Program Review Board (PRB) Minutes – May 12, 2004
Attendees: Office
* George Wolfe Chairman/Director Office of Management and Budget
* Hazim Al Said Iraq Ministry of Finance
* Dr. Faik Ali Abdul-Rasool Iraq Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation
* Fred Smith Deputy Senior Advisor for the Office of Security Affairs
* Teddy Bryan USAID
* Col Frank Boynton Office of Operations & Infrastructure
* Dean Pittman Governance
* COL William Ford Coalition Joint Task Force – 7, Comptroller
* Yusaf Samiullah Representative of the United Kingdom Government
* Neil Mules Representative of the Australian Government
* Chris Soares Economic and Development Policy
* Neil Hawkins Council for International Cooperation
COL Eric Engelbrektsson Program Coordinator
Brendan Wheeler Program Review Board - Regional Programs Manager
COL Rafael Lara CPA – General Counsel
Col Don Davis CPA Comptroller
BG Steve Seay CPA – HCA
Lt Col Jim Reitzel Coalition Joint Task Force – 7, Comptroller
Capt. Chris McMahon CPA General Counsel
John Moore CPA Ministry of Finance
Sarah Horrigan CPA Ministry of Finance
LTC Alan Farrier CPA Ministry of Finance
Craig Lund CPA Ministry of Finance
Arda Herbert CPA Ministry of Finance
Taif Sami Iraqi Ministry of Finance
Jerry Martin PMO Oil
Alan Khatib PMO Oil
Norm Szydlowski CPA Ministry of Oil
Joel Berwick CPA Ministry of Oil
T.A. Ghadhbaer Iraq Ministry of Oil
Nabeil N. Lammoza Iraq Ministry of Oil
Stephen Myrow CPA Ministry of Transportation
Peter Babb CPA Ministry of Trade
Marty Lyman Iraqi Forum
George Murray Iraqi Forum
Gene Morrison USACE-RIE
Chris Prinslow USACE-RIE
Jim Hicks CPA Ministry of Electricity
Carla Clemons CPA Ministry of Electricity
Aiham Alsammarae Iraqi Ministry of Electricity
Bernard Carreau CPA Private Sector Development
Brad Swanson CPA Private Sector Development
Brian Ericksen CPA Private Sector Development
Capt. Marcus Yonehiro Private Sector Development
Michael Ratney CPA Governance
MAJ Martha Boyd CPA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
Craig Davis CPA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
Kuni Miyake CPA Council for International Cooperation
Peter King CPA Ministry of Agriculture
COL Neil Jagger CMATT
MAJ Michael Nahas OSC
MAJ Michael Barkett OSC
1LT Josh Kuper OSC
LTJG Popovich CJTF-7 C-7
LT Robert McCellan CJTF-7 C-7
LT Greg Garnett CJTF-7 C-7
Anthony Forte CJTF-7 Engineers
Lt Col Kevin King CPA Chief Operating Office
*Voting Members
PROCEEDINGS FROM 12 MAY 04 PRB
The PRB approved the minutes from the 28 April 04 meeting.
#686—Balanced Program for Rebuilding Iraq--$2,000,000,000. Various Ministries/Sarah Horrigan. This proposal describes a balanced spending plan for the $2.0 billion recently received from the UN Oil for Food program. The plan is based upon a careful analysis of the security situation, and the most critical unfunded needs of Iraq in 2004 and beyond. It provides funds for reserves to address future potential liabilities, funds for the food basket to provide sufficient food for the Iraqi people this year, and projects that have maximum impact on providing:
The projects included in the package were the subject of budget hearings by the Ministry of Finance. The Representative from the UK proposed a motion to defer and disaggregate the request to allow for greater time and scrutiny; the representative from Australia seconded the motion. The discussion on the motion included questions regarding the amount of consultation with relevant Iraqi ministries and the amount of detail included in the submissions. A vote was taken and the motion carried 6 to 5. The Chairman called for a follow up meeting on Saturday, May 15 04 to consider the programs on an individual basis, and directed that additional information be provided to Board members concerning the programs to be voted upon.
WITHDRAWN: to be reconsidered, by section, at 15 May 04 PRB
#688—Standardized Identification System for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs)--$1,600,000. Min of Industry and Minerals(MIM)/COL Lettie Bien. In one year of war and instabilities, most personnel records were lost or destroyed at the various ministries. There is neither a verified or accurate accounting of authentic employees nor any usual employee information on hand. This inaccuracy leads potentially to the creation of “ghost” employees (someone that does not exist, is deceased or once was an employee and no longer is one) and discrepancies in salaries. This proposal establishes a personnel identification system that can be used at the SOEs and ministries.
The Representative from CPA/Governance asked about the expected timeline for implementation of the project. CPA/MIM responded that they were prepared to accept bids and the vendors were ready. The Representative from the CPA/Office of Security Affairs asked if this project focused on only SOEs. CPA/MIM said the project is originally intended for SOEs and their respective ministry headquarters, but the project could potentially be expanded to include other ministries. The Representative from the UK asked how many employees the project targeted, including ministry headquarters. CPA/MIM responded there were approximately 350,000 to 500,000 employees in the SOEs, and probably another 10,000 in respective ministry headquarters. The Representative from the UK asked if the employees themselves had been consulted on this matter, and CPA/MIM stated they have talked to numerous individuals at factories and they seemed receptive to the proposed plan. The Representative from the UK asked who will supervise the implementation of the project, and CPA/MIM explained that the Iraqi MIM Inspector General and relevant Directors General were engaged. A motion to approve the proposal was made and seconded. The motion passed.
APPROVED: DFI--$1,600,000
TABLED PROPOSALS FOR RECONSIDERATION
#683—Umm Qasr Port Renovation--$15,280,000. Ministry of Trade (MoT)/Peter Babb. MoT proposes to repair and upgrade grain offloading facilities at Iraq's port of Umm Qasr. The renovation of the facilities is necessary to ensure the sustainable flow of the basic staple food needs of the Iraqi people. To meet food ration needs and maintain adequate buffer stocks, Iraq requires 250,000mt (metric tons) of imported wheat be discharged every month at the port of Umm Qasr. The current operational performance of the Umm Qasr grain facility is far below its potential capacity, allowing the importation of only 80,000 to 120,000mt per month. The dearth of domestic receiving capacity has forced Iraq to rely upon temporary, alternative facilities neighboring foreign ports. Use of these temporary facilities is both expensive and inefficient. Iraq needs to establish domestic capacity to meet its grain importation requirements. Investment in Umm Qasr is necessary to assure adequate food supply for the Iraqi people.
The Ministry of Trade returned to the PRB after having PRB #683 tabled on April 28, 2004 for consultations with the Iraqi Ministries of Finance and Planning. The Representative from Australia asked if the consultation had occurred and CPA/MoT replied it had. The Iraqi Minster of Finance concurred this was a vital project and fully supported its funding. The Iraqi MoT was asked if they had been consulted on the issue, and they stated they had and this project fits within their comprehensive plan for the ports. The Representative from the UK asked if recurring expenditures would need funding in future years, and the CPA/MoT stated that recurring expenses would be more than offset by tariffs and the avoidance of demurrage fees. The Representative from Australia brought the motion for approval, The Representative from CPA/Governance seconded, and the motion passed.
APPROVED: DFI--$15,280,000