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TA Guide - Version 4.2.1 1

Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program FY 2017 Highlights & Offerings

Department of Homeland Security

December 2016

TA Guide - Version 4.2.1


stablished in 2007 in response to communications challenges faced during the attacks on September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) supports and promotes communications used by emergency responders and government officials to keep America safe, secure, and resilient. Since its inception, the OEC Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (OEC/ICTAP) has delivered over 1,600 technical assistance courses and workshops

in every State and Territory to enhance the capabilities of emergency responders and government officials to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters. The goal of the program is to ensure, accelerate, and attain operable and interoperable emergency communications nationwide. OEC’s Technical Assistance (TA) Branch manages and supports the ICTAP. At OEC’s direction, technical assistance services and deliverables are provided by consulting staff under contract to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Pacific (SSC PAC), San Diego, the implementation arm for the program. This guide is also available online at http://publicsafetytools.info/ together with the OEC TA request form. Technical Assistance Request Process: Throughout FY2017 OEC/ICTAP will provide an opportunity for all 56 states and territories to receive Technical Assistance (TA) services at no cost. In preparation for the request process, this guide lists available TA service offerings and the process for Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) to request TA services. SWICs may submit a request for TA support throughout their State's statewide planning lifecycle. The TA request form is available on the OEC Public Safety Tools site at: http://publicsafetytools.info.

New for FY2017: For FY2017, OEC is introducing several new concepts into the delivery of its Technical Assistance and Statewide Strategic Planning assistance. Below are the highlights of the changes along with associated pages where more details can be found:

1. OEC Introduces Priority TA Offerings (Pages 3 & 4) 2. TA Request Process (Page 5) 3. Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Workshops Evolve into a SCIP

Multi-Phase Process (Page 8) 4. SIEC/SIGB or Equivalent Chair Signature Required for All New TA Requests (Page 37)

OEC Regional Coordinators Questions about OEC Technical Assistance and the Statewide Communications Interoperability Process should be directed to the OEC Regional Coordinator for your respective region as shown on the list below.

• Region 1 - Rick Andreano (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) [email protected] • Region 2 - Chris Tuttle (NJ, NY, PR, USVI) [email protected] • Region 3 - Marty McLain (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) [email protected] • Region 4 (East) - Pam Montanari (FL, GA, NC, SC) [email protected] • Region 4 (West) - John MacLean (AL, KY, MS, TN) [email protected] • Region 5 - Jim Jarvis (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) [email protected] • Region 6 - Ken Born (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) [email protected] • Region 7 - James Lundsted (IA, KS, MO, NE) [email protected] • Region 8 - Dan Hawkins (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) [email protected] • Region 9 - Tom Lawless (AS, AZ, CA, CNMI, GU, HI, NV) [email protected] • Region 10 - Bruce Richter (AK, ID, OR, WA) [email protected]

E OEC Technical Assistance

http://publicsafetytools.info/

http://publicsafetytools.info/

mailto:[email protected]












OEC Technical Assistance

New for FY2017: OEC Priority Technical Assistance Offerings

Over the past 10 years of providing no-cost technical assistance to states, OEC has conducted ninety-one governance-related offerings. Through the years, OEC has collected governance best practices, lessons learned, and published two Governance guides.1 OEC has also seen the creation, dismantling, and re-construction of many statewide governance bodies focused on interoperable and emergency communications. Based on principles established in the SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum and reinforced by a decade of direct support to states, OEC firmly believes that strong, effective, well-represented governance is a fundamental key to successful interoperable and emergency communications. Beginning in FY2017, OEC is committed to helping states move forward in their emergency communications goals by its focus on the critical building-block of governance.

Each state will be assisted by OEC in assessing the following two priorities for sustaining effective interoperable and emergency communications-related governance structure. The successful completion of both governance-related priorities is necessary in order for OEC to fulfill any additional TA requests from the states in FY2017.

Priority TA #1: Presence of an Effective Governance Structure that Develops and Implements a SCIP to Improve Interoperability

Building upon the anticipated findings of the recent National Governors Association (NGA) Policy Academies focused on interoperable and emergency communications-related governance, OEC is seeking to support each state with its unique challenges and requirements in establishing the presence of an effective governance structure.

Some of the attributes OEC will evaluate to determine if each state has an effective governance structure in place include, but are not limited to:

1. Governance structures determine the scope of responsibilities around emergency communications technologies (e.g., LMR, LTE, NG911, and/or Alerts and Warnings).

2. Governance structure membership includes representation for the technologies within scope, as well as across state and local public safety agencies. There is a consistent meeting cadence.

3. An interoperability champion(s) presides over the governance structure to ensure accountability and serve as the point of contact for senior government and elected officials (e.g., SWIC, Single Point of Contact (SPOC), state or locality public safety official, end user, etc.).

1 “2008 Establishing Governance to Achieve Statewide Communications Interoperability” and “2015 Emergency Communications Governance Guide for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials”.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2015%20Governance%20Guide_Master_508c%20Final.pdf




4. An actionable SCIP that addresses all lanes of the interoperability continuum is developed by the governance structure to improve interoperability statewide.

If a state is determined to be lacking any of the key characteristics listed above, OEC TA support will work with the state to customize an approach for FY2017 to provide the necessary assistance to the state in pursuit of establishing an effective governance structure. Priority TA #2: Communications Unit Policy and Procedure Development As of November 2016, OEC has trained 3,174 Communications Unit Leaders (COMLs), 1,523 Communications Technicians (COMTs), and conducted 44 COML and COMT Train-the-Trainer courses. Trained COMU personnel have made discernible impacts on the effectiveness of interoperable and emergency communications during incident planning and response. Based on input and feedback from state and local practitioners, OEC is seeking to partner with states to establish effective and consistent policies and procedures for how to manage its Communications Unit (COMU) resources. Some states may choose to create a COMU working group to create and oversee the implementation of these policies and procedures, while for other states the responsibility may fall primarily to the SWIC. Regardless of implementation tactic, OEC will assist states in establishing policies and procedures supporting the following:

1. Establishing a formal COMU governance body 2. Defining the required training and prerequisite skills for each COMU position 3. Establishing the process for COMU course graduates to demonstrate the tasks in their

respective position task books and have them officially signed off 4. Developing a mechanism for states to recognize and qualify personnel in COMU

positions 5. Developing a recordkeeping system to maintain a roster of all currently qualified COMU

personnel, to include qualifications and contact information, and process for updating the roster

6. Establishing policy/process for how COMU personnel will be deployed during incident planning and response

If a state is determined to be lacking any of the key policies/procedures listed above, OEC TA support will work with the state to customize an approach for FY2017 to provide the necessary assistance to the state in pursuit of establishing necessary COMU policies and procedures.



TA Request Process OEC issues an annual data call to the Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) or designated official in each of the 56 states/territories to solicit requests for OEC/ICTAP support. Each state/territory may request up to five TA offerings. In addition, states/territories may and are encouraged to submit a request for a SCIP update/review workshop, which does not count against their annual allotment. OEC Regional Coordinators (RC) will contact the SWIC or designated official to assist them in determining their annual technical assistance needs. All TA requests should be coordinated through the SWIC or designated official, who will submit them through the ‘Public Safety Technical Assistance Tools’ website at: www.publicsafetytools.info.

States/territories are encouraged to contact the TA Branch at [email protected], if they have any questions or need additional information regarding this process.

The flow chart below depicts the typical steps in the TA request submission/acceptance process:

1 TA Guide

reviewed/updated

2 TA Request Data Call to

SWICs

3 RC meets with the

SWIC to discuss the upcoming TA Cycle

4 RC/SWIC review

ongoing activities, obstacles, new initiatives and review the current

SCIP

5 Issues identified in the

SCIP are then prioritized based on what the group

believes it can accomplish

6 RC reviews the

appropriate TA services with the SWIC that best address issues identified

in the SCIP

7 SWIC presents results to

the state's Governing Body (SIGB, SIEC, etc.)

for concurrence

8 SWIC submits the TA Request to OEC for the

current Cycle

9 TA Requests received

10 Acceptance/Deferral

Meeting

11 Acceptance/Deferral

Letters to SWICs

12 Scoping Call coordination

13 Scoping Call conducted

14 Workplan development

15 TA engagement

conducted

16 Final deliverables, SWIC stakeholder

feedback, TA evaluation form submitted

http://www.publicsafetytools.info/




OEC TA Offerings FY2017

OEC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE .............................................................................................................................................. 2 OEC PRIORITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OFFERINGS......................................................................................................... 3

PRIORITY TA #1: PRESENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS A SCIP TO IMPROVE

INTEROPERABILITY ............................................................................................................................................................... 3 PRIORITY TA #2: COMMUNICATIONS UNIT POLICY AND PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................. 4

GOVERNANCE ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7 FORMAL GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTATION REVIEW, ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ........................................................... 7 STATEWIDE COMMUNICATION INTEROPERABILITY PLAN (SCIP) WORKSHOP .......................................................................... 8 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT PLANNING AND POLICIES, PROJECT MANAGEMENT .......................................................................... 9

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.............................................................................................................................10 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) / COMMUNICATIONS PLAN REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT.................................. 10 TACTICAL INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN (TICP) AND FIELD OPERATIONS GUIDE (TIC-FOG) REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS ASSESSMENT / REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS ENHANCEMENT SUPPORT ........................... 12

TECHNOLOGY......................................................................................................................................................................13 BROADBAND STRATEGIC PLANNING OVERVIEW AND EDUCATION ......................................................................................... 13 MOBILE AND FIXED SITE DATA USE ASSESSMENT FOR PLANNING/REAL-WORLD EVENTS .................................................... 14 LONG TERM EVOLUTION (LTE) AND LAND MOBILE RADIO (LMR) COVERAGE AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT.......................... 15 NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1 / STRATEGIC PLANNING SUPPORT............................................................................................... 16 LMR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SUPPORT ................................................................................................ 17

TRAINING & EXERCISES......................................................................................................................................................18 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT EXERCISE (COMMEX) FOR COML AND COMT TRAINEES ........................................................... 18 COMMUNICATIONS FOCUSED EXERCISES............................................................................................................................ 19 COMMUNICATIONS FOCUSED DRILL / ACTIVITIES................................................................................................................. 20 COMMUNICATIONS FOCUSED EXERCISE DESIGN AND PLANNING.......................................................................................... 21 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT LEADER (COML) COURSE (ALL-HAZARDS) ................................................................................... 22 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT TECHNICIAN (COMT) COURSE...................................................................................................... 23 INCIDENT TACTICAL DISPATCHER (INTD) TRAINING (ALL-HAZARDS) ................................................................................... 24 INCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS CENTER MANAGER (INCM) TRAINING..................................................................................... 25 RADIO OPERATOR (RADO) TRAINING ................................................................................................................................ 26 AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS (AUXCOMM) TRAINING ...................................................................................................... 27 COML TRAIN-THE-TRAINER (TTT) AND COMT TRAIN-THE-TRAINER (TTT) COURSES......................................................... 28 STATE-SPONSORED, OEC RECOGNIZED COMU INSTRUCTION........................................................................................... 29 AUDIO GATEWAY INFORMATION AND TRAINING ................................................................................................................... 33

USAGE..................................................................................................................................................................................34 COMMUNICATION ASSETS SURVEY AND MAPPING (CASM) TOOL – NEXT GENERATION....................................................... 34 GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE (GETS) / WIRELESS PRIORITY SERVICE (WPS) AND TECHNICAL SERVICE PRIORITY (TSP) SUPPORT................................................................................................................................................. 35

APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................................................................................36 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AND STATEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY PLAN (SCIP) WORKSHOP REQUEST FORM ................................................................................................................................................................................ 36

APPENDIX B.........................................................................................................................................................................39 PUBLIC SAFETY T OOLS SITE ................................................................................................................................................ 39


Formal Governance Documentation Review, Assessment and Development Type of TA Offering: Workshop Stakeholders/Audience: SIEC/SIGB; Executive, Statutory, and Legislative Personnel

Offering Overview: OEC/ICTAP provides requestors assistance with reviewing and evaluating existing governance structures and providing recommendations for establishing new governance bodies or structures.

OEC/ICTAP TA support for governance may be applied to strengthening existing governing bodies [for example, State Interoperability Executive Councils (SIECs), Statewide Interoperability Governance Boards (SIGBs)]; or assisting with the development of documentation (working group charters) for establishing governance bodies for communications-focused entities (statewide radio systems). The SAFECOM/National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) 2015 Governance Guide (2015 Emergency Communications Governance Guide for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials) highlights the need for a formalized statewide governance body (e.g., SIGB, SIEC) or equivalent, that provides a unified approach across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions to address system implementation and upgrades, funding, and overall support for communications interoperability.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of existing interoperability and emergency communications-focused governance

group • Lack of formal governance documentation (charter, executive order, etc.) • Lack of governance operating norms • Lack of robust participation by key stakeholder groups • Lack of a SWIC and/or SIGB membership needing to evaluate and assess current SCIP

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Governance charter Draft Executive Order to formally establish governance group Customized best practices for establishing governance group operating norms Assessment of governance group representation and customized approach for improvements Customized evaluation and analysis of SCIP, progress towards stated goals and objectives,

and recommendations for SCIP refresh/update

Governance




Governance

Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Workshop Type of TA Offering: Workshop

Stakeholders/Audience: SIEC/SIGB; State, Local, Federal, Tribal Stakeholders / Police, Fire and EMS Communicators

Governance and Statewide Strategic Planning – the SCIP Process Since 2008, OEC has supported strategic planning efforts through facilitated workshops to revise and update Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP) nationwide. The SCIP is a stakeholder-driven, multi-jurisdictional, and multi-disciplinary statewide strategic plan to enhance interoperable and emergency communications. SCIP Workshops have provided States and Territories the ability to prioritize resources, strengthen governance, identify future investments and address interoperability gaps. Enhanced SCIP Process Pilot In an effort to improve planning and incorporate recommendations from the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Policy Academy, Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWIC), and other key stakeholders, OEC is evolving its SCIP Program to meet the current needs of States and Territories. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2017, OEC will pilot the new SCIP Process which will incorporate the following five components:

• Governance • Technology • Funding Sustainability • Strategic Goals & Implementation Plan • Evaluation/Progress Management

Rather than a single plan, this new process results in a series of shorter, succinct plans that comprise the full interoperability process. The Statewide Communications Interoperability Process reflects state priorities through a tailored, consensus-based and objective-oriented process that brings public safety stakeholders together to determine the operational and strategic direction required to move interoperability forward in that State or Territory. Standard SCIP Workshop The Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan continues to be a critical tool to help states prioritize resources, establish or strengthen governance, and address interoperability gaps. The SCIP participatory workshops bring together federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial representatives to identify and address communications interoperability gaps to facilitate successful implementation of the SCIP. States are encourages to submit a SCIP update workshop request together with one or more focus areas, which will not count against the State’s annual TA allotment.

• SCIP workshop focus areas: (SCIP Update, Governance, Funding, Technology, Broadband, Next Generation 9-1-1 and Dispatch Operations, etc.)


Governance

Communications Unit Planning and Policies, Project Management Type of TA Offering: Workshop Stakeholders/Audience: SIEC/SIGB; Executive, Statutory, and Legislative Personnel

Offering Overview: This workshop provides attendees with tools and best practices to develop a strategic plan to implement state/territory, local and regional level initiatives to improve policies and procedures for managing on-going development of Incident Command System (ICS) Communications Unit (COMU) personnel and Communications Unit assets. More than 5,500 All Hazards ICS COMU personnel have been trained, and every state/territory now has a pool of COMLs and COMTs. Not every State has a Program with policies and procedures to track, maintain and utilize ICS COMU resources. This offering is aimed at mid to senior level managers across all public safety disciplines to increase awareness and understanding of the COMU functions and develop a strategic plan to improve utilization and management of personnel and equipment. The offering can be customized to include tracking and managing other COMU trainees if a state wishes.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of a formal COML, COMT recognition or certification process • Lack of a Strategic Plan and/or guiding principles for a COMU Program • Lack of methods to track and report COMU assets • Lack of opportunities to provide training and exercises that develop trainee qualifications

and Position Task Book (PTB) completion • Lack of key performance measures of a COMU program

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Identify key performance measures for a COMU program Development of a COML, COMT recognition or certification process COMU program strategic plan establishment Accurate tracking and reporting of COMU assets COMU exercises focused on tasks in the PTB


Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) / Communications Plan Review and Development Type of TA Offering: Assessment of SOPs and Communications Plans/Workshop Stakeholders/Audience: Public Safety Stakeholders/ Mid-Senior Level Managers

Offering Overview: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are formal written guidelines or instructions that contain both operational and technical components. In many cases, SOPs are designed to facilitate cross-discipline and cross-jurisdictional operations on a day-to-day or emergency basis. Clearly defined interoperable communications SOPs facilitate an orderly and efficient response to multi-agency incidents and events as routine as daily calls for service, and as catastrophic as large scale disasters. In addition to SOPs, various state/territory, urban area, regional, and/or tribal planning documents include specific communications components.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) • Outdated Continuity of Government (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans • Lack of capabilities assessment planning • Lack of Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) plans

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: EOPs COG and COOP plans Baseline capability assessment Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP) development or update PSCC operational plans

Standard Operating Procedures



Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP) and Field Operations Guide (TIC-FOG) Review and Development Type of TA Offering: Review / Development Workshop / Data Collection Stakeholders/Audience: Communications Unit Managers and Personnel

Offering Overview: Developing a TICP requires the collaborative efforts and inputs of public safety organizations in the geographic area. In order to document the input of all relevant stakeholders and develop the TICP in the most efficient and effective manner, OEC/ICTAP provides the requesting area with a list of the information needed for the plan prior to the workshop. The requesting area also receives a copy of the plan template that the participants will populate during the workshop. Workshop attendees should include communications and operational representatives from multiple agencies and jurisdictions across all public safety disciplines, including tribal, non-governmental organizations and volunteer entities in the geographic area covered by the Plan. The working group should mirror the responders and support personnel needed for a major incident in the area. Once the TICP has been completed and approved by the site, a Tactical Interoperable Communications Field Operations Guide (TIC-FOG) can also be created.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of quick reference for regional channel data • No listing of mutual aid channels • Lack of situational area maps • No listing of technical support contacts and COMU personnel • No formal procedures for interoperable communications equipment requests

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Quick reference for regional channel data Mutual aid channels Area maps Contact information for technical support and COMU personnel Interoperable communications equipment requests TICP/TIC-FOG development/update



Operational Communications Assessment / Regional Communications Enhancement Support Type of TA Offering: On-Site Assessment Stakeholders/Audience: SWICs and Public Safety Professionals

Offering Overview: All operable and interoperable communications must be efficient and intuitive in order to be effective tools for public safety responders and communications specialists. Operational communications assessments, therefore, ensure that proposed or in-place technologies, plans, and procedures enhance and support operations. OEC/ICTAP presents the results of each assessment through an Operational Assessment Report. The follow on workshop helps stakeholders develop usable regional communications enhancement plans that require the collaborative efforts and inputs of local public safety professionals in a region. In order to document the input of all relevant stakeholders and develop a plan in the most efficient and effective manner, the workshop provides an opportunity for stakeholders to define their individual and regional operational needs, identify commonalities between the goals and needs of various stakeholder groups, develop regional migration goals and priorities that capitalize on those commonalities, and establish milestones to facilitate achieving each goal and priority.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of defined scope and authority in existing SOPs • Lack of compatibility with other federal, state/territory, tribal, regional, and/or local

procedures/plans • Lack of responsibility and process for maintenance and update of the plan • Lack of training requirements

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Defined scope and authority NIMS compliance Compatibility planning/procedures Defined maintenance process plan Established training requirements and schedule


Broadband Strategic Planning Overview and Education Type of TA Offering: Workshop / Seminar Stakeholders/Audience: Mid – Senior Public Safety Personnel

Offering Overview: Since submission of states’ proposals for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP), OEC/ICTAP has been assisting with identifying and defining FirstNet coverage objectives through planning and mapping. This offering is a half day presentation seminar for mid to senior level officials about the scope and direction of the National Public Safety Broadband (NPSBN)/First Net initiative. It is designed to help state/local and tribal officials understand the scope and purpose of NPBSN and FirstNet’s efforts to implement this nationwide broadband network.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of planning for FirstNet implementation in a state • Undefined multi-state regional requirements • Lack of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology awareness • Limited understanding of NPSBN/FirstNet

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: FirstNet implementation plan Multi-state regional requirements Increased LTE awareness NPSBN/FirstNet overview Understanding of the SLIGP program

Technology


Technology

Offering Overview: In this service offering, OEC/ICTAP will conduct a full analysis of the use of mobile data devices and applications during a planned event or following a real world incident. This information is critical to understanding the current requirements for use of private/commercial mobile data during incident responses, and may assist the state in planning for FirstNet. The requesting agency will receive an after action report that includes an improvement plan with technical and operational recommendations.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • No accountability for participating agencies and number/types of devices • No procedures for data coordination and prioritization • Unknown coverage and capacity challenges • Undetermined peak and total data usage requirements

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: After Action Report Analysis and interpretation of data results GIS mapping of mobile data usage Recommendations/Improvement Plan

Mobile and Fixed Site Data Use Assessment for Planning/Real-World Events Type of TA Offering: Data Coverage Analysis / Interviews / Data Collection Stakeholders/Audience: Public Safety Personnel


Technology

Offering Overview: This service offering focuses on multiple technical topics related to LTE and FirstNet. It can be leveraged to perform LTE coverage modeling of existing sites throughout the state, useful in comparing a potential LTE coverage footprint vs. existing LMR coverage. The resulting products can be leveraged in different outreach/education materials to inform users about the differences between LTE and LMR.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of coverage and capacity documentation • No written requirements for Quality of Service (QoS), Security and Priority Preemption • No LTE system components and waveform defined • No LTE standard and future developments planned

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: RF propagation predictions of LTE coverage On-site workshop with briefing materials

Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Coverage and Capacity Assessment Type of TA Offering: LMR / LTE Coverage Review and Comparison Workshop Stakeholders/Audience: Communications Unit Personnel


Technology

Next Generation 9-1-1 / Strategic Planning Support Type of TA Offering: Data Collection / Draft Plan

Stakeholders/Audience: 9-1-1 Operators / Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Personnel and State Officials

Offering Overview: This service offering is intended for 9-1-1 operators, communications personnel, and state officials who are interested in learning about Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) and the technical and procedural challenges associated with integrating digital communications into their day-to-day operations.

NG9-1-1 is a system comprised of hardware, software, data and operational capabilities and procedures which continue to evolve. As NG9-1-1 networks replace circuit switched 9-1-1 networks, PSAPs/9-1-1 centers need to be prepared to incorporate technologies like voice over IP (VoIP) 9-1-1 calls, text messages, images and video, telematics data, building plans and medical information over a common data network. PSCC call takers and dispatch personnel will have to move from a business process of handling incoming calls channeled through a single mode to processing and disseminating multi-media inputs received in multiple modes, and support communications and data transfer across county, state, and international borders as well as various emergency response disciplines and agencies. In addition, managers and senior personnel need to be familiar with the rapidly evolving technologies.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Standardized interfaces from call and message services • Processing non-voice (multi-media) messages • Integrating data useful for call routing and handling • Delivery of calls/messages and data to appropriate PSAPs • Supporting data and communications needs for coordinated incident response and

management

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Technology transition, integration, and deployment Technology assessments for call handling and processing Regulatory legislative issues, funding and planning Draft Plan


Technology

LMR Communications Systems Engineering Support Type of TA Offering: Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering and Security Stakeholders/Audience: RF Communications System Management Agencies

Offering Overview: This service provides an assessment of RF system coverage and cybersecurity of critical communications infrastructure for state/territory, tribal, regional or urban areas.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Undefined RF coverage and jurisdictional boundaries • Unknown tower locations • Subscriber radio capabilities not documented • Lack of cybersecurity situational awareness and vulnerability assessment • Lack of understanding of P25 encryption standards

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Images in Microsoft PowerPoint presentations RF coverage analysis report Cybersecurity evaluation and infrastructure survey tools P25 system programming guide


Communications Unit Exercise (COMMEX) for COML and COMT Trainees Type of TA Offering: Communications Focused Functional Exercise Stakeholders/Audience: COML & COMT Trainees

Offering Overview: This service offering is a follow on to the Communications Unit Leader (COML) and Communications Unit Technician (COMT) training courses.2 It provides an opportunity for COML and COMT trainees to demonstrate proficiency and complete requirements in the respective Position Task Books (PTB). Public safety professionals who have completed a COML/COMT course must complete a series of competency tasks in their PTB as the next step in becoming a recognized COML/COMT for their agency. In this one day exercise, tasks are designed to simulate challenges COMLs and COMTs will encounter during an incident. At the end of the exercise, locally recognized COMLs/COMTs sign off tasks within the PTB for trainees who have successfully demonstrated their proficiency at completing the task(s). If the requesting jurisdiction does not have qualified COMLs/COMTs, OEC/ICTAP will help the requestor identify qualified personnel to sign off the PTBs. This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges:

• Providing opportunities for COML/COMT trainee proficiency testing • Lack of state recognition and certification programs • Lack of COML/COMT utilization • Lack of Incident Command System (ICS) integration of COMLs/COMTs

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Completion of COML/COMT Position Task Book State recognition/certification for COMLs/COMTs Increased utilization of COMLs/COMTs

2 Participants must have successfully completed the appropriate COMU Training.

Training & Exercises



Communications Focused Exercises Type of TA Offering: Tabletop, Functional and Full Scale Exercises Stakeholders/Audience: Public Safety Professionals

Offering Overview: Exercises and operational assessments are important tools to assess, train for, and practice mitigation, prevention, response, and recovery capabilities. Frequently, communications are either omitted from or only notionally included in exercises or in operational assessments. To best approximate a real operational environment, exercises should thoroughly incorporate and evaluate available communications procedures, tools, and personnel in each multi-agency, multi-discipline, and multi-jurisdictional training/testing opportunity. OEC/ICTAP provides exercise assistance and expertise for: Communications Drills Tabletop Exercises (TTX) Functional Exercises (FE) Full Scale Exercises (FSE)

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Designing, conducting, and evaluating communications-focused public safety/service

discussion-based and functional exercises • Evaluating communications capabilities at full scale exercises • Preparing communications-focused scenarios and injects for pre-planned exercises • Pre-planning for interoperable, emergency communications for special events • Assessing COML and COMT trainees on-site operational procedures relating to

communications task in their respective position task books

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Initial, mid and final planning meetings Logistics checklist Exercise Plan (EXPLAN) Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) After Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)



Offering Overview: This service offering provides exercise planning and evaluation support for emergency communications drills to requesting sites/entities. Upon request, OEC/ICTAP evaluators and observers can supplement on-site staff to support and assist in evaluation of Communications Unit personnel on mobile communications units, communications support equipment, audio gateways, digital network communications equipment, and unique modes of communication such as High Frequency (HF), satellite, air-to-ground and marine communications. Drills may consist of actual and/or simulated activities, which can be customized to meet the specific requirements of the requesting site/entity.

Participants will be presented with tasks at individual stations and asked to provide technical solutions to address specific incident needs or challenges. Participants will also be required to resolve communications-related issues and problems that arise during the drill.

A typical venue to conduct communications drills would be in conjunction with events such as a Mobile Communications Unit “rodeo” or “rally” during which multiple vehicles and teams assemble from across a region or state. Mobile Communications Unit events offer participating agencies an opportunity to test their equipment and capabilities and to learn more about resources within their region or state. The drills can potentially involve all Communications Unit positions.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Maintaining proficiency with specific communications equipment • Incorporating new technology for public safety personnel • Maintaining readiness and interoperable communications • Lack of National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) awareness

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Operator proficiency Communications capabilities Multi-agency/jurisdiction communications interoperability Public safety response level emergency communications

Communications Focused Drill / Activities Type of TA Offering: Hands on Communications Performance Drill Activities Stakeholders/Audience: Key Public Safety Communications Personnel



Offering Overview: This service offering provides public safety communications and exercise design specialists an opportunity to learn how to incorporate communications into operations-based and discussion-based public safety exercises. The seminar stresses voice and data communications and discusses how best to build these components into exercises of all varieties. This seminar runs for one full day. All discussions are framed within the guidelines of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

This seminar can accommodate an audience of any size, subject to space and seating availability. It focuses on exercise design and planning personnel who are tasked with executing both operational and discussion-based exercises. Both public safety and public service agencies including law enforcement, fire, hospitals, public works, emergency medical services, etc. are welcome. Public safety communications personnel will gain a deeper perspective on exercise design and learn how to integrate communications objectives into both communications-focused and operational exercises.

Exercise planners will gain insight into how voice and data communications affect exercise “play.” Attendees should be familiar with public safety exercises in their jurisdictions and have roles in the planning and design of exercises. Exercise design training such as HSEEP courses, FEMA on-line independent study courses or the FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) Program are recommended but not required.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Understanding the exercise planning process • How to incorporate communications elements into exercises • Identifying the “right” participants • Developing ideal scenarios • Developing After Action Reports/Improvement Plans (AARs/IPs)

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) design guidelines HSEEP elements, exercise, design, development, conduct, evaluation and improvement planning Post exercise AAR/IP Meeting guidelines

Communications Focused Exercise Design and Planning Type of TA Offering: Workshop to Develop Communications Focused Exercises Stakeholders/Audience: Key Public Safety Communications Personnel



Communications Unit Leader (COML) Course (All-Hazards) Type of TA Offering: 3-Day Course

Stakeholders/Audience: Emergency Response Personnel with a Technical Communications Background

Offering Overview: This service offering is designed for all state/territory, tribal, regional, and local emergency response professionals and for support personnel with a communications background. It is designed to familiarize these professionals with the role and responsibilities of a COML under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) and to provide hands-on exercises that reinforce the lecture materials. OEC offers this course jointly with FEMA/EMI, as “L969, NIMS ICS All Hazards Communications Unit Leader.”3

Under the NIMS ICS structure, a COML is the focal point within the Communications Unit. This course provides DHS-approved and NIMS-compliant instruction to ensure that every state/territory has trained personnel capable of coordinating on-scene emergency communications during a multi-jurisdictional response or planned event. OEC/ICTAP instructors are approved by DHS and have had extensive experience both as emergency responders and as COMLs.

The course is presented with facilitated lectures, hands-on activities, and extensive interactive discussions. OEC/ICTAP instructors work through the discussions and activities to explain in detail the processes used to achieve communication operability, interoperability, and how to incorporate additional communications solutions.

NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position-Specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to functional, support, or unit leader positions or by those persons who desire to seek qualifications in those positions. They should have supervisory and personnel management skills and knowledge of local communication and communications systems. Additionally, they must possess knowledge of the local topography, system site locations, and knowledge of the local, regional, and state communications plan/points of contact. Prerequisites for attendance are: IS-100.b, Introduction to the ICS IS-200.b, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Incidents ICS-300, Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents IS-700.a, National Incident Management System (NIMS), an Introduction IS-800.b, National Response Framework (NRF)

o In addition, ICS-400, Advanced ICS Command and General Staff Complex Incidents, is

recommended.

SPECIAL NOTE: No later than ten calendar days before the scheduled course, the course registrar will submit a student verification form attesting to prerequisite completion for all students and identifying the public safety entity the students are affiliated with. 3 For any OEC/ICTAP COMU training course (COML, COMT, INCM, INTD, RADO, AUXCOMM) requestors are encouraged to notify the State Training Officer (STO) prior to its start to ensure the course is documented in state training files.



Communications Unit Technician (COMT) Course Type of TA Offering: 5-Day Course

Stakeholders/Audience: Emergency Response Personnel with a Technical Communications Background

Offering Overview: This class provides introductory and refresher training for the NIMS ICS COMT position. It introduces public safety professionals and support staff to various communications concepts and technologies including interoperable communications solutions, LMR communications, satellite, telephone, data, and computer technologies used in incident response and planned events. Participants develop the essential core competencies required for performing the duties of the COMT in an all-hazards incident, including responsibilities while operating in a local, regional, or state-level All-Hazards Incident Management Team. The course is instructor-led and supports learning through discussion, lecture, participation in multiple activities, and hands-on lab work to explain processes used for establishment and operation of the technical communications resources for an incident or planned event. The course provides a realistic, hands-on approach to mastering the tasks and skills of a COMT. It is designed for state/territory, tribal, urban, and local emergency response professionals and support personnel in all disciplines who have a technical communications background.4 This class is taught by OEC/ICTAP instructors who have both practitioner and Communications Unit experience. Prior to the on-site class, OEC/ ICTAP staff will work with the requesting site to incorporate communications technologies in use by the participants’ agencies. Prerequisites for attendance are: A public safety background with experience in field operations Attendees need to have technical communications background for this class Awareness of fundamental public safety communications technology Basic knowledge of the local, regional, tribal, and State Communications Plan/points of contact Completion of IS-100.b, IS-200.b, IS-700.a, and IS-800.b Familiarity with the pre-course reading materials

SPECIAL NOTE: No later than ten calendar days before the scheduled course, the course registrar will submit a student verification form attesting to prerequisite completion for all students and identifying the public safety entity the students are affiliated with.

4 For any OEC/ICTAP COMU training course (COML, COMT, INCM, INTD, RADO, AUXCOMM) requestors are encouraged to notify the State Training Officer (STO) prior to its start to ensure the course is documented in state training files.



Incident Tactical Dispatcher (INTD) Training (All-Hazards) Type of TA Offering: 4-Day Course

Stakeholders/Audience: Experienced Dispatchers who are familiar with the Incident Command System

Offering Overview: An Incident Tactical Dispatcher is a specially trained individual qualified to operate away from the dispatch center in a command post, base camp or at the incident scene. Incident Tactical Dispatchers leverage the multi-tasking, communication, accountability and documentation skills of successful telecommunicators to provide public safety communications expertise and support at planned events and extended incidents such as hostage situations, multi-alarm fires, search and rescue operations, bombings, and active shooter incidents. Incident Tactical Dispatchers may support the Communications Unit as a single resource or as part of an incident tactical dispatch team. This course provides a basic understanding for the roles and responsibilities of an incident tactical dispatcher working in a tactical environment.5 This course is taught by OEC/ICTAP instructors who have both dispatch and communications unit experience. The course provides a realistic, hands-on approach to mastering the tasks and skills of an Incident Tactical Dispatcher. This course is designed for experienced dispatchers who are familiar with the Incident Command System and dispatch operations. This course is four days long with an end of course INTD exercise on the fourth day. It is limited to 20 students. Each attendee participates in hands-on training exercises and receives a position task book.

Prerequisites for attendance are: A public safety background with three years of experience in dispatch operations - or - RADO

and 1 year experience in dispatch operations Awareness of fundamental public safety communications technology Completion of the OEC Communications Unit Awareness web-based course6 Completion of IS-100.b, IS-144, IS-200.b, IS-700.a, and IS-800.b

o ICS-300, Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents, is also

recommended.


5 For any OEC/ICTAP COMU training course (COML, COMT, INCM, INTD, RADO, AUXCOMM) requestors are encouraged to notify the State Training Officer (STO) prior to its start to ensure the course is documented in state training files. 6 The OEC Communications Unit Awareness course can be found at http://www.publicsafetytools.info.



Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM) Training Type of TA Offering: 3-Day Course

Stakeholders/Audience: COMLs, Dispatch Supervisors, Public Safety Communications Professionals

Offering Overview: COMLs and COMTs are not the only communications professionals who manage the communications needs of the incident. For some incidents, the COML establishes an Incident Communications Center staffed with Radio Operators to provide communications support for operations. Once radio personnel are on scene, it becomes important for an Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM) to be assigned for coordination purposes and to avoid span-of-control issues.

The All-Hazards Incident Communications Center Manager course is designed to prepare Communication Unit Leaders, Dispatch Supervisors and public safety communication professionals for managing all functions in the Incident Communications Center.7 The course is taught by instructors with experience in dispatch operations, COML and INCM. This 3-day course is limited to 20 students. Each attendee participates in hands on training exercises and receives a position task book.

Prerequisites for attendance are: Awareness of fundamental public safety communications technology Completion of the OEC Communications Unit Awareness web-based course8 Completion of IS-100.b, IS-144, IS-200.b, IS-700.a, and IS-800.b

o ICS-300, Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents, is also

recommended.


7 For any OEC/ICTAP COMU training course (COML, COMT, INCM, INTD, RADO, AUXCOMM) requestors are encouraged to notify the State Training Officer (STO) prior to its start to ensure the course is documented in state training files. 8 The OEC Communications Unit Awareness course can be found at http://www.publicsafetytools.info.



Radio Operator (RADO) Training Type of TA Offering: 2-Day Course

Stakeholders/Audience: Emergency Response Personnel who are familiar with the Incident Command System

Offering Overview: This class provides hands-on and lecture based training for the All-Hazards ICS RADO position. It introduces public safety professionals and support personnel to various Radio Operator concepts including radio etiquette, interoperable communications, dispatch operations and emergency communications procedures. Participants develop the essential core competencies used during incident response and planned events to perform the duties of the RADO in an all-hazards environment including communications support for public safety, wildfire, marine, aviation and HF radio communications. The responsibilities of an All-Hazards RADO can include staffing the Incident Communications Center, monitoring radio traffic, and base station operations for emergency operations centers, hospitals, dispatch centers and non-governmental organizations supporting civil emergency response at the state, local or regional level.9

This course is taught by OEC/ICTAP instructors who have both dispatch and communications unit experience. The course provides a realistic, hands-on approach to mastering the tasks and skills of an All-Hazards RADO. It is designed for emergency response professionals and support personnel in all disciplines who have a basic understanding of the all-hazard ICS communications unit. This course is two days long and is limited to 20 students. Each attendee participates in hands on training exercises and receives a position task book.

Prerequisites for attendance are: Awareness of fundamental public safety communications technology Completion of the OEC Communications Unit Awareness web-based course Completion of IS-100.b, IS-200.b, IS-700.a, and IS-800.b o ICS-300, Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents, is also

recommended.





Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM) Training Type of TA Offering: 2-Day Workshop Stakeholders/Audience: Licensed Amateur Radio Operators

Offering Overview: This class is designed for auxiliary communicators and groups who volunteer to provide backup radio communications support to public safety agencies. Typically, this includes amateur radio and Radio Emergency Associated Communications Team (REACT) communicators and other types of volunteer communicators.

Volunteer communications operators/groups, using amateur radio, have been providing backup communications to public safety for nearly 100 years. Event planners, public safety officials, and emergency managers at all levels of government utilize their services. Often, amateur radio services have been used when other forms of communications have failed or have been disrupted. Today, nearly all of the states/territories have incorporated some level of participation by amateur radio auxiliary communication operators into their TICPs and SCIPs.

This course focuses on auxiliary communications interoperability, the relationship between the COML and the volunteer, emergency operations center (EOC) etiquette, on-the-air etiquette, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations, auxiliary communications training and planning, and emergency communications deployment. It is intended to supplement and standardize an operator’s experience and knowledge of emergency amateur radio communications in a public safety context.

Prerequisites for attendance are: Completion of IS-100.b, IS-200.b, IS-700.a, and IS-800.b prior to the workshop10 An active FCC amateur radio license Past experience in auxiliary communications An affiliation with a public safety agency A desire to work with COMLs in a NIMS/ICS environment





COML Train-the-Trainer (TtT) and COMT Train-the-Trainer (TtT) Courses Type of TA Offering: COML TtT (3-Day Course) / COMT TtT (5-Day Course) Stakeholders/Audience: COMLs & COMTs with Completed Position Task Books

Offering Overview: These service offerings help states/territories create either a self-sustaining COML or COMT training program, depending on which TtT course is selected, by providing instructor training to individuals who have completed the associated basic COMU course (COML for the COML TtT course or COMT for the COMT TtT course). These courses help attendees develop essential core competencies required for teaching either the COML or COMT course within their own state, depending on which TtT course is selected. These courses support learning through discussion, lecture, participation in multiple activities and students teaching portions of the approved basic curriculum. This methodology provides a realistic, hands-on approach to mastering the skills of instructing either the COML or the COMT course. NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position-Specific Train-the-Trainer (TtT) training should be completed by personnel who are assigned to function in a COML position for the COML TtT course or COMT position for the COMT TtT course. Through experience and training, participants must demonstrate a working knowledge of ICS and the COMU position specific duties associated with the type of TtT course they are attending. Students must already be experienced in delivering adult education. Prerequisites for attendance are: For the COML TtT course only, submit a completed FEMA Form 119-25-1, General

Admissions Application, to the course registrar11 Course completion certificate from the three day OEC or FEMA/EMI COML course, or the five

day OEC COMT course, as applicable Signature pages from the corresponding COML or COMT Position Task Book dated within three

years of taking the applicable course12 IS-100.b, Introduction to the ICS IS-200.b, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents ICS-300, Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents ICS-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff IS-700.a, National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction IS-800.b, National Response Framework (NRF) SPECIAL NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their prerequisites for the class to OEC for vetting/review at least 30 days prior to the start of the class. Students must also provide documentation of successful completion of formal adult education or training on how to be an instructor. It is up to both the SWIC and the State Training Officer to mutually decide on what is considered “acceptable” instructor training/experience to meet the formal instructor educational requirements for attendance at either the COML TtT or COMT TtT course. 11 The STO is required to submit a course completion packet to FEMA after the course that consists of: a completed FEMA Form 119-25-1 and FEMA Course Evaluation form from each student, a copy of the “Request to Conduct” form submitted by OEC to FEMA and a typed class roster. 12 SWIC or State Training Officer endorsement as a future instructor in the state is required for attendance.



State-Sponsored, OEC Recognized COMU Instruction

Type of TA Offering: State-Sponsored COML/COMT/AUXCOMM Courses Stakeholders/Audience: Stakeholders

Offering Overview: The State-Sponsored/OEC Recognized Communications Unit (COMU) Training Program is a program in which a state uses its own OEC-recognized instructors to teach the same OEC/ICTAP curricula utilizing materials provided by OEC, and their students receive OEC course completion certificates for COMT and AUXCOMM training, and FEMA/EMI course completion certificates for COML training.

States may want personnel to receive the DHS/OEC standardized OEC COML, COMT or AUXCOMM training course for various reasons. First, students who successfully complete these courses, taught by OEC recognized instructors, will receive uniform, nationally-recognized instruction and a course completion certificate (from OEC/ICTAP for COMT and AUXCOMM, from FEMA for COML). Second, these students will be listed by OEC in the Communication Assets Survey and Mapping Next Generation (CASM NextGen) tool section (see www.publicsafetytools.info) for that state. This will assist the state in documenting the names and locations of COMLs, COMTs and AUXCOMM personnel across the state. Course completion certificates indicate successful completion of training and do not equate to a certification or credential.

The following are general guidelines for the state to conduct a state sponsored course using OEC Recognized Instructors. Questions regarding instructor requirements and conduct of the course can be emailed to [email protected]. OEC Recognized Instructor Requirements An “OEC recognized instructor” is defined as: An individual who meets, or exceeds, all OEC instructor requirements for a particular course that

is listed in the OEC COMU Instructor SOP. For COMT instructors: an individual must have completed the OEC COMT Train-the-Trainer

(TtT) course since 2011. For AUXCOMM instructors: an individual must be a state recognized COML, have completed

the COML TtT course since 2011, be currently licensed as a General Class amateur radio operator (or above) for the past three years and have completed the AUXCOMM course since 2010.

For COML instructors: an individual must be a state recognized COML, and must have completed the COML TtT course since 2011.

A state certified instructor in good standing with OEC and FEMA (for COML and AUXCOMM courses only) and the State Training Officer (STO) in the state where they wish to teach.

An instructor who provides copies of all their qualifications documentation to OEC, through the SWIC or the STO at least 30 days in advance of any COML, COMT or AUXCOMM course they wish to instruct.




Training & Exercises A state certified instructor, who is recommended by both the SWIC and the STO, as a Lead

Instructor or a Support Instructor, or both. An instructor who meets any additional state requirements prior to instructing a state-

sponsored course. Lead instructors: must show evidence that they have a minimum of five years of operational

field experience with a public safety emergency response discipline (for example, fire, emergency medical service, law enforcement, public works, public health, wild land fire agency, etc.). In addition, lead instructors must show evidence of having a minimum of 3 years of experience delivering emergency management training to audiences comprised of incident management and/or emergency response personnel.

Support instructors: must show evidence that they have a minimum of three years of operational field experience with a public safety emergency response discipline (for example, fire, emergency medical service, law enforcement, public works, public health or wild land fire agency). A support instructor may begin serving as a lead instructor when he/she meets all of the qualifications in both training and experience for lead instructors.

Individuals who meet the OEC instructor requirements must be recommended by the state in which they wish to teach to be an OEC recognized instructor. For those individuals who otherwise meet all requirements except for having completed a TtT course and who a state wants to nominate for OEC recognition, OEC will annually conduct one COML TtT course and one COMT TtT course, assuming that these courses can be filled to capacity. A minimum of nine requests from nine individuals will be required for the COMT TtT course to be conducted. A minimum of nine requests from nine individuals will be required for the COML TtT course. Questions about the costs may be emailed to [email protected]. Once a space is reserved for a student, the applicant will have seven days to provide prerequisite documentation to OEC to show they have met all course prerequisites. If documentation is not provided, the reservation will be released for reassignment. State Requirements States desiring to use this State-Sponsored/OEC Recognized COMU Instruction Program for students to obtain OEC or FEMA course completion certificates, as applicable to the course, will follow the guidelines below: The STO and/or the SWIC must approve the state sponsored course. The STO or the SWIC must recommend to OEC individuals from their state who they want

to become OEC recognized instructors. The STO/SWIC will ensure that their recommended instructors submit documentation

showing completion of all prerequisites to OEC at least 30 days in advance of the course. States wishing to use a qualified adjunct instructor13 to assist with these courses will notify

OEC via email and include the adjunct instructor’s qualifications, job title, their associated public safety agency and all documentation showing completion of all OEC instructor prerequisites.

13 To be an “adjunct instructor” means that an individual has met all the requirements of a “recognized” OEC instructor but has not yet had the opportunity to actually teach the course.




The STO and/or SWIC will notify OEC via email, no less than 30 days prior to the start of the state-sponsored COML, COMT or AUXCOMM course, that they intend to hold a class and would like to have their students receive OEC/ICTAP completion certificates for COMT and AUXCOMM courses, or FEMA completion certificates for COML courses.

This email should include: A statement from the SWIC or STO certifying that the proposed OEC recognized

instructors have met all state instructor requirements. The state POC’s business address, where the COMT or AUXCOMM course completion

certificates are to be sent after completion of the class. OEC/ICTAP will not distribute certificates to each student's address. FEMA COML course completion certificates are emailed directly to the students.

A statement that the state accepts all responsibility and liability for the course, its students and the instructors.

Guidelines for Course Conduct: In order to receive course completion certificates, the OEC-recognized instructors will: Obtain all logistical support from the state. Ensure all course documentation (student prerequisites validation, attendee sign-in and

attendance sheets, typed class rosters, and student evaluations) and processes follow OEC/ICTAP course guidelines.

Will teach the state sponsored COML, COMT or AUXCOMM course without any changes, additions or deletions to the OEC/ICTAP core curriculum. Any additional material the state wishes to have taught must be taught either before or after the OEC curriculum.

Will send a copy of all student sign-in sheets, the typed class roster and class evaluations to OEC, the SWIC and STO.

Certify on the typed class roster that the students attended all sessions and successfully completed the course. Course completion certificates will only be provided to students who attend all sessions and successfully complete the course.

Maintain copies of all documentation required by the State and OEC in accordance with state retention policies.

Ensure an OEC Technical Assistance Evaluation Form is completed and returned to OEC/ICTAP.

OEC/ICTAP Processes for State-Sponsored Courses: OEC will provide the following support: Conduct one national COMT TtT annually when nine individual student requests have been

received. Conduct one COML TtT course annually when nine individual student requests have been

received. Maintain a file copy of all certifications/qualifications of OEC recognized instructors. Respond to SWIC and/or STO requests for a state-sponsored COML, COMT or

AUXCOMM course.



Issue OEC/ICTAP course completion certificates to the designated state point of contact within two weeks of receipt of the certified typed class roster and the OEC Technical Assistance Evaluation for COMT and AUXCOMM courses.

Add the roster of students that have completed the OEC approved state-sponsored COMU course into CASM NextGen.

Note: OEC may observe courses on site with prior notification to the SWIC or STO. Questions may be emailed to [email protected].




Audio Gateway Information and Training Type of TA Offering: Hands-on Workshop Stakeholders/Audience: COMU Personnel (COMT & Technical Specialists)

Offering Overview: This offering provides different levels of understanding on gateway (i.e., audio bridge) functionality and operations. Participation in all three modules should prepare state/territory, tribal, regional, or urban area personnel for activation and deactivation of available gateways.

Training Modules:

Gateway Overview. A high-level overview for personnel requiring a basic understanding of audio gateway functionality.

Advanced Audio Gateway Operation. Targeted for personnel such as Communications Unit Leaders (COML), Communications Unit Technicians (COMT), and agency communication technical specialists who need a more advanced understanding of gateway operations; for example, use-specific issues such as co-site RF interference.

Gateway Hands-on Configuration. This module focuses on specific equipment and is for gateway installers, maintenance technicians, and specialists.

The workshop’s lectures, discussions, and practical exercises are focused on the gateways specific to the site and are intended to prepare personnel in the region to quickly activate and deactivate their own equipment. The total workshop is approximately six to eight hours long. Each module is intended to build on previous module(s). The training session can accommodate approximately 20 students for modules 1 and 2 but no more than 10 for module 3.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Lack of basic understanding of audio gateway functionality • Lack of advanced audio gateway operations for COMU personnel • Limited operator proficiency • Identifying communications interoperability issues

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: High level overview for audio gateways Audio gateway integration into ICS operations for COMU personnel Hands on training RF interference mitigation techniques


Communication Assets Survey and Mapping (CASM) Tool – Next Generation Type of TA Offering: CASM support both on-site and/or via webinar Stakeholders/Audience: Communications Planners, System Owners, COMU

Personnel

Offering Overview: OEC/ICTAP provides, at no-cost to authorized requestors, a secure web-based tool for all public safety agencies to maintain, share, and visualize their radio communications asset information for coordination and planning purposes. This offering provides assistance in establishing, maintaining, and sharing communications resource information in the CASM Tool, as well as training on its operation for interoperability planning.

Currently, CASM stores data regarding over 96,000 agencies nationwide on a secure server with multiple levels of access depending on authorizations. CASM maintains data about public safety agencies and their radio communications equipment across all public safety disciplines. CASM provides a nation-wide Google-maps based view of agencies, fixed and mobile assets, FCC information, as well as coverage plots for associated transceivers.

CASM provides a means to maintain, find, report, and share information about agencies, POCs, communication assets (such as COMU personnel, Coverage Plots, radio systems, Dispatch Centers, mutual aid channels/sets, gateways, radio caches and Mobile Communication Assets), and agency ownership, sharing, and usage of those assets.

It is important that data in CASM be as complete and accurate as possible to ensure communications planning is effective. CASM Subject Matter Experts (SME's) will review a site database for duplicates, errors, consistency & logic. This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following goals:

• Ability to keep track of communications equipment and have real time location reporting • Ability to engage with other jurisdictions to do detailed planning • Ability to keep track of trained COMU personnel • Seek to standardize Regional planning • Desire access to a broad community of expertise

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Access to radio system channels used by an agency or programmed in radio caches Standardization of talk groups provided by a trunked radio system, used by an agency, or

programmed in a radio cache Information about communications sites, i.e., tower, shelter, and associated asset information Information about dispatch centers and the agencies served Information about mobile communication units (MCUs)

Usage


Usage

Government Emergency Telephone Service (GETS) / Wireless Priority Service (WPS) and Technical Service Priority (TSP) Support Type of TA Offering: Webinar Stakeholders/Audience: Public Safety Managers and Stakeholders

Offering Overview: Federal, state, local and tribal government organizations rely on a mix of communications devices to communicate during an emergency. When communicating by cellular or landline networks, government users share those networks with the public. Should those networks become overloaded due to high call volumes or other impairment, responders may not be able to communicate at a critical moment.

GETS provides National Security Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) personnel priority access and prioritized processing in the local and long distance segments of the landline networks, greatly increasing the probability of call completion. Typical GETS users are responsible for the command and control functions critical to management of, and response to, national security and emergencies, particularly during the first 24 to 72 hours following an event. There is no charge to subscribe to GETS; the only charge for GETS is usage. The Office of Emergency Communications recommends that individuals requesting WPS also request a GETS card. The registration process will allow you to request both services at the same time.

This offering is applicable to States with some or all of the following challenges: • Limited understanding of GETS,WPS, TSP • Why is GETS, WPS, TSP important to me? • When do I use GETS, WPS, TSP? • How does GETS, WPS, TSP work? • Will GETS work with my cell phone?

Customized support for this offering may look different to meet each State’s unique needs. Potential design options, outcomes and deliverables may include: Thirty-minute webinar Explanation of NS/EP Telecommunications Services How to request NS/EP services Eligibility criteria and costs


DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of Emergency Communications Technical Assistance (TA) and Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP)

Workshop Request Form

Technical Assistance and SCIP Workshop requests can be submitted by accessing the online form located on the

Public Safety Tools site: www.publicsafetytools.info or by scanning this completed form and emailing it to:

[email protected]

(Requestor) Contact Information:

State:

Name:

Phone:

Email:

OEC Coordinator:

SCIP Workshop Section:

Priority SCIP Workshop Focus Please Provide Additional Background or Details

SCIP Update/Review

Enhanced SCIP Process Pilot*

Governance

Funding

Technology

Broadband & NG9-1-1

Other

*Coordinate with the appropriate OEC Regional Coordinator prior to submission

Requester’s target date range for SCIP Workshop: From: To:

OMB No. 1670-0023 Expiration Date: 6/30/2019

Appendix A


Appendix A


Office of Emergency Communications

Technical Assistance (TA) and Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Workshop Request Form

Prioritized TA Selections

For FY2017, OEC/ICTA P w ill consider TA requests that address interoperable communication gaps identif ied in the SCIP’s Goals and Initiatives. Please indicate in the description of assistance block on the continuation sheet (Page 3 of the TA Request Form), how each requested TA service offering relates to interoperability communication gaps identif ied in the SCIP. TA services align w ith the lanes of the SAFECOM Continuum and may be tailored to the specif ic needs of the state/territory SCIP. SWIC / SCIP POC Signature and Date of Concurrence from the SIEC/SIGB or Equivalent Chair are required for all new TA Requests.

Priority SAFECOM Continuum Lane TA Offering Timeframe

From/To Primary Point of Contact

(Name, Phone, Email)

1

2

3

4

5

SWIC / SCIP POC SIEC / SIGB / Chair Concurrence (Date)

Submission Date



Appendix A


Office of Emergency Communications

Technical Assistance (TA) and Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Workshop Request Form

CONTINUATION SHEET –TA REQUEST FORM

Pleas e Provide Additional Background or Details about these Requests (Corresponding to the Respective Request Number).

Priority Description of Assistance

1

2

3

4

5



Public Safety Tools Site The OEC/ICTAP Public Safety Tools Site supports Emergency Communications Professional and Responders by providing access to tools, resources, and training for maintaining interoperable emergency communications systems, policies and procedures. TA and SCIP Workshop Request Form for SWICs’ use and the TA Evaluation Form for stakeholders’ feedback are posted with instructions for their completion here: www.publicsafetytools.info

Questions or Comments about this site may be submitted by clicking the “PSToolsHelp” in the toolbar or directly to [email protected].

Appendix B

This icon takes the user to the TA Guide, on-line TA request

form & TA evaluation

form.

This icon takes the user to a secure web

based tool for communications asset tracking.

User ID and password required.

This icon takes the user to a Public Safety

Document Library. Click

on the Web view to search.



interoperable communications technical assistance program ... · interoperable communications...

Documents