**Chapter** **08**

**Interagency Coordination & Cooperation**

Introduction

Fire management planning, preparedness, prevention, suppression, fire
use, restoration and rehabilitation, monitoring, research, and education
will be conducted on an interagency basis with the involvement of
cooperators and partners. The same capabilities used in wildland fire
management will also be used, when appropriate and authorized, on
non-fire incidents in the United States and on both wildland fires and
non-fire incidents internationally.

**National Wildland Fire Cooperative Agreements**

**USDOI and USDA Interagency Agreement for Fire Management**

The objectives of the *Interagency Agreement for Fire Management Between
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),
National Park Service (NPS), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the
United States Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Forest Service
(FS) of the United States Department of Agriculture* are:

-   To provide a basis for cooperation among the agencies on all aspects
    of wildland fire management and as authorized in non-fire
    emergencies.

-   To facilitate the exchange of personnel, equipment (including
    aircraft), supplies, services, and funds among the agencies.

**DOI, USDA, and DOD Interagency Agreement**

The purpose of the *Interagency Agreement for the Provision of Temporary
Support During Wildland Firefighting Operations among the United States
Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Agriculture,
and the United States Department of Defense* is

-   To establish the general guidelines, terms and conditions under
    which NIFC will request and DOD will provide temporary support to
    NIFC in wildland fire emergencies occurring within all 50 States,
    the District of Columbia, and all U.S. Territories and Possessions,
    including fires on States and private lands. It is also intended to
    provide the basis for reimbursement of DOD under the Economy Act.

These and other agreements pertinent to interagency wildland fire
management can be found in their entirety in the *National Interagency
Mobilization Guide* (NFES #2092).

**National Wildland Fire Oversight Structure**

**Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC)**

The Council is a cooperative, interagency organization dedicated to
achieving consistent implementation of the goals, actions, and policies
in the National Fire Plan and the Federal Wildland Fire Management
Policy. The Council provides leadership and oversight to ensure policy
coordination, accountability and effective implementation of the
National Fire Plan and the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.

The Council consists of the Department of Agriculture\'s Undersecretary
for Natural Resources and the Environment and the Chief of the U.S.
Forest Service, the Department of the Interior\'s Directors of the
National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land
Management, the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs and the Chief of
Staff to the Secretary of the Interior. Staffing the Council will be
coordinated by the Department of Agriculture\'s Office of Fire and
Aviation Management and the Department of the Interior\'s Office of
Wildland Fire Coordination.

**Office of Wildland Fire Coordination (OWFC)**

The Office of Wildland Fire Coordination (OWFC) is a Department of the
Interior organization responsible for managing, coordinating and
overseeing the Department's wildland fire management programs and
policies. They include: smoke management, preparedness, suppression,
emergency stabilization and rehabilitation, rural fire assistance,
prevention, biomass, hazardous fuels, budget and financial initiatives,
and information technology. The OWFC also coordinates with interagency
partners including government and non-government groups.

**The National Fire and Aviation Executive Board (NFAEB)**

The National Fire and Aviation Executive Board (NFAEB) is a
self-directed group comprised of the federal agency Fire Directors
established to resolve wildland fire management issues common to its
members. The board seeks to improve coordination and integration of
federal fire and aviation programs, while recognizing individual agency
missions. The Board focuses on issues currently impacting wildland fire
management and provides a forum for better utilization of fire
management resources.

**National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)**

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) is made up of the USDA
Forest Service (FS); four Department of the Interior agencies: Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS); and State
forestry agencies through the National Association of State Foresters
(NASF). The mission of the NWCG is to provide leadership in establishing
and maintaining consistent interagency standards and guidelines,
qualifications, and communications for wildland fire management. Its
goal is to provide more effective execution of each agency's fire
management program. The group provides a formalized system to agree upon
standards of training, equipment, qualifications, and other operational
functions.

**Multi-Agency Management and Coordination**

**National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group**

National multi-agency coordination is overseen by the National
Multi-Agency Coordination (NMAC) Group, which consists of one
representative each from the following agencies: BLM, FWS, NPS, BIA, FS,
NASF, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency - United States Fire
Administration (FEMA-USFA), who have been delegated authority by their
respective agency directors to manage wildland fire operations on a
national scale when fire management resource shortages are probable. The
delegated authorities include:

-   Provide oversight of general business practices between the National
    Multi-Agency Coordination (NMAC) group and the Geographic Area
    Multi-Agency Coordination (GMAC) groups.

-   Establish priorities among geographic areas.

-   Direct, control, allocate and reallocate resources among or between
    geographic areas to meet NMAC priorities.

-   Implement decisions of the NMAC.

**Geographic Area Coordinating Groups**

Geographic area multi-agency coordination is overseen by GMAC Groups,
which are comprised of geographic area (State, Region) lead
administrators or fire managers from agencies that have jurisdictional
or support responsibilities, or that may be significantly impacted by
resource commitments. GMAC responsibilities include:

-   Establish priorities for the geographic area.

-   Acquire, allocate, and reallocate resources.

-   Issue coordinated and collective situation status reports.

**Sub-Geographic/Local Area Multi-Agency Coordinating Groups**

Sub-geographic or local area multi-agency coordination is overseen by
Sub-Geographic/Local Area Multi-Agency Coordinating Groups, which are
comprised of local area lead administrators or fire managers from
agencies that have jurisdictional or support responsibilities, or that
may be significantly impacted by resource commitments. Local MAC
responsibilities include:

-   Establish priorities for the local area.

-   Acquire, allocate, and reallocate resources.

-   Issue coordinated and collective situation status reports.

For additional information on MAC Groups see Chapter 11 of this book,
Chapter 30 of the *National Interagency Mobilization Guide* or pertinent
Geographic Area mobilization guides*.*

**National Dispatch*/*Coordination System**

The wildland fire dispatch system in the United States has three levels
(tiers):

-   National

-   Geographic

-   Local

Logistical dispatch operations occur at all three levels, while initial
attack dispatch operations occur primarily at the local level. Any
geographic area or local dispatch center using a dispatch system outside
the three-tier system must justify why a non-standard system is being
used.

-   ***BLM -** Any geographic area or local dispatch center using a
    dispatch structure outside the approved three-tier system must
    annually request written authorization from the Director, Office of
    Fire and Aviation.*

-   ***FS -** Any geographic area or local dispatch center using a
    dispatch structure outside the approved three-tier system must
    annually request written authorization from the Forest Service
    Regional Director of Fire and Aviation.*

**National Interagency Mobilization Guide**

The *National Interagency Mobilization Guide* (NFES 2092) identifies
standard procedures which guide the operations of multi-agency
logistical support activity throughout the coordination system. The
guide is intended to facilitate interagency dispatch coordination,
ensuring timely and cost effective incident support. Local and
Geographic Area Mobilization Guides should be used to supplement the
*National Interagency Mobilization Guide.*

**National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC**)

The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) is located at the
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), Boise, Idaho. The principal
mission of the NICC is the cost-effective and timely coordination of
land management agency emergency response for wildland fire at the
national level. This is accomplished through planning, situation
monitoring, and expediting resources orders between the BIA Areas, BLM
States, NASF, FWS Regions, FS Regions, NPS Regions, National Weather
Service (NWS) Regions, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Regions through the United States Fire Administration (USFA), and other
cooperating agencies.

NICC supports non-fire emergencies when tasked by an appropriate agency,
such as FEMA, through the National Response Plan. NICC collects and
consolidates information from the GACCs and disseminates the *National
Incident Management Situation Report* through the NICC website at

<http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf>

**Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACCs)**

There are 11 GACCs, each of which serves a specific geographic portion
of the United States. Each GACC interacts with the local dispatch
centers, as well as with NICC and neighboring GACCs. Refer to the
*National Interagency Mobilization Guide* for a complete directory of
GACC locations, addresses, and personnel.

The principal mission of each GACC is to provide the cost-effective and
timely coordination of emergency response for all incidents within the
specified geographic area. GACCs are also responsible for determining
needs, coordinating priorities, and facilitating the mobilization of
resources from their areas to other geographic areas.

Each GACC prepares an intelligence report that consolidates fire and
resource status information received from each of the local dispatch
centers in its area. This report is sent to NICC and to the local
dispatch centers, caches, and agency managers in the geographic area.

**Local Dispatch Centers**

Local dispatch centers, are located throughout the country as dictated
by the needs of fire management agencies. The principal mission of a
local dispatch center is to provide safe, timely, and cost-effective
coordination of emergency response for all incidents within its
specified geographic area. This most often entails the coordination of
initial attack responses and the ordering of additional resources when
fires escape initial attack.

Local dispatch centers are also responsible for supplying intelligence
information relating to fires and resource status to their GACC and to
their agency managers and cooperators. Local dispatch centers may work
for or with numerous agencies, but should only report to one GACC.

Some local dispatch centers are also tasked with law enforcement and
agency administrative workloads for non-fire operations; if this is the
case, a commensurate amount of funding and training should be provided
by the benefiting activity to accompany the increased workload. If a
non-wildland fire workload is generated by another agency operating in
an interagency dispatch center, the agency generating the additional
workload should offset this increased workload with additional funding
or personnel.

**Standards for Cooperative Agreements**

**Agreement Policy**

Agreements will be comprised of two components: the actual agreement and
an operations plan. The agreement will outline the authority and general
responsibilities of each party and the operations plan will define the
specific operating procedures.

Any agreement which obligates federal funds or commits anything of value
must be signed by the appropriate warranted contracting officer.
Specifications for funding responsibilities should include billing
procedures and schedules for payment.

Any agreement that extends beyond a fiscal year must be made subject to
the availability of funds. Any transfer of federal property must be in
accordance with federal property management regulations.

All agreements must undergo periodic joint review; and, as appropriate,
revision.

Assistance in preparing agreements can be obtained from local or state
office fire and*/*or procurement staff.

All appropriate agreements and operating plans will be provided to the
servicing dispatch center. The authority to enter into interagency
agreements is extensive.

-   ***BLM** - BLM Manual 9200, Departmental Manual 620 DM, the
    Reciprocal Fire Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. 1856, and the Federal
    Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review.*

-   ***FWS** - Service Manual, Departmental Manual 620 DM, and
    Reciprocal Fire Protection Act, 42U.S.C. 1856.*

-   ***NPS** - Chapter 2, Federal Assistance and Interagency Agreements
    Guideline (DO-20), and the Departmental Manual 620 (DM-620).
    NPS-RM-18, Interagency Agreements, Release Number 1, 02/22/99.*

-   ***FS** - FSM 1580, 5106.2 and FSH 1509.11.*

**Elements of an Agreement**

The following elements should be addressed in each agreement:

-   The authorities appropriate for each party to enter in an agreement.

-   The roles and responsibilities of each agency signing the agreement.

-   An element addressing the cooperative roles of each participant in
    prevention, pre-suppression, suppression, fuels, and prescribed fire
    management operations.

-   Reimbursements*/*Compensation - All mutually approved operations
    that require reimbursement and*/*or compensation will be identified
    and agreed to by all participating parties through a cost-share
    agreement. The mechanism and timing of the funding exchanges will be
    identified and agreed upon.

-   Appropriation Limitations - Parties to this agreement are not
    obligated to make expenditures of funds or reimbursements of
    expenditures under terms of this agreement unless the Congress of
    the United States of America appropriates such funds for that
    purpose by the Counties of -\_\_\_\_\_, by the Cities of \_\_\_\_\_,
    and*/*or the Governing Board of Fire Commissioners of\_\_\_\_\_.

-   Liabilities*/*Waivers - Each party waives all claims against every
    other party for compensation for any loss, damage, personal injury,
    or death occurring as a consequence of the performance of this
    agreement unless gross negligence on any part of any party is
    determined.

-   Termination Procedure - The agreement shall identify the duration of
    the agreement and cancellation procedures.

-   A signature page identifying the names of the responsible officials
    should be included in the agreement.

-   ***NPS -** Refer to DO-20 for detailed instructions and format for
    developing agreements.*

    Annual Operating Plans (AOPs)

    Annual Operating Plan, shall be reviewed, updated, and approved
    prior to the fire season. The plan may be amended after a major
    incident as part of a joint debriefing and review.

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-   The plan shall contain detailed, specific procedures which will
    provide for safe, efficient, and effective operations.

    **Elements of an AOP**

    The following items shall be addressed in the AOP:

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-   **Mutual Aid**

> The AOP should address that there may be times when cooperators are
> involved in emergency operations and unable to provide mutual aid. In
> this case other cooperators may be contacted for assistance.

-   **Command Structure**

> Unified command should be used, as appropriate, whenever multiple
> jurisdictions are involved, unless one or more parties request a
> single agency incident commander (IC). If there is a question about
> jurisdiction, fire managers should mutually decide and agree on the
> command structure as soon as they arrive on the fire; agency
> administrators should confirm this decision as soon as possible. Once
> this decision has been made, the incident organization in use should
> be relayed to all units on the incident as well as dispatch centers.
> In all cases, the identity of the IC must be made known to all
> fireline and support personnel.

-   **Communications**

> Radios being used in wildland firefighting operations must be able to
> function in both wideband and narrowband mode. In mutual aid
> situations, a common designated radio frequency identified in the AOP
> should be used for incident communications. All incident resources
> should utilize and monitor this frequency for incident information,
> tactical use, and changes in weather conditions or other emergency
> situations. In some cases, because of equipment availability*/*
> capabilities, departments*/* agencies may have to use their own
> frequencies for tactical operations, allowing the "common" frequency
> to be the link between departments. It is important that all
> department /agencies change to a single frequency or establish a
> common communications link as soon as practical. Clear text should be
> used. Avoid personal identifiers, such as names. This paragraph in the
> Annual Operating Plan shall meet Federal Communications Commission
> (FCC) requirements for documenting shared use of radio frequencies.

-   **Distance*/*Boundaries**

> Responding and requesting parties should identify any mileage
> limitations from mutual boundaries where "mutual aid" is either pay or
> non-pay status. Also, for some fire departments, the mileage issue may
> not be one of initial attack "mutual aid," but of mutual assistance.
> In this situation, you may have the option to make it part of this
> agreement or identify it as a situation where the request would be
> made to the agency having jurisdiction, which would then dispatch the
> fire department.

-   **Time*/*Duration**

> Responding and requesting parties should identify time limitations
> (usually 24 hours) for resources in a non-reimbursable status, and
> "rental rates" when the resources are in a reimbursable status. Use of
> geographic area interagency equipment rates is strongly encouraged.

-   **Qualifications*/*Minimum Requirements**

> Agencies, under the National Interagency Incident Management System
> (NIIMS) concept, have agreed to accept cooperator's standards for fire
> personnel qualifications and equipment during initial attack. Once
> jurisdiction is clearly established, then the standards of the
> agency(s) with jurisdiction prevail. This direction may be found in
> the documents *NWCG [Clarification of Qualifications Standards
> - Initial Attack
> 6/20/01](http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/docs/clarification.pdf).*

-   **Reimbursement*/*Compensation**

> Compensation should be "standard" for all fire departments in the
> geographic area. The rates identified shall be used. Reimbursements
> should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, as some fire departments
> may not expect full compensation, but only reimbursement for their
> actual costs. Vehicles and equipment operated under the federal excess
> property system will only be reimbursed for maintenance and operating
> costs.

-   **Cooperation**

> The annual operating plan will be used to identify how the cooperators
> will share expertise, training, and information on items such as
> prevention, investigation, safety, and training.

-   **Dispatch Center**

> Dispatch centers will ensure all resources know the name of the
> assigned IC and announce all changes in incident command. Geographic
> Area Mobilization Guides, Zone Mobilization Guides and Local
> Mobilization Guides should include this procedure as they are revised
> for each fire season.

Types of Agreements

**National Interagency Agreements**

The national agreement, which serves as an umbrella for interagency
assistance among federal agencies is the Interagency Agreement Between
the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of
the Interior, and the Forest Service of the United States Department of
Agriculture. This and other national agreements give substantial
latitude while providing a framework for the development of state and
local agreements and operating plans.

**Regional*/*State Interagency Agreements**

Regional and state cooperative agreements shall be developed for mutual
aid assistance. These agreements are essential to the fire management
program. Concerns for area-wide scope should be addressed through these
agreements.

**Local Interagency Agreements**

Local units are responsible for developing agreements or contracts with
local agencies and fire departments to meet mutual needs for suppression
and*/*or prescribed fire services.

**Emergency Assistance**

Approved, established interagency emergency assistance agreements are
the appropriate and recommended way to provide emergency assistance. If
no agreements are established, refer to your agency administrator to
determine the authorities delegated to your agency to provide emergency
assistance.

**Contracts**

Contracts may be used where they are the most cost-effective means of
providing for protection commensurate with established standards. A
contract, however, does not absolve an agency administrator of the
responsibility for managing a fire program. The office's approved fire
management plan must define the role of the contractor in the overall
program.

Contracts should be developed and administered in accordance with
federal acquisition regulations. In particular, a contract should
specify conditions for abandonment of a fire in order to respond to a
new call elsewhere.

**Domestic Non-Wildland Fire Coordination and Cooperation**

**Homeland Security Act**

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) established the
Department of Homeland Security with the mandate and legal authority to
protect the American people from the continuing threat of terrorism. In
the act, Congress also assigned DHS as the primary focal point regarding
natural and manmade crises and emergency planning.

**Stafford Act Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance**

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(Public Law 93‑288, as amended) establishes the programs and processes
for the Federal Government to provide disaster and emergency assistance
to states, local governments, tribal nations, individuals, and qualified
private non-profit organizations. The provisions of the Stafford Act
cover all hazards including natural disasters and terrorist events. In a
major disaster or emergency as defined by the act, the President "may
direct any federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to utilize its
authorities and the resources granted to it under federal law (including
personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, and managerial, technical,
and advisory services) in support of state and local assistance
efforts."

**Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5**

HSPD-5, Management of Domestic Incidents, February 28, 2003, is intended
to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents
by establishing a single, comprehensive national incident management
system. HSPD-5 designates the Secretary of Homeland Security and the
Principal Federal Official (PFO) for domestic incident management and
empowers the Secretary to coordinate Federal resources used in response
to or recovery from terrorist attacks, major disasters, or other
emergencies in specific cases.

**National Incident Management System (NIMS)**

HSPD-5 directed that the DHS Secretary develop and administer a National
Incident Management System (NIMS) to provide a consistent, nationwide
approach for Federal, State, and local governments to work effectively
and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from
domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. To provide
for interoperability and compatibility among federal, state, and local
capabilities, the NIMS will include a core set of concept, principles,
terminology, and technologies covering the incident command system:
multi-agency coordination systems; unified command; training;
identification and management of resources (including systems for
classifying types of resources); qualifications and certification; and
the collection, tracking, and reporting of incident information and
incident resources.

**National Response Plan**

Federal disaster relief and emergency assistance are managed under the
Department of Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and
Response/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/EPR/FEMA) using the
National Response Plan (NRP). The NRP, using the NIMS, is an all-hazards
plan that establishes a single, comprehensive framework for the
management of domestic incidents. The NRP provides the structure and
mechanisms for the coordination of Federal support to State, local, and
tribal incident managers and for exercising direct Federal authorities
and responsibilities.

**Emergency Support Function (ESF) Annexes**

The NRP includes 15 Emergency Support Function (ESF) Annexes, which are
a component of the NRP that detail the mission, policies, structures,
and responsibilities of Federal agencies for coordinating resource and
programmatic support to the States, tribes, and other Federal agencies
or other jurisdictions and entities during Incidents of National
Significance. Each ESF Annex identifies the ESF coordinator and the
primary and support agencies pertinent to the ESF. The primary agency
serves as a Federal executive agent under the Federal Coordinating
Officer to accomplish the ESF mission. Support agencies, when requested
by the DHS or the designated ESF primary agency, are responsible for
conducting operations using their own authorities, subject-matter
experts, capabilities, or resources. USDA-FS is the coordinator and
primary agency for ESF #4 -- Firefighting. Other USDA-FS and DOI
responsibilities are:

**ESF Support Annex** **USDA-FS Role DOI Role**

\# 1 Transportation Support Support

\# 2 Communications Support Support

\# 3 Public Works and Engineering Support Support

\# 4 Firefighting Coord. & Primary Support

\# 5 Emergency Management Support Support

\# 6 Mass Care, Housing, and Human

Services Support Support

\# 7 Resource Support Support

\# 8 Public Health and Medical Services Support

\# 9 Urban Search and Rescue Support

\# 10 Oil and HazMat Response Support Support

\# 11 Agriculture and Natural Resources Primary

\# 12 Energy Support

\# 13 Public Safety and Security Support Support

\# 14 Long-term Community Recovery

and Mitigation Support

#15 External Affairs Support

Non-Stafford Act Non-Wildland Fire Coordination and Cooperation

In an actual or potential Incident of National Significance that is not
encompassed by the Stafford Act, the President may instruct a Federal
department or agency, subject to any statutory limitations on the
department or agency, to utilize the authorities and resources granted
to it by Congress. In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential
Directive-5, Federal departments and agencies are expected to provide
their full and prompt cooperation, available resources, and support, and
appropriate and consistent with their own responsibilities for
protecting national security.

International Wildland Fire Coordination and Cooperation

**U.S. - Mexico Cross Border Cooperation on Wildland Fires**

In June of 1999, the Department of Interior and the Department of
Agriculture signed a Wildfire Protection Agreement with Mexico. The
agreement has two purposes:

-   To enable wildfire protection resources originating in the territory
    of one country to cross the United States-Mexico border in order to
    suppress wildfires on the other side of the border within the zone
    of mutual assistance (10 miles*/*16 kilometers) in appropriate
    circumstances.

-   To give authority for Mexican and U.S. fire management organizations
    to cooperate on other fire management activities outside the zone of
    mutual assistance.

National Operational Guidelines for this agreement are located in
Chapter 40 of the *National Interagency Mobilization Guide*. These
guidelines cover issues at the national level and also provide a
template for those issues that need to be addressed in local operating
plans. The local operating plans identify how the agreement will be
implemented by the GACCs (and Zone Coordination Centers) that have
dispatching responsibility on the border. The local operating plans will
provide the standard operational procedures for wildfire suppression
resources that could potentially cross the U.S. border into Mexico.

**U.S. - Canada, Reciprocal Forest Firefighting Arrangement**

Information about United States - Canada cross border support is located
in Chapter 40 of the *National Interagency Mobilization Guide*. This
chapter provides policy guidance, which was determined by an exchange of
diplomatic notes between the U.S. and Canada in 1982. This chapter also
provides operational guidelines for the Canada -- U.S. Reciprocal Forest
Fire Fighting Arrangement. These guidelines are updated yearly.

**U.S. - Australia*/*New Zealand Wildland Fire Arrangement**

Information about United States - Australia*/*New Zealand support is
located in Chapter 40 of the *National Interagency Mobilization Guide*.
This chapter provides a copy of the arrangements signed between the U.S.
and the states of Australia and the country of New Zealand for support
to one another during severe fire seasons. It also contains the Annual
Operating Plan that provides more detail on the procedures,
responsibilities, and requirements used during activation.

**International Non-Wildland Fire Coordination and Cooperation**

**International Disasters Support**

Federal wildland fire employees may be requested through the Forest
Service, to support the U.S. Government's (USG) response to
international disasters by serving on Disaster Assistance Response Teams
(DARTs). A DART is the operational equivalent of an ICS team used by the
U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster
Assistance (OFDA) to provide an on-the-ground operational capability at
the site of an international disaster. Prior to being requested for a
DART assignment, employees will have completed a weeklong DART training
course covering information about:

-   USG agencies charged with the responsibility to coordinate USG
    responses to international disaster.

-   The purpose, organizational structure, and operational procedures of
    a DART.

-   How the DART relates to other international organizations and
    countries during an assignment. Requests for these assignments are
    coordinated through the FS International Programs, Disaster
    Assistance Support Program (DASP).

-   DART assignments should not be confused with technical exchange
    activities, which do not require DART training. More information
    about DARTs can be obtained at the FS International Program's
    website: <http://www.fs.fed.us/global/aboutus/dasp/welcome.htm>.