RASSA and PASA Slides. A Case Study Interagency Cooperation with each other and with for Profit and...

RASSA and PASA Slides

A Case Study

Interagency Cooperation with each other and with for Profit and Non-Profit Sectors

The Spirit and Intent of RSSAs and PASAs

Within a USDA/USAID Partnership

Transfers can exist throughout the Federal Government

And between Agencies and Cooperants

Historical Perspective

USDA and President Truman’s “Point Four” Program administered the agricultural training and

technical assistance programs

1950, Technical Cooperation Administration (TCA) created Predecessor to USAID


1955, International Cooperation Administration (ICA)

All foreign economic development efforts were consolidated

USDA expertise and institutional resources were still critically needed

As a result, ICA and USDA drew up a major agreement to facilitate cooperation in technical assistance, training, and information dissemination


Passage of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the creation of USAID

A new General Agreement in 1966 laid the framework for cooperative relationships


USAID recognized "…the unique personnel resources, capabilities and experience of the Department” sought to use this expertise through

cooperation

USDA recognized "...its responsibility, within its authority, to contribute toward U.S. foreign policy by participation in foreign assistance programs"


General Agreement between USDA and USAID

Based on the premise of a partnership between USDA and USAID

emphasis on joint planning, coordination and consultation

Historical Perspective-2

General Agreement between USDA and USAID

Agreement affirmed new partnership mechanisms to access USDA expertise:

Participating Agency Service Agreements (PASAs)

Resources Support Services Agreements (RSSAs)

The Government to Government Agreement

The agreement is not like a contract (more like grant)

establishes operational guidelines and a spirit of cooperation to link the institutional resources of two government agencies in accomplishing U.S. foreign assistance goals

“Cooperative Agreement”

Higher Education and Development for Archaeology and Environmental Health Research SUNY at Stony

Brook

Cooperative Agreement

Performance Management Cooperative Agreement 1979-1991

United States Agency for International Development

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (Louis A. Picard Director, 1984-1986)

DPMC- Development Planning Management Center- University of Maryland)

IDMI- International Development Management Institute U.S. Department of Agriculture

Coffee Break

Ten Minutes

USAID RSSA/PASA Partners

United States Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Labor

Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Other Foreign Aid Agencies

Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC)

Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Department of Defense

Department of State

Authorizations for PASAs and RSSAs

Sections 621(a) and 632(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act, 1961

Enables USAID officers to secure "technical assistance...in the field of education, health, housing, or agriculture..." by utilizing "…to the fullest extent practicable, the facilities and resources of the Federal agency or agencies with primary responsibilities for domestic programs in such fields...“

Key: Professional Expertise


Amendment to Section 621of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1962

Participating Agency resources must be particularly or uniquely suitable for technical assistance;

Are not competitive with private enterprise; and

Can be made available without interfering with domestic programs


Economy Act (No Competition Clause)

Requires both the Secretary of Agriculture to certify that assisting USAID is in the best interest of the Government and USAID's Administrator to ascertain that "…the ordered goods or services cannot be provided as conveniently or as cheaply by a commercial enterprise."

Re-Authorizations for PASAs and RSSAs Over the Years

Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Circular A-76

USAID can enter into PASAs or RSSAs with USDA only if the following conditions are met:

RSSAs and PASAs

USDA resources and expertise are used for technical assistance;

USDA can provide technical assistance better than USAID, the private sector or another Federal agency

USDA has a formal program for managing excess personnel capacity that allows staff to provide assistance under RSSAs and PASAs; and

USDA services are not competitive with private enterprise.

Possible Foreign Aid RSSA Cooperants


Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Circular A-76

Before a RSSA or PASA can be approved and issued, a detailed justification must be provided on USDA's unique suitability, and all other A-76 requirements must be met

“Spirit and Intent” & Responsibilities in Implementing PASAs and RSSAs

USAID’s Handbook 12

“Spirit and Intent” Cover the Competition issue

Defines PASAs as agreements with other Federal

agencies for specific services or support tied to a specific project goal and performed within a definite time frame


PASAs: Overseas Assignments (PSCs- Personal Services Contracts)

Normally issued by Missions for support outside the U.S., but can be used to carry out a specific goal or goals of an AID/W project

Effectively the two terms have become interchangeable


RSSAs

Agreements funded in AID/W for continuing general support assistance, usually provided in an AID/W office, and have no specific, readily measurable goals to be accomplished within a set time period

In the 1990's, most USDA/USAID agreements have been RSSAs


Intent and Spirit of PASAs and RSSAs

Strengthen the partnership between USAID and USDA by fully utilizing Departmental competence, resources and experience and exchanging critical information and knowledge to benefit both agencies


Staff Responsibilities RSSA and PASA staff should have a clear

understanding of USDA's unique capabilities as the world's largest source of technical expertise n agriculture, natural resources management, and related areas

RSSA staff should cooperate and interact with USDA agency employees having mutual interests whenever possible


Staff Responsibilities

Sharing RSSA knowledge with Departmental officials can positively impact U.S. agriculture and USDA goals

can ultimately advance development efforts

RSSA Human Resources

USDA hiring for RSSA positions: Recruits from Departmental agencies and land-

grant university network first, drawing on its unique pool of expert resources nationwide

When USDA makes decision, USAID is asked to concur

RSSA Human Resources

USDA hiring for RSSA positions:

Once appointed, RSSA employees receive technical advice and guidance from their USAID Project Officer, but their official supervisor is at USDA

In Practice they work for Receiving Agency

Human Resources

RSSA performance appraisals are determined by the USDA supervisor With input from USAID Project Officer

RSSA employees' annual work plans should also be developed consistent with USDA policies and objectives

In Summary

Through collaboration and cooperation, benefits will continue for U.S. foreign assistance as information and knowledge flows from USDA to USAID

Equally important - benefits will flow from USAID to the Department

Critics: “Sweetheart Arrangements”

In Summary

RSSA employees play a crucial role in facilitating this exchange and are key to sustaining the long-standing partnership between the two agencies

Intra-government transfer of skills and money is a neglected component of foreign aid.

RASSA and PASA Slides. A Case Study Interagency Cooperation with each other and with for Profit and...

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