Tools

The Popular Tools Catalog identifies tools and methodologies created by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications, the SAFECOM program, and other organizations committed to improving communications interoperability nationwide.  The Catalog provides a brief overview of various tools and guidance documents, demonstrates their alignment to the National Emergency Communications Plan, and provides a direct Web link to each resource highlighted by the Catalog.  These resources identify and promote best practices for interoperable communications by highlighting guidance for stakeholders to advance along the Interoperability Continuum by improving their statewide governance, developing standard operating procedures, managing technology, supporting training and exercises, and encouraging usage of interoperable communications practices.

Interoperability Continuum
The Interoperability Continuum provides a graphical depiction to demonstrate the five critical success factors to achieving interoperability, beyond just technology.  This tool also provides a framework from which all emergency response agencies at the local, tribal, state, and Federal levels could use to baseline their planning and implementation of interoperability solutions.

Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology
The Statewide Communications Planning Methodology (SCIP) describes a step-by-step process for developing a locally-driven statewide strategic plan for enhancing communications interoperability.

Operational Guide for the Interoperability Continuum
At the Urban Area Summit, held on October 27th and 28th, 2004 in Washington DC, public safety practitioners and leaders from the ten RapidCom urban areas along with key stakeholders from the local, state, and federal levels convened to share best practices, lessons learned, and other experiences gained from planning and implementing communications interoperability solutions. The purpose of this report is to share the valuable information learned from the representatives of the public safety community that participated in RapidCom and to provide a framework for communities and regions to use in their communications interoperability planning efforts.

Creating a Charter for a Multi-Agency Communications Interoperability Committee
This tool provides guidance for developing charter documents for multi-agency communications interoperability committees.  The document is laid out in a recommended Charter structure with suggested headings for each section. Each section poses questions to consider when writing content for a charter. Sample paragraphs are included for your reference.

Writing Guide for a Memorandum of Understanding
This tool provides guidance for developing an MOU.  The document is laid out in a recommended MOU structure with suggested headings for each section. Each section poses questions to consider when writing content for an MOU. Sample paragraphs are included for your reference.

Writing Guide for Standard Operating Procedures
The purpose of the Writing Guide for Standard Operating Procedures is to assist communities that want to establish formal written guidelines or instructions for incident response.  Each section poses questions to consider when writing content for SOPs. Sample paragraphs are included for your reference.

Data Messaging Standards Guide for Requests for Proposals
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a Data Messaging Standards Guide for Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Developed with practitioner input, the Guide is intended to assist procurement officials who develop RFPs for emergency response information technology systems. The language provided in the guide requires manufacturers to incorporate Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) messaging standards into their products. EDXL standards enable emergency responders to share critical data—such as a map, a situational report, or an alert—seamlessly across disparate software applications, devices, and systems.  Effective exchange of this type of data is essential during emergency response operations.

Communications-Specific Tabletop Exercise Methodology
The Communications-Specific Tabletop Exercise Methodology is intended to help local policymakers and Federal technical assistance programs plan, conduct, and evaluate communications-specific exercises in collaboration with the emergency response community. A communications-specific tabletop exercise is a forum to evaluate current communications plans, communications concepts, resources, and interoperable capabilities. The exercises developed and executed as a result of this methodology will help localities identify interoperability capabilities and gaps in existing processes. Replicable nationwide, this methodology may be tailored to the specific needs, realities, and organizational cultures of diverse localities.

Establishing Governance to Achieve Statewide Communications Interoperability: A Guide for Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Implementation

Developed by the Office of Emergency Communications, Establishing Governance to Achieve Statewide Communications Interoperability: A Guide for Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Implementation demonstrates a methodology to implement SCIP strategic initiatives by leveraging collaborative practitioner-driven statewide governance.  The guide promotes a coordinated practitioner-driven approach to ensure comprehensive implementation of communications interoperability strategies outlined within the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP); each State’s SCIP; and regional/local strategic planning documents.  In particular, the guide supports NECP Initiative 1.1:  “Facilitate the development of effective governance groups and designated emergency communications leadership roles.”

The guide is separated into two major sections: Chapters Two and Three offer an overview of statewide governance for communications interoperability while Chapters Four and Five focus on leveraging practitioner-driven governance to support SCIP implementation.  Together, these two sections provide comprehensive insight into the establishment, improvement, and usage of governance to enhance statewide communications interoperability.

Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP) Template
The Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP) is designed to allow urban areas, counties, regions, states/territories, tribes, or Federal departments/agencies to document interoperable communications governance structures, technology assets, and usage policies and procedures.  The TICP is used to clearly define the breadth and scope of interoperable assets available in the area; how those assets are shared and how their use is prioritized; and the steps individual agencies should follow to request, activate, use, and deactivate each asset.  Completed TICPs were required for all 2005 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) sites and are encouraged for newly designated UASI (and non-UASI) cities, counties, multi-county regions, tribes, and states/territories.  The TICP Template provides a description of the standard structure of a TICP and the relevant sections to be populated according to the unique needs of an urban area, county, region, state/territory, tribe, or Federal department/agency.

The TICP Template was recently updated and reorganized so that each asset type and its associated standard operating procedure are now in the same section.  Additional updates include:

• Added mobile communications assets
• Added a referenced materials appendix
• Updated and expanded the Incident Command System appendix
• Replaced the Training section with a Regional Emergency Resource Staffing section
• Added a section on the Communication Assets Survey and Mapping tool

Technical Assistance Request Form for State/Local/Tribal Agencies

The Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) Technical Assistance Catalog describes the services available to requesting jurisdictions or organizations through OEC’s Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program.  These services, which are provided at no cost, include instruction and assistance with the planning, governance, operational, and technical aspects of developing and implementing interoperable communications initiatives.  All OEC technical assistance services may be combined or tailored to meet the specific needs of the requesting organization.  The Catalog also contains a technical assistance request form and instructions on how to complete and submit a request.