What is an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA)?

Cooperative logistics refers to cooperation between the U.S. and allied or friendly nations or international organizations in the logistical support of defense systems and equipment. Cooperative logistics is part of the acquisition life-cycle process. However, because logistics is also a substantial part of military operations, much of the implementation for cooperative logistics involves the U.S. combatant commands (CCMDs).

10 U.S.C. 2341 authorizes the DoW to acquire logistic support, supplies, and services directly from NATO countries’ governments, subsidiary NATO bodies, the United Nations (UN) organization, or other regional international organizations and other eligible countries for U.S. forces deployed in the supporting country’s military region. It allows payment by either cash or replacement-in-kind of identical or substantially identical items. A non-NATO country must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Has a defense alliance with the U.S.
• Permits stationing of members of the U.S. armed forces or the home porting of U.S. naval vessels in its territory
• Agreed to preposition U.S. materiel
• Serves as host country for U.S. armed forces during exercise
• Permits other U.S. military operations in its territory

10 U.S.C. 2342 authorizes the DoW to both acquire and provide logistics support, supplies, and services to a NATO nation, a NATO subsidiary body, a UN organization or any other regional international organization on a reciprocal basis. This authority cannot be used to procure any goods or services reasonably available from domestic commercial sources. The Secretary of War may designate non-NATO nations as eligible to participate in cross-servicing agreements after the following:

• Determining such action is in the interest of U.S. national security
• Consultation with the Department of State
• Notification of Congress, followed by a statutory waiting period

Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreements (ACSAs) are used to transfer logistics support during wartime, combined exercises, training, deployments, contingency operations, humanitarian or foreign disaster relief operations, and certain peace operations under the UN Charter, or for unforeseen circumstances. ACSA authority is almost always exercised by the CCMD. Each CCMD has an ACSA manager that should be consulted regarding the creation, use, or applicability of an ACSA with a specific country or international organization.

The U.S. has ACSAs with many countries, including most NATO nations.

ACSAs may not be used to increase inventories, nor can the DoW use them when the desired materiel or service is reasonably available from U.S. commercial sources. ACSAs are not used as a routine source of supply for a foreign country. Routine foreign requests for desired U.S. defense articles and services should be addressed through FMS procedures in accordance with the SAMM.