US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1537

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001537 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
DCHA/FFP FOR MATTHEW NIMS, STEVE GILBERT, 
P.E.BALAKRISHNAN, JUDY GROOMS, AND JEANETTE LEE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, BG 
SUBJECT: SAVE THE CHILDREN/BANGLADESH FY 2005 CALL 
FORWARD OF 1010 MT OF BAGGED, HARD RED WINTER WHEAT; 
170 MT OF BAGGED, YELLOW SPLIT PEAS; AND 170 MT OF 4- 
LITER CAN VEGETABLE OIL FOR THE FY 2005-2009 TITLE II 
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY PROGRAM. 
 
REF. (A) Save the Children Federation (SCF) Bangladesh 
 
Field Office letter dated March 22, 2005 
-    (B) SCF AER dated October 19 October, 2004 
-    (C) Bellmon Determination for FY 2005 
-    (D) 98 STATE 86836 
-    (E) 01 STATE 204383 
 
1.  The purpose of this cable is to provide Mission 
concurrence with SCF call forward of 1,010 MT of 
bagged, Hard Red Winter (HRW) wheat; 170 MT of bagged, 
yellow split peas;  and 170 MT of 4-liter can vegetable 
oil for arrival in September/October, 2005. 
 
2.  This SCF call forward level is 20% of FY 2005 
approved level of direct distribution commodities. 
AER (ref.B). 
 
3.  Mission concurs with SCF requested amount of this 
call forward, 1,010 MT of bagged, HRW wheat; 170 MT of 
bagged, yellow split peas; and 170 MT of 4-liter can, 
vegetable oil. These commodities will be used for 
direct distribution in support of the Maternal, Child 
Health and Nutrition (MCHN) component of Jibon-O-Jibika 
program.  SCF has provided the Mission with copies of 
letters from the concerned GOB Ministry concurring with 
the timing of the call forward.  Mission concurrence is 
provided based on this information and SCF's request. 
Specifications for the commodities are provided below: 
 
Wheat: 
 
  Grade: No. 2 or better, HRW 
  Minimum Protein Level: 9.5 percent 
  Maximum Moisture Content: 13.5 percent 
  Packing: 50 kg bags 
  Quantity: 1,010 MT 
 
Yellow Split Peas: 
 
  Grade/Quality: per USDA standard 
  Packing: 50 kg bags 
  Quantity: 170 MT 
 
Vegetable Oil: 
 
  Grade/Quality: Fortified Refined Vegetable Oil 
  Packing: 4-liter containers 6 containers, per carton 
  Quantity: 170 MT 
 
4.  SCF has requested "Best Used By Dates" or Date of 
Manufacture for all commodities as a requirement of 
National Board of Revenue, Government of Bangladesh. 
 
5.  SCF has requested delivery of all the commodities 
at the Chittagong port. 
 
6.  SCF and CARE/B have jointly carried out the Bellmon 
analysis (ref. C). The Bellmon analysis is based on the 
instructions provided in ref. D on the Bellmon 
certification requirements for P.L. 480 Title II 
activities.  The proposed call forward level, 1,010 MT 
of bagged, HRW wheat; 170 MT of bagged yellow split 
peas; and 170 MT of 4-liter can vegetable will not 
result in a substantial disincentive to or interference 
with domestic production or marketing of the 
commodities in Bangladesh. 
 
As to the storage and internal transportation of the 
Title II direct distribution commodities, SCF has 
submitted a commodity management plan for distribution 
of the Title II commodities for the MCHN program. The 
proposed SCF commodity management plan is acceptable to 
the Mission. Adequate storage is available for the 
receipt of the commodities during the propose delivery 
period. 
 
The Bellmon analysis (ref. C) demonstrates that there 
is a large population in Bangladesh with inadequate 
access to food for consumption because of low incomes. 
The call forward Title II commodities will not compete 
with usual levels of commercial imports. 
 
The Mission Director has determined that the shipment 
of 1,010 MT of bagged, HRW wheat; 170 MT of bagged, 
yellow split peas; and 170 MT of 4-liter can, vegetable 
oil for September/October 2005 in-country arrival is in 
compliance with the Bellmon requirements for P.L. 480 
Title II activities. 
 
7.  Mission requests DCHA/FFP approval of the full call 
forward level, to arrive in country in September/ 
October 2005. Thomas