ICASS AFSA Survey Results - American Foreign Service Association

Selected Comments From SurveyUSAID Management is not supporting the field when it has ICASS issues. It does not support efforts to withdraw form ICASSwhen services are inadequate.In the push to consolidate as much as possible, the logic of consolidating some services was overlooked. The message was, if itis on the list, we must try our darnedest to consolidate. Some services made sense and those are working well. Others did not(and still do not) make sense. These are the ones that constantly give us problems and cause us (and State) hours of time (acost that is not captured). Overall, I do not believe this has saved the USG money. It has given ICASS another "locked in"client (in addition to State) while all other agencies at post can opt in or out of services.Since consolidation, we have had to continue to employ three people to followup with ICASS service requests from USAIDcustomers.If at the long run a merge is what is being pursued and the consolidation is only a step forward, there's nothing to say but ifthe process is being studied, it is cheaper and more efficient if each agency manages their own needs.The poor services and sometime hostile attitude of ICASS staff (mostly the American staff) make dealings with them quietunpleasant. USAID is at a disadvantage as the Ambassadors and DCMs don't ever want to address problems with ICASS. I'm