the economic resources to fulfill the commitment.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Risk Assessed Payment Schedules (RAPS)
A term of sale that provides approved Foreign Military Sales (FMS) partners that are otherwise ineligible for Dependable Undertaking (DU) status with an alternative to the "Cash with Acceptance" standard term of sale. RAPS offers FMS partners on the cusp of DU eligibility a mechanism to establish a positive payment history for future Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs), while mitigating risk to the USG against non-payment.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Initial Deposit
Funds that are required to cover outlays and/or deliveries that are anticipated to occur before the receipt of the first quarterly payment. These funds must accompany the accepted Letter of Offer and Acceptance.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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DSCA — Defense Security Cooperation Agency
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
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Cash Prior to Delivery (FMS)
A term of sale in which the USG collects cash in advance of the delivery of defense articles and/or the performance of defense services from DoD resources throughout the life of the case.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO)
A term used to describe Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) that implement Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangements. Two LOAs are written: a FMSO I and a FMSO II.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Service (WWRS)
Pursuant to AECA Section 21(m), a defense service provided by the U.S. Air Force that provides a mechanism for partners to transfer to the DoD defense articles that were purchased under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or purchased under Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) for sale to other partners through a Letter of Offer and Acceptance or to the DoD.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Excess Defense Articles (EDA)
Defense articles owned by the USG which are neither procured in anticipation of military assistance or sales requirements, nor procured pursuant to a military assistance or sales order. EDA are items (except construction equipment) that are in excess of the Approved Force Acquisition Objective and Approved Force Retention Stock of all DoD components at the time such articles are dropped from inventory by the supplying agency for delivery to countries or international organizations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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EDA — Excess Defense Articles
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Nonrecurring Costs (NC)
Costs funded by a Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation appropriation to develop or improve a product or technology either through contract or in-house effort. NC also includes one-time costs incurred in support of previous production of a specified model and costs incurred in support of a total projected production run. See "Nonrecurring Production Costs" and "Nonrecurring Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Costs."
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Major Defense Equipment (MDE)
Any item of Significant Military Equipment on the U.S. Munitions List having a nonrecurring research and development cost of more than $50 million or a total production cost of more than $200 million. Also defined in section 47 (6), Arms Export Control Act.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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National Funds
Source of funding that is provided directly from the purchaser.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Special Defense Acquisition Fund (SDAF)
Authorized in 1981 under section 51 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) (22 U.S.C. 2795), the SDAF is a revolving fund that finances the acquisition of defense articles and services in anticipation of their future sale to foreign governments and international organizations under the AECA.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Military Assistance Program (MAP)
That portion of the United States Security Assistance program authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, which once provided defense articles and services to recipients on a nonreimbursable (grant) basis. Funding for MAP was consolidated under the Foreign Military Financing program beginning in Fiscal Year 1990.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Payment on Delivery (FMS)
An Foreign Military Sales (FMS) term of sale in which the USG issues a bill to the FMS purchaser at the time of delivery of defense articles or the rendering of defense services from DoD resources. This term may only be used pursuant to a written statutory determination by the Director, DSCA, who may find it in the national interest to authorize such payment. Based on presidential action, this term may also be modified to read "Payment 120 Days After Delivery."
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Termination Liability (TL) (Foreign Military Sales)
The potential cost for which the U.S. Government would be liable if a particular Foreign Military Sales case that includes procurement contracts is terminated prior to completion.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Total Case Value (Letter of Offer and Acceptance)
The total value of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance at the time of calculation, which includes the cost of the materiel, services, all Indirect Pricing Components, administrative charges, and all accessorial charges.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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