What are the steps of FMS case development?

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.

Data required to develop a Letter of Offer and Acceptance.

A combination of one or more weapons with all related equipment, materials, services, personnel, and means of delivery and deployment (if applicable) required for self-sufficiency.

A catalogue of materiel, services, and training used in the planning and programming of International Military Education and Training (IMET), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Separate MASLs are maintained for IMET and FMS training that provides data on course identification, course availability, price, and duration of training.

The term used to identify a request from an eligible FMS participant country for the purchase of U.S. defense articles and services. The request may be in message or letter format.

U.S. capability elements that contribute to the warfighters' technical advantage, which if compromised, undermines U.S. military preeminence. U.S. capability elements may include, but are not limited to, software algorithms and specific hardware residing on the system, its training equipment, or maintenance support equipment.

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.).

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."

The Implementing Agencies’ (IAs) response to a Foreign Military Sales Letter of Request for P&A. It is an initial, non-binding cost estimate intended for planning and feasibility assessment, giving the foreign government or international organization (partner) a general idea of the potential cost and availability of defense articles or services. Furnishing this data does not constitute a commitment for the USG to offer for sale the articles and services.

List of dollar amounts and when they are due from the foreign customer. The payment schedule is included in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) presented to the customer. After acceptance of the LOA, the payment schedule generally serves as the basis for billing to the customer. Changes in the estimated costs of an Foreign Military Sales case may require changes in the accompanying payment schedule.

Any end item that is Significant Military Equipment or Major Defense Equipment or where control over the programming of these items is required. See also "end item."

A group of programs authorized by federal statutes by which the United States provides defense articles, military training, and other defense-related services by grant, lease, loan, credit, or cash sales in furtherance of national policies and objectives, and those that are funded and authorized through the Department of State to be administered by Department of Defense/Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which are considered part of security cooperation.

One of the departments within the DoD created by the National Security Act of 1947, as amended. The Military Departments are: the Department of the Air Force, the Department of the Army, and the Department of the Navy.

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.

A financial system providing DoD-level financial management functions for the security assistance (SA) program. This includes centralized Foreign Military Sales (FMS) trust fund accounting, foreign customer billing, and financial management reporting. DIFS consolidates FMS data from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other implementing agencies, and provides efficient accountability for oversight of the financial and program management aspects of SA.

The sum of (1) budget authority provided for a given fiscal year, (2) balances of amounts brought forward from prior years that remain available for obligation, and (3) amounts authorized to be credited to a specific fund or account during that year, including transfers between funds or accounts.

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.

Military logistics support arrangements designed to provide responsive and continuous supply support at the depot level for U.S.-made military materiel possessed by foreign countries and international organizations. The CLSSA is normally the most effective means for providing common repair parts and secondary item support for equipment of U.S. origin that is in allied and friendly country inventories.