Oil-for-Food Transition Coordination Center
Frequently Asked Questions
1: Q) Who should I contact in the absence of OIP?
A) The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has established a Coordination Center in Baghdad which will address issues formerly handled by OIP. The CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
The Coalition Provisional Authority maintains a dedicated Oil for Food
Webpage: http://www.cpa-iraq.org/oil_for_food/index.html
2: Q) What contracts were considered under UNSCR 1483?
A) Resolution 1483 mandated that only OFF contracts which were approved and funded be assessed to determine relative utility. Contracts which were approved and not funded or not approved were not considered in this assessment.
3: Q) How were contracts prioritized?
A) As mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1483, approved and funded contracts were prioritized based on the tripartite process which consisted of consultations between the Iraqis, the CPA, and the relevant UN agency. The Iraqis views and needs were paramount.
4: Q) What should I do if my contract has not been prioritized?
A) Please note that only approved and funded contracts were eligible for prioritization pursuant to paragraph 16 of Security Council resolution 1483 (2003). If your contract is included in the table of approved but unfunded or unapproved contracts, it was not eligible for prioritization other than if an exceptional need for the goods had been established. Copies of all contracts in this category have, nevertheless, been forwarded to CPA and the Iraqi Ministries in case they should wish to reactivate these contracts in the future.
5: Q) My contract has been prioritized but the amendment was not finalized by the relevant UN agency or the OFF Program, what should I do?
A) All contracts in this category have been transferred to the CPA negotiations team. Suppliers will be contacted by the negotiations team after 21 November 2003. Please verify that your contract is included in the table of "Prioritized and Non-Amended Contracts." If it is not, or you require further information, please contact the CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
6: Q) My contract was prioritized but I have not been contacted by a UN agency, what should I do?
A) A large number of contracts were prioritized after the processing deadline for amendments had expired. All contracts in this category have been transferred to the CPA negotiations team. Suppliers will be contacted by the negotiations team after 21 November 2003. Please verify that the contract is included in the table of "Prioritized and Non-Amended Contracts." If it is not, or you require further information, please contact the CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
7: Q) I negotiated an amendment to my contract with a UN agency or the OFF Program which has not been approved, what should I do?
A) Some amendments could not be approved by OIP before the processing deadline for amendments expired. For further information please see the list of Unapproved Amended Contracts. All contracts in this category have been transferred to the CPA negotiations team. For further information, please contact the CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
8: Q) How can I establish whether my contract appears to have been removed from the list of prioritized contracts?
A) The table of contracts removed from the list of amendable contracts provides information as to why some contracts were removed from the lists. For further information, please contact the CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
9: Q) What is a funded contract?
A) A funded contract is a contract which has been approved and in connection with which OIP has issued an approval (O.C. letter).
10: Q) How do I ascertain whether the amendment I negotiated to my contract with a UN agency or the OFF Program has been approved?
A) Please consult the list of prioritized and amended contracts. If your contract is not included in this list, please contact the CPA Coordination Center. The CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
11: Q) I have an approved amendment but my issuing bank has not yet received instruction regarding the letter of credit. How can I verify the position regarding my letter of credit?
A) The United Nations Treasury will continue to process letters of credit after 21 November 2003. For further information regarding the processing of amendments, please contact the UN Treasury via your mission to the United Nations.
12: Q) I require an extension to my letter of credit, what should I do?
A) Please contact the UN Treasury via your mission to the United Nations and please alert the OFF Transition Coordination Center regarding the request.
13: Q) I have an approved and funded contract which has not been prioritized, what action should I take.
A) Please verify whether your contract is included in the list of contracts considered not to have relative utility. If the contract does not feature in this table or any of the tables pertaining to prioritized goods, please contact the CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888). If your contract features on the list of contracts considered not to have relative utility, action with regard to it will be postponed until an internationally recognized, representative, Government of Iraq is in a position to make its own determination as to whether such contracts shall be fulfilled. Please note that OIP has provided copies of all contracts in this category to CPA and the Iraqi Ministries in case they should wish to reactivate these contracts in the future.
14: Q) What happens to contracts determined to have no relative utility?
Those contracts determined to have no relative utility as per UNSCR 1483 will be left to the follow-on Iraqi government for consideration. If an Iraqi need is determined at this time, various avenues of satisfying that need will be evaluated. There is no grantee that these contracts will be utilized.
15: Q) How do I obtain an extended or corrected approval letter?
A) Please contact the CPA coordination center. The CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
16: Q) How do I inquire about authentication or payment.
A) All inquiries regarding authentication or payment should be addressed to the CPA Coordination Center: email (oilforfood@baghdadforum.com). Telephone (1-914-509-6888).
17: Q) As a supplier, can I ‘see’ my goods during shipment to Iraq?
A) Yes, suppliers of goods to Iraq may request user names and passwords enaabling them to log into the WebFreightPro tracking system.to view the status of their goods in transit. Suppliers can also contact the OFF Transition Coordination Center for updates on their shipments.
18: Q) Are ministry representatives available to discuss Comms in the OFF Transition Coordination Center?
A) Yes, ministry representatives from those ministries receiving large amounts of OFF goods – Trade, Oil, Electricity, Health, Agriculture, Water/Sanitation and Transportation – will be available in the OFF Transition Coordination Center to answer sector specific questions on Comms.
19: Q) How can suppliers/shippers contact the OFF Transition Coordination Center?
A) Suppliers/shippers can contact the OFF Transition Coordination Center by using either the telephone number 1-914-509-6888 or the e-mail address of oilforfood@baghdadforum.com.
21: Q) What action should we take when we receive damaged goods or shipments?
A) Ministries which receive damaged or shortages should first check the provisions indicated in the Letter of Credit. Based on analysis of the Letter of Credit conditions, the ministries may file a legal contractual claim.
22: Q) What action does the ministry take when a shipment arrives
without COTECNA authentication?
A) The ministry should not accept the shipment. Without proper COTECNA authentication, the CPA will not concur and therefore will not indicate to the UN Treasury that monies should be released from the UN escrow account to pay the supplier.
23: Q) How can suppliers advise the relevant Iraqi ministry that
they are ready to ship?
A) To expedite the flow of approved, funded, and prioritized OFF goods into Iraq, suppliers should alert the CPA OFF Coordination Center of the shipment of their goods. Suppliers can use any of the means available – telephone (1-914-509-6888), fax (1-914-509-6888), or e-mail oilforfood@baghdadforum.com -- to provide the exact shipping details required: ship date, transport mode, estimated time of arrival at Iraqi border, packaging details, and vessel name, if applicable.
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