"Demonstrated resourcefulness and creativity in responding to changing

situations in post-conflict environments, with particular emphasis on

managing locally hired personnel and managing subcontractors in changing
situations"

The OTI/DAI Ministry in a Box Program

In the days immediately following the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, most ministry
and other government facilities in Baghdad and across Iraq were looted and severely
damaged. An immediate priority of the Coalition was the resumption of essential
government services. To assist with the achievement of this goal, the OTI/DAI team
developed the Ministry in a Box program. The essence of this program is the quick
installation of a basic package of furniture and equipment that permits 100 core staff to
resume their duties. An integral aspect of the program is the creation of jobs, another
Coalition priority, via the local manufacture of office furnishings.

The following initial actions were completed within several days of agreement to move
forward with the program:

-visits to several ministries to assess the typical state of government facilities and the
possibility of recuperating materials and equipment;
-discussion with Coalition advisers and others to determine the content of a basic package
of equipment and furnishings;
-development of an RFQ;
-identification of local companies with the capacity to provide the equipment and
furnishings included in the basic package; emphasis was placed on companies which
indicated the ability to pursue local manufacture of office furnishings.

The urgent situation dictated a compressed procurement schedule:

-the RFQ was distributed on 19 May;

-offers were required by 22 May;
-the contract was awarded 25 May.

The firm selected provided the first two sets of equipment and furnishings through
previously established contacts in northern Iraq while simultaneously establishing local
production capacity. As ministries and other government entities became aware of the
program, the sub-contractor expanded capacity to meet the expanding demand.
The first order was confirmed on 6 June and delivered and installed on 11 June. With the
expansion of production capacity and the stockpiling of materials, the sub-contractor has
been able to reduce delivery time to 48 hours from receipt of notice of an MIB
requirement.

As of today, January 14, 2004, over $8mil in furniture and equipment has been provided
to more than 60 ministries and other government entities across Iraq. These items have
permitted more than 6,575 public sector employees to return to work