NOTE: Jim Tolan reported to me that you did contact Luis Vintimilla regarding support for procedures for the importation of goods for the PV project, and for transportation to San Cristobal. Please report on the details of that conversation as follows:

1. CERTIFIED CUSTOMS AGENT: The importation of the equipment and materials will necessitate the use of a Certified Customs Agent which is required by Ecuadorian Law.

INSTRUCTIONS: Please obtain information about this law? Just general information so that we are well informed. Translate and forward just the relevant information to me so that I am not ignorant of the specific requirements.

2. IDENTIFY CERTIFIED CUSTOMS AGENT: For the wind project, Santos-CMI has been responsible for the importation and transport of the imported equipment, and they have their own Certified Customs Agent, Ms. Kelly Flores in Quito. Jim Tolan stated that Luis provided you with the name and telephone number of Kelly Flores as a reference.

INSTRUCTIONS: Have you attempted to contact her? If you have the contact information for Kelly Flores, please interview her by telephone. Please find out if she speaks English. Find out the fees that she charges. Find out if she will discount her fees for a school project. Negotiate!

Do you have information about other Certified Customs Agents? If so, please provide me with a list and start the same process with them as for Kelly Flores. Please prepare a report to me indicating your findings. You may recommend a process for selection.

3. TIMELINE: We should be identifying who will be our certified customs agent by the end of next week at the latest. Therefore, please make this a high priority, as it will take me some time to prepare the documentation for me to prepare the information for the Certified Customs Agent, and time for the Certified Customs Agent to have all documentation finalized.

INSTRUCTIONS: Report to me by the end of next week a list of Certified Customs Agents, the fees they will charge, the information they will need, and the timeline for the Customs process.

4. COORDINATION ASSISTANCE: Jim Tolan is assuming that SCMI-Santos may provide you with some guidance on a “good-will” basis (this means at not cost), but they have no contractual commitment at this time to help us with the Solar PV HCB importation and transport. I assume that the individual listed below would be the appropriate person to contact:

Pablo Moysam D.
Contract Manager
T 5934.2896701 x519
M 5938.4999412
F 5934.2893273
T 1.832.2955162 (VoIP)
Pablo Moysam D. [pmoysam@gye.santoscmi.com]

INSTRUCTIONS: Contact Pablo Moysam and interview him regarding Kelly Flores before you contact Ms. Fores. He may be able to provide background information that will be helpful for your interview with her and other prospective Certified Customs Agents. Report to me on this interview.

Once we select the Certified Customs Agent, Jim Tolan indicated that Luis can help provide coordination with UNDP for the Certified Customs Agent to prepare the importation documentation so that there are no import duties. I would like you to learn this process by assisting in every step as feasible. Jim Tolan also indicated that our listing would potentially be UNDP "Foreign Funds" status under the Project Document (UNDP Program Docment) as a good starting point. Shipment would be import duty free although there are some import fees. (Find out what these fees would be.) For example: On the wind project for the wind turbines, through the UNDP "direct payment" approach, no IVA payment was required. This should apply to the solar PV panels and other foreign equipment. Please document this carefully.

5. CONVERSATION / MEETING WITH LUIS VINTIMILLA: Please provide a summary of all communications with Luis Vintimilla. Did Luis provide a summary of the procedures? Did Luis indicate a timeline for this process? Did Luis indicate the cost of the fees for the Customs Import Agent?

6. OTHER:

Jim Tolan suggested that SolarQuest obtain a proposal from Santos-CMI for the services as described about, including transport to Galapagos. I think that we should do this, as it will give us a fair understanding of a total budget. Of course, I want the money for coordination to go to you, not Sants-CMI, and I want you to learn this process.

Santos-CMI first barge shipment schedule is to be confirmed this week, but appears to be week of Feb 19th or 26th. I believe you might have difficulty catching this barge. Otherwise, the cargo ship San Cristobal visits the island every 2-3 weeks).

NOTE: I do know that in your recent email communications you have provided me with some of the information requested above. Please understand that in this communication (and format) I am attempting to provide a summary of the steps to make our coordination more effective.

SEE ATTACHED MSWORD FILE: