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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Below are
a series of questions we receive regularly about the
APPF. We will update this page as frequently as possible
with new questions and answers.
Q: Why is the Afghan Public Protection
Force taking over responsibility for security services
from Private Security Companies?
A: In August 2010, President Karzai
issued Presidential Decree 62 ordering the disbandment
of private security companies in Afghanistan. As a
result, all security services being performed by PSCs,
with the exception of diplomatic security missions, will
be transferred to the APPF. By March 20, 2010, all
development site and convoy security will transition to
the APPF. By March 20, 2013, all ISAF bases and military
construction sites will transition to the APPF. The
transition of these security services to the APPF is
part of the overall positive shift to Afghan-led
security by 2014.
Q: Will all PSCs go away on March 20,
2012?
A: No. Some PSCs will still have a role
in Afghanistan even after March 20, 2012. The first
phase of transition is occurring now whereby security
responsibility for all development sites and convoys
will be assumed by the APPF by 20 Mar 2012. ISAF bases
and military construction sites will have until March
20, 2013 to transition their security to the APPF.
Embassies and entities with diplomatic status are exempt
from Presidential Decree 62, and may continue to
contract with PSCs for guard services.
Q: Explain the role of a Risk Management
Company.
A: RMCs will not provide security
services in the same manner as PSCs, but they will
provide security advice and expertise to companies doing
business in Afghanistan. These personnel are experts in
security, risk assessment and management of security
operations. In addition to advising their clients, they
will provide on-site training, advising and mentoring to
the APPF in order to raise the level of professionalism
and capability of the APPF.
Q: Can a PSC become an RMC? If so, are we
really getting rid of PSC’s?
A: A PSC can disband, establish a new
legal corporate entity and relicense itself as an RMC.
However, as an RMC, it will no longer maintain a force
of guards and weapons, other than for self-protection.
That responsibility will now lie with the APPF. Primary
roles of the RMCs will be to advise their clients on
security matters and to train, mentor and advise APPF
personnel on-site.
Q: If a PSC has diplomatic contracts that
allow it to continue doing business, can it also act as
an RMC for other clients?
A: No. A company cannot be both a PSC and
an RMC. It will have to choose one business model or the
other. However, a PSC can establish a subsidiary -- a
new legal corporate entity -- separate from the PSC, to
perform RMC work. Those PSC employees who were
performing development-related security work would have
the choice to transfer to the APPF or they could be
hired by the newly-created RMC.
Q: How many guards does the APPF
currently have?
A: The APPF currently has a force of
approximately 6,000 guards. Its target goal is
approximately 25,000 guards by March 2013. To help reach
that goal, the APPF will employ guards that voluntarily
transfer from their current positions in private
security companies.
Q: What capacity does the APPF have to
generate new guards?
A: To support the growth of APPF guards,
the APPF Training Center (ATC) was established in Kabul
Province. The ATC’s current maximum training capacity
is 220 Average Daily Student Load (ADSL), but the
capacity is expected to grow to 500 ADSL by March 2012.
In an effort to increase the training capacity, the
first APPF “Train the Trainer” course was completed in
July 2011, graduating 44 Afghan National Police
trainers. In addition to these Afghan trainers, a group
of NTM-A military mentors and DynCorp trainers works
with the instructor/support cadre at the Training Center
to mentor, advise, and coach. Additionally, NTM-A will
work with the APPF to establish mobile training teams
and expand APPF training capability.
Q: What skills do basic guards gain by
going through the three week training course at the ATC?
A: The APPF has been training security
guards and securing sites in Afghanistan for several
years, however the impact of PD62 has expedited the
requirement to grow the APPF training and operational
capability to meet the country’s existing and emerging
security needs. The current basic guard course is 3
weeks in length with 74 objectives. The following are
major areas of study within the Program of Instruction:
Self defense, arrest procedures, body searches, handling
the baton and handcuffing, handling the radio, firearms
instruction (AK-47), first aid, static guard basics,
basic police tactics, Islamic relations, basic knowledge
on access-egress points, operating vehicles check
points, conducting vehicle search searches at a
checkpoint, firefighting basics, IED and mine awareness,
dealing with discovered explosives before the proper
authorities take over and after an explosion before the
proper authorities take over. The ATC is also beginning
to teach a convoy course.
Q: The APPF will be a monopoly with
considerable leverage over development partners who
won’t have any alternative in who they contract with for
security. How do we know that they won’t try overcharge
customers for security services?
A: We recognize that the transition to
APPF responsibility may not represent the ideal solution
for development partners and private security
companies. However, given the mandates of Presidential
Decree 62, we are confident that it represents the best
plan available to us. The Afghan Government has every
incentive not to price the costs of necessary security
so high that they drive development projects – and
private industry – out of Afghanistan. In addition, the
team of experts with the APPF Advisory Group is working
hard alongside the APPF to develop pricing structures
that meet the needs both the APPF and our implementing
partners.
Q: How will weapons be transferred from
PSCs to the APPF?
A: Weapons on the Bridging Tashkil will
transfer to the APPF. PSCs will provide their weapons
inventory listing to the APPF to facilitate the
transition process. For weapons not on the Bridging
Tashkil, PSCs will have two options. First, they can
decide to export the weapons out of Afghanistan. Second,
they can choose to transfer those weapons to the APPF
for no charge. In this case, the APPF would not charge
the customer for the use of those weapons, and it would
be up to the PSC to seek considerations from the
customer for the use of those weapons.
Q: Are you concerned about corruption or
abuse within the APPF?
A: As we help build the capacity of
numerous Afghan government entities, we are focused on
anti-corruption efforts to ensure that these entities
have credibility and transparency in their operations.
We are working side by side with the Afghan Government
to create mechanisms within the APPF that that will
ensure transparent services for APPF customers. These
include a robust quality control and quality assurance
program and independent oversight.
Q: How much more will companies have to
pay for security services with the APPF than they are
currently paying PSCs?
A: While it is impossible to provide
exact figures at this time before contracts have been
established, we expect there will be some increase in
cost for companies, particularly if they choose to use
the services of a Risk Management Consultancy in
addition to contracting with the APPF for guards.
However, the Afghan Government understands that if it
charges its customers too high a price for security that
they may drive development projects and private industry
out of Afghanistan. A team of experts with the APPF
Advisory Group is working hard to advise the APPF in
developing pricing structures that meet the needs both
the APPF and our implementing partners. These costs
will be clear and understood by all parties through the
process of contracting with the APPF.
Q: Will current guards have to go through
the APPF training center?
A: No. Current PSC guards that have been
trained and certified by their employers will not have
to attend training at the ATC.
Q: What will be the prevailing law for
adjudicating contracts and what will be the remedies for
non-performance?
A: GIRoA law will govern the contracts.
In the event of a dispute, an implementing partner can
work through established APPF customer service channels
and dispute resolution processes to seek a remedy. If
arbitration is necessary, the International Chamber of
Commerce will be the preferred vehicle, either here in
Afghanistan or by VTC.
Q: What grievance processes and
procedures will be in place if IPs or RMCs have a
dispute with the APPF?
A: In conjunction with our Afghan
partners, we are developing detailed work plans, quality
assurance processes, oversight, inspections, and
well-defined contracting procedures to preclude these
situations. We want to make these processes and
procedures as simple but robust as possible. In the
event of a dispute or a grievance, a customer will be
able to work with a customer relations expert at the
APPF headquarters and follow well-defined processes to
resolve that grievance. If that does not resolve the
dispute in a satisfactory manner, the parties will be
able to pursue arbitration through the International
Chamber of Commerce, either here in Afghanistan or by
VTC.
Q: Who is eligible to apply to be a
RMC? Can a new group apply to be a RMC?
A: The RMC terms of reference outline
the qualifications to become licensed as an RMC. Any
company that meets those criteria can apply to be a RMC.
Q: Are Implementing Partners and other
commercial businesses required to use an RMC when
contracting for services with the APPF?
A: No. An RMC is not required. That
decision is up to the company. A company can go directly
to APPF without an RMC if the company has security
expertise of its own on staff or if it is comfortable
contracting with the APPF and does not need the security
expertise provided by the RMC.
Q: Will we be able to use APPF to get
short-notice escorting to a specific location on a quick
timeline?
A: You’ll need to lay out your
requirements in a contract with the APPF.
Q: How do we know that we will receive
the same level of service and support provided by
current PSCs? When there is no competition in the
market, the incentive for the monopoly company to
provide superior service decreases.
A: The APPF leadership understands that
if they do not provide security services at an
internationally acceptable level at a reasonable price,
then $20 billion worth of development and construction
are at risk. In addition, as the APPF develops its
capability and becomes more professional over time, Risk
Management Companies will play an important role
advising, mentoring and coaching the APPF, developing
their skills and increasing their professionalism.
Q: Will the RMCs be allowed to serve as a
so-called “inner cordon” on site?
A: Yes. A small group of lightly armed
RMC personnel will be allowed to serve as an inner
cordon on site. Understand though that RMC personnel
will not be there to provide primary security. That is
the job of the APPF.
Q: In the case of RMC personnel, what is
the definition of lightly-armed?
A: RMC personnel will be allowed to carry
a long weapon (e.g. AK-47) or a side arm.
Q: How much will it cost to license an
RMC?
A: For national companies, the license
cost will be 3 million afs ($62,000) and for
international companies, the price will be 6 million afs
($124,000). Annual renewal of the license will cost
about 15,000 afs ($300). A company must also post a bond
of approximately 14.4 million afs ($300,000). Dollar
amounts will fluctuate based on exchange rates.
Q: Will RMC consultants be authorized to
be armed outside of their compounds and will they be
able to sit in the front seat providing oversight when
transporting clients?
A: Yes, RMC personnel will be authorized
to be lightly armed for self protection and will be able
to position themselves in order to best provide
oversight, training and mentoring of the APPF guards.
Q: Will RMC’s be able to contract with
the APPF directly for fixed site/mobile security in
order for the RMC’s to protect their own compounds and
move their personnel around the country?
A: Yes, RMCs that require guards for
their compounds will be like any other commercial entity
and be able to contract with the APPF for security
services.
Q:
Can companies receive RMC
licenses before they hand over equipment etc?
A: Yes, we encourage companies to visit
the PSC office and begin their RMC process.
Q: What is happening with the biometric
capture?
A: 5,100
current APPF guards are biometrically enrolled in the
MoI Biometrics system. We have stressed the need to
biometrically enroll all PSC guards who will transition
to the APPF by March into the MoI system. The MoI
currently has multiple Mobile Teams of 10-40 personnel
on each team; depending on the size of the team, they
can fully process approximately 500 personnel in 3 days.
Once the APPF knows which guards that will be
transferring and where they work, the mobile teams can
schedule their visits to biometrically enroll all them.
This requires PSCs to bring in their lists of guards as
soon as possible.
Approximately 80% of the PSC guards are
biometrically enrolled in the Department of Defense
system. Of the transferring guards, on their Personnel
Enrollment Forms there is a section asking for their DoD
biometric Global Unique Identifier (GUID) number (unique
number from the DoD system). If a GUID is unavailable we
can try to match them using taskera numbers. This
number will be referenced with the DoD system to ensure
the names match. Of those that are not
enrolled/verified, we have mobile teams that can
biometrically enroll the remaining guard force.
Q: Can TCN employees of Private Security
Companies transfer to the APPF?
A: No. APPF guards must be Afghan
nationals.
Q: What constitutes “Military
Construction” to be allowed the extra year until Mar
2013 to transition to APPF?
A: Military construction is being
interpreted as contracts that are executed by a DoD
agency such as US Army Corps of Engineers or Air Force
Center for Engineering and the Environment. Development
projects are those executed by USAID or other commercial
entities and will be required to transition in Mar 2012.
Q:
What benefits will guards have who transition fro
private security companies to the APPF?
A:
Guards who transition will receive salary plus hazardous
duty pay equal to their current salary. In addition,
they will receive the following benefits:
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Pension eligibility
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Free medical care
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20 days paid recreational leave per year
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20 days paid sick leave per year
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10 days paid urgent leave per year
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Food stipend (or food will be provided by
APPF client)
·
Martyrdom and burial payments for their
family (equal to your current benefits)
·
Current rank, status and level of
expertise will be taken into account when transitioning
to the APPF
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