Standard Licensing

End-User Statements

  In order to obtain a Commerce or State Department license, you will be required to have your customer provide an end-user statement. This statement explains the purpose of their contract with your organization and what they intend to do with the equipment, technical data, or defense service that you are providing. For example if the Royal Saudi Air Force wanted training in search and rescue techniques they would draft a letter on their letterhead, explaining why they want the training, who will benefit from it and that they will not train other countries once they have the skills. This end-user statement is in addition to a DSP-83, if required.

Many foreign customers will complain about the difficulties in complying with U.S. Export and Import regulations. Do not let this fool you. They are incredibly savvy in U.S. regulations and fully understand the need for signing documentation and providing it to your organization or risk not getting authorization for the contract.

Many U.S. companies complain that U.S. Export and Import regulations make them less competitive than their overseas counterparts who do not have to comply with such stringent requirements. The argument for these regulations being in place is that the U.S. has the best technology in the world and if other countries want it they will do whatever it takes to obtain it — including jumping through all regulatory hoops. The second is that our Export and Import regulations are meant to protect our soldiers in the field and to keep the "bad" guys from getting a hold of technology or equipment that could seriously impair our own troops efforts. Keep in mind while you marvel at the difficulties in obtaining authorizations, you are also keeping those overseas safe with the cautious review of what can and cannot be exported.