text: Chapter 2
  2-203. When participating with the UN, two types of documents are critical to FM. The first is standing
  agreements that are in place related to contributing country participation in a UN operation. The second is
  LOAs.
  STANDING AGREEMENTS
  2-204. The standing agreements are general in nature and provide guidelines on what the UN is willing to
  pay for without any additional, specifically negotiated, agreements. An understanding of these documents
  early in an operation is essential to ensure proper reimbursement for U.S. participation in a UN operation.
  The following are some examples of the types of support arrangements listed in the standing UN
  procedures:
  * Pre-deployment actions. Preparation of personnel and equipment for deployment is the
  responsibility of the contributing country and includes all preparation costs involved to get the
  personnel or equipment to the point of embarkation. Billing the UN for reimbursement of these
  expenses is based on advance negotiations with the UN.
  * Deployment and redeployment—
  • Actions. Transportation to and from the operational area is normally by air or sealift.
  The UN can fund all deployments and redeployments. The contributing government
  may organize these activities, but the UN must agree to the arrangements in advance.
  All transportation to be provided by the contributing country must be coordinated
  and approved by the UN. If reimbursement is requested, it will be made only up to
  the amount it would have cost the UN to accomplish the move.
  • Self-sufficiency period. Each contingent force must be self-sufficient in theater until
  UN operations and control are sufficiently established to provide sustainment. The
  UN will reimburse normal and agreed to costs incurred during the self-sustainment
  period. All deployed military units should be self-sufficient in rations, water,
  petroleum, oils, and lubricants for a minimum of 30 days, and other classes of
  supplies for a minimum of the first 60 days after deployment.
  LETTER OF ASSISTANCE (LOA)
  2-205. Another method the UN uses to request support is LOAs. A UN LOA is a document, issued by the
  UN to a contributing government, authorizing that government to provide goods or services to the UN. An
  LOA details specifically what is to be provided by the contributing government and establishes a funding
  limit that cannot be exceeded. General support LOAs can be negotiated with the UN, if such LOAs are
  advantageous to both parties, to cover more generic categories such as subsistence, petroleum, oils, and
  lubricants, sustainment, and repair parts. LOAs are considered by the UN to be contracting documents and
  must be signed and issued by an authorized UN official.
  2-206. The UN issues the approved LOA to the United States Mission to the United Nations, where it is
  acted on by the military advisor. The Office of the Military Advisor determines the appropriate U.S. agency
  to receive the request. All requests from the DOD are forwarded to the Under Secretary of Defense for
  Policy (USD(P)) for approval and action. The USD(P) will determine the appropriate organization and
  provide a copy of the LOA to the organization and DFAS. DFAS is responsible for maintaining a status of
  all active LOAs.
  2-207. The LOA is not considered a funded order, and the UN does not ordinarily provide an advance of
  funds for the value of the request. Therefore, an LOA does not provide to a service department any
  additional obligation authority to accomplish the order. The service department must accomplish the
  requirement using existing OMA funds or other appropriated funds, and prepare an SF 1080 (Voucher for
  Transfers Between Appropriations and/or Funds) bill for the cost of the goods or services provided,
  referencing the appropriate LOA.