Phase 9

• A vision for the future,
• Goals to support the vision,
• Initiatives that will achieve the goals,
• Performance measures for each initiative with a realistic timeframe and target metric, and
• A proposed organizational leadership and governance structure focused on managing the initiatives and next steps.

Weblink to Virginia’s Strategic Plan for Statewide Communications Interoperability:
At the time of this publishing, the strategic plan was not yet available on the web. Please visit the Virginia Interoperability homepage in the future at http://www.interoperability.publicsafety.virginia.gov/ for the complete plan.

Core Structural Layout of the Virginia Strategic Plan for Statewide Communications Interoperability

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Introduction
Mission and Vision Statements
Barriers and Opportunities
Strategic Initiatives
PMO Structure
Recommended Next Steps
Conclusion
Appendices

• Contact information for key people/agencies 
• Focus group summaries
• Budget guidelines
• Suggested resources

Executive Summary

Brief, high-level summary discussion of document contents, including introduction, current barriers and opportunities, strategic initiatives, and PMO structure.

Introduction

This section will provide all of the necessary background information to readers, including:

• Background information explaining the need for interoperability initiatives in general (much of this can be culled from previous deliverables and existing ‘boilerplate’),
• A summary of the process thus far,
• A brief description of interoperability at the present: parties involved, initiatives in progress, milestones achieved (a subsequent section will discuss barriers and opportunities, so this section should just provide the casual reader with enough information to understand where the report is going), and
• A brief description of the goal of this document. It may be appropriate to begin this section with a letter from the Governor or another high-ranking official underscoring the importance of the interoperability initiatives.

Mission/Vision

Mission –
Our mission is to improve the safety of the public in the Commonwealth of Virginia through enhanced data and voice communications interoperability between local, state, and federal agencies. Additional considerations:

• Define public safety and
• Add timeframes.

Vision –
Agencies, at the local, state, and federal levels, will be able to communicate at optimal efficiency, in real time, and across disciplines and jurisdictions to respond more effectively in their public safety-related day-to-day operations and major emergency situations.

Barriers and Opportunities

Now that the mission and vision have been laid out, this section should identify any general barriers and/or opportunities stemming from the current state.

Currently, there are several obstacles (i.e. problems in the current state) that stakeholders will need to overcome. In addition, there are numerous efforts already underway at all levels that either can provide assistance (e.g. available funding at the federal or state level) or serve as models (e.g. localities or regions that have already begun to address interoperability issues and realize results) going forward.

Barriers and opportunities that are specific to individual strategic initiatives can be addressed in this section.

Strategic Initiatives

Short and long term initiatives should be listed briefly. The rest of the section should address each individual initiative. The in-depth initiative section may include:

• Imperatives for the initiative,
• Goals,
• Tactics to achieve strategies,
• Strategy-specific barriers and opportunities,
• Timetables (if appropriate), and
• Performance metrics/benchmarks (if appropriate).

Currently, the short and long term initiatives are:

Short Term Initiatives:

1. Create a method to extract lessons learned from disaster exercises and actual incidents.
2. Develop and distribute a set of public safety communications requirements which include the federal interoperability grant guidance.

• To inform purchasing decisions
• To outline interoperability lifecycles

3. Leverage existing resources and systems.

• Educate public safety responders on availability and proper use of existing technology resources and
• Mandate and monitor the use of existing systems (i.e. SIRS and other mutual aid channels).

4. The Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator’s Office will assist with the communications and outreach to localities concerning STARS.

Long Term Initiatives:
1. Develop desired outcomes for interoperability based on stakeholder input and leverage earmarked funds to localities to achieve the outcomes.
2. Create regional interoperability work groups who have direct representation on the state-level interoperability working group.

• Extension of the governance model; governed by an executive working group and
• Liaison between and amongst the local, state, and regional representatives.

3. Establish an information and outreach strategy to educate public safety responders, policymakers, and the public on interoperability in Virginia.

• Mutual aid channels that are already in existence: NPSPAC and
• STARS: what is the benefit to locals, what value is added in meeting the needs of the state and local first responders?

4. Develop and utilize cooperative purchasing agreements.

• Allow for price breaks at the local level and
• Move from a vendor-driven market to a public safety-driven market.

5. Develop and adopt plain language protocols (clear text) for all public safety responders in the Commonwealth.

PMO Structure

This section will provide some insight as to how the strategic initiatives will be accomplished – in particular, how they will be coordinated and overseen.

Recommended Next Steps

This section should include a list of proposed actions that will help start implementation off on the right foot. These steps might include:

• Appointment and convening of personnel/working groups/task forces,
• Meetings, and
• Development of timetables/agendas/implementation plans.

Conclusion

This section should tie the report together in a summary paragraph or two.

Appendices

While the content of the appendices has not been finalized, it may include:

• Brief summary information (including contacts) for key interoperability initiative participants and relevant agencies,
• Focus group summaries (either entire focus group write-ups or summary of key points),
• Budget guidelines for strategic goals, and
• Suggested resources (equivalent to a links section – could include suggested reading, links to relevant websites, etc.).