Foreign Military Sales (FMS)

Constitutes that portion of U.S. security assistance authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, and conducted on the basis of formal contracts or agreements between the United States Government and an authorized recipient, such as the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Poland.  FMS includes government –to-government sales of defense articles or defense services, from Department of Defense (DoD) stocks or through new procurements under DoD-managed contracts.  FMS may be funded through Polish national funds or through Foreign Military Financing (FMF). 

FMS sales are conducted through FMS “cases”.  Each case is formalized in a USG Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) which is presented to the Government of Poland’s authorized representatives in the Ministry of Defense.  The LOA lists items and/or services, estimated costs, and the terms and conditions of sale.

FMS cases are coordinated through the Office of Defense Cooperation, but are “implemented” by the appropriate U.S. military Departments or Defense Agencies responsible for the execution of military assistance programs, as assigned by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.  Implementing Agencies are responsible for the overall management of the actions which will result in delivery of the materials or services set forth in the LOA.

The FMS process is briefly detailed below.  Time-lines are dependent of actual circumstances.