Office for Domestic Preparedness 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

ODP Information Bulletin 

No. 132 September 1, 2004 

TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads 

 All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

 All State Homeland Security Directors 

FROM: C. Suzanne Mencer 

 Director 

SUBJECT: Notification of ODP Initiatives Included in the Interagency Security Plan 

Background 

In April 2004, Secretary Tom Ridge announced the development of an Interagency Security Plan 

that would identify and prioritize specific policies and strategies to increase vigilance, reduce 

vulnerabilities, and enhance response capabilities on a national scale. This plan focuses on a 

season rich with symbolic opportunities from spring 2004 to January 2005 that could prove to be 

attractive targets for terrorists. 

An interagency working group, comprised of federal, state, local and private sector stakeholders, 

focused its efforts on identifying and prioritizing sustainable policies, strategies, programs and 

technological solutions that will enhance the nation’s security posture. The Interagency Security 

Plan consists of a wide and comprehensive spectrum of security initiatives that support shortterm needs as well as provide permanent protective measures resulting in a strengthened baseline 

of preparedness and security. The plan focuses on five critical mission areas: prevention, 

protection, preparedness, response and recovery, and special events. 

This Information Bulletin serves as official notification of ODP programmatic updates being 

made available under the Interagency Security Plan: 

1. Grantees are strongly encouraged to use ODP grant funds to participate in the 

Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) Program, 

Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program and the Wireless Priority Service 

(WPS) Program sponsored by the National Communications System. 

2. Grantees may use planning funds from ODP grants to inventory assets according to typed 

resource definitions issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

3. ODP encourages grantees to utilize ODP grant funding to support implementation of 

protective measures for national critical infrastructure identified through the Buffer Zone 
Security Planning Process directed by the DHS Information Analysis and Infrastructure 

Protection (IAIP) Directorate. 

4. ODP will conduct regional planning sessions on a regular basis with State Administrative 

Agency (SAA) personnel to promote regional coordination and share best practices on 

program implementation. 

5. ODP is accelerating the delivery of three additional training courses currently in pilot 

testing for priority delivery to UASI jurisdictions. 

6. Grantees may use ODP grant funds to support additional training in the following areas:

search and rescue, special weapons and tactics (SWAT) simunition, and medical trauma. 

7. ODP is accelerating the release of “The New Chaos: Responding to Suicide Bombings,” 

a training video on suicide bombings. 

8. ODP is expanding delivery of Terrorism Early Warning Group (TEW) technical 

assistance to additional jurisdictions to build information/intelligence analysis and 

sharing capabilities, to include command, control, communications, computers, 

intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR). 

9. ODP is accelerating delivery of planning assistance using the Emergency Response 

Synchronization Matrix (ERSM) to all UASI jurisdictions. 

10. ODP is deploying risk assessment assistance for port authority and mass transit systems. 

11. Grantees are strongly encouraged to register for and participate in the Lessons Learned 

Information Sharing system. 

12. Grantees are encouraged to join and participate in the Responder Knowledge Base, a 

web-based tool designed to assist state, territory, local, tribal, and private entities share 

equipment-related information. 

13. ODP, in cooperation with the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism

in Oklahoma City, will launch and provide access to the Terrorism Knowledge Base, an 

integrated website that provides information on the history, affiliations, locations, and 

tactics of terrorism entities operating throughout the world. 

Additional information on each of these initiatives appears in the following pages. If you have 

any questions, please contact your ODP Preparedness Officer or the Centralized Scheduling and 

Information Desk at (800) 368-6498. 

Program Guidance Update #1 

Action: Grantees are strongly encouraged to use ODP grant funds to participate in the 

Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) Program, 

Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program and the Wireless Priority

Service (WPS) Program sponsored by the National Communications System. 

Description: ODP has expanded the Authorized Equipment List for several grant programs to

allow for one-time non-recurring charges and monthly fees associated with

participation in the GETS, TSP, and WPS programs run through the National 

Communications System (NCS) within DHS. These services can help ensure that 

State and local homeland security personnel have priority access to telephone 

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service during an emergency. Grantees are strongly encouraged to explore

dedicating ODP grant funds to support participating in these initiatives. Funds

from the following grant programs can be applied to these efforts: 

• FY 2004 HSGP 

• FY 2004 UASI 

• FY 2003 SHSGP Parts I and II 

• FY 2003 UASI Parts I and II 

GETS Program

GETS provides national security and emergency preparedness users with a 

dependable and flexible switched voice and voice-band data communications 

service for use during periods of emergency or crisis. GETS uses existing 

features and services of the public switched network with selected enhancements. 

GETS is an emergency telecommunications service to be used only when a user is 

unable to complete emergency calls through normal or alternative 

telecommunications means. It is to be used on a call-by-call basis for voice calls 

and/or low rate data communications calls; it is not intended for extended use on a 

modem line or for high volume/high speed data communications calls. GETS is

available nationwide and from overseas locations through the GETS universal 

access number. GETS provides a cost-effective means to overcome network

outages through key features, such as dialing plan, pin numbers, enhanced 

routing, and priority treatment over normal traffic. 

The 23 NCS member organizations serve as the focal point for the national 

security and emergency preparedness user community. State and local 

government, critical infrastructure industry, and other authorized organizations 

which have critical responsibilities must have a federal sponsor to participate in 

GETS. NCS is the GETS federal sponsor for state and local government. 

Additional information about the program and eligibility requirements is available 

at http://gets.ncs.gov, including instructions on how to apply for the program.

TSP Program

The TSP Program provides national security and emergency preparedness users 

with priority authorization of telecommunications services that are vital to

coordinating and responding to crises. National security and emergency 

preparedness services are those used to maintain a state of readiness or to respond 

to and manage any event or crisis that causes or could cause injury or harm to the 

population, damage to or loss of property, or degrades or threatens the national 

security and emergency preparedness posture of the United States. In the wake of 

natural or man-made disasters, telecommunications service vendors may become

overwhelmed with requests for new telecommunications services and

requirements to restore existing telecommunications services. The TSP Program

provides service vendors with a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 

mandate for prioritizing service requests by identifying those services critical to 

national security and emergency preparedness. A telecommunications service 

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with a TSP assignment is assured of receiving full attention by the service vendor 

before a non-TSP service. 

State and local officials are eligible to participate in the TSP program. All nonFederal TSP requests must be sponsored by a Federal agency to ensure the service 

supports a national security and/or emergency preparedness function and merits 

TSP. NCS is the TSP federal sponsor for state and local government. Although 

the federal government does not charge for TSP services, vendors may charge a 

tariff for service. Additional information is available at http://tsp.ncs.gov, 

including instructions on how to apply for the program. 

WPS Program

Increased cellular phone usage by the general public in emergency situations can 

result in extreme network congestion, preventing key national security and 

emergency response personnel from obtaining network access. In emergency 

situations when wireline networks are damaged, cellular telephones often provide 

the primary means of communication, increasing congestion even further. In the

year 2000, the FCC authorized wireless carriers to offer wireless priority service 

on a voluntary basis with liability protections. Following the September 11 

attacks, the White House directed delivery of a wireless priority service to persons

with leadership responsibilities during emergency situations. 

WPS is a method of improving connection capabilities for a limited number of 

authorized national security and emergency preparedness cell phone users. In the

event of congestion in the wireless network, an emergency call using WPS will 

wait in queue for the next available channel. During emergencies, wireless 

service providers can experience congestion in their networks that impinges on 

the ability of national security and emergency preparedness personnel to use 

wireless services. WPS enables priority access for those key officials to the next 

available wireless channel before non-emergency subscribers. 

WPS features are an add-on cost to basic a basic cell phone subscription. 

Additional information on the program is available at http://wps.ncs.gov, 

including instructions on how to apply for the program. 

Program Guidance Update #2 

Action: Grantees may use planning funds from ODP grants to inventory assets according 

to typed resource definitions issued by FEMA. 

Description: ODP has expanded the list of allowable planning costs to include efforts by 

grantees to inventory assets according to typed resource definitions recently 

issued by FEMA. Funds from the following grant programs can be applied to 

these efforts:

• FY 2004 HSGP 

• FY 2004 UASI 

• FY 2003 SHSGP Parts I and II 

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• FY 2003 UASI Parts I and II 

The National Mutual Aid and Resource Management System is a FEMA initiative

undertaken in support of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). 

FEMA has established an interdisciplinary National Mutual Aid and Resource 

Management Working Group that includes members from all levels of 

government. The working group is leading the development, implementation, and 

maintenance of a national mutual aid and resource management program that 

enhances mutual aid and promotes common terminology. As part of this project, 

the working group has developed resource typing definitions for the following 

emergency response disciplines: 

 

• Emergency management resources 

• Emergency medical services (EMS) resources 

• Fire/hazardous materials resources 

• Health and medical resources 

• Law enforcement resources 

• Public works resources 

• Search and rescue resources 

The definitions provide emergency managers with critical information to ensure

they request and receive the appropriate resource during an emergency and/or 

disaster. Sixty initial definitions were released in May 2004 and are available on 

the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/preparedness/mutual_aid.shtm. 

The approved definitions classify resources by: 

• Category: the function in which the resource would be most useful; 

• Kind: broad class of characterization, such as teams, personnel, equipment, 

and supplies; 

• Type: level of resource capability. 

Program Guidance Update #3 

Action: ODP encourages grantees to utilize ODP grant funding to support implementation

of protective measures for national critical infrastructure identified through the 

Buffer Zone Security Planning Process directed by the DHS Information Analysis 

and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) Directorate.

Description: IAIP is working with state and local emergency response personnel to develop 

Buffer Zone Protection Plans for critical infrastructure sites. The buffer zone is 

the area outside of a critical infrastructure or key asset facility that can be used to 

conduct surveillance or launch a terrorist attack. Buffer zone planning helps to 

identify and/or enhance existing procedures to prevent a terrorist incident at 

identified facilities. The Buffer Zone Protection Plan developed through this IAIP 

initiative forms the basis for identifying the required training, information, 

equipment, and recommended protective measures to address security shortfalls. 

Specifically, the purpose of the Buffer Zone Protection Planning initiative is to: 

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• Define a buffer zone outside the security perimeter of a critical 

infrastructure facility; 

• Identify specific threats and vulnerabilities associated with the buffer 

zone; 

• Analyze and categorize the level of risk associated with each vulnerability; 

and 

• Recommend corrective measures within a buffer zone that will reduce the 

risk of a successful terrorist attack by: 

o Devaluing a target by making it less attractive or too costly for an 

aggressor to attack; 

o Deterring an event from happening; 

o Detecting an aggressor who is planning or committing an attack or 

the presence of a hazardous device or weapon; and 

o Defending against attack by delaying or preventing an aggressor’s 

movement toward the asset or use of weapons and explosives. 

ODP encourages grantees to utilize ODP grant funding to support implementation

of protective measures for national critical infrastructure identified through the 

Buffer Zone Security Planning Process. 

Program Guidance Update #4 

Action: ODP will conduct regional planning sessions on a regular basis with State 

Administrative Agency (SAA) personnel to promote regional coordination and 

share best practices on program implementation. 

Description: Beginning in early 2004, ODP conducted several regional planning sessions with 

SAA personnel to promote regional coordination among states and share best 

practices on program implementation issues. Based on the success of these pilot 

workshops, ODP is institutionalizing these regional coordination sessions to help 

grantees enhance existing lines of communication among regional points of 

contact and learn more about ODP and DHS-wide initiatives underway that are 

relevant to implementation of homeland security strategies. 

The meetings are designed to be informal exchanges of information, whereby 

SAA participants can ask questions and candidly share observations on 

programmatic successes and challenges. The agenda will be driven largely by the 

needs and interests as prioritized by state participants. 

Typically, the workshops will last two days. The kickoff session will occur in

Washington, D.C., with subsequent meetings rotating through the states in the 

region. ODP and grantees should aim to meet on a regular basis in order to 

establish a regular circuit of contact and interaction, although participants can 

adjust those intervals based on availability and workload. States will be able to

send two to three people to each session and may use ODP planning funds to pay

for allowable travel, hotel, and per diem expenses. 

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Your ODP Preparedness Officer will be contacting you in the near future to begin 

the process of coordinating schedules and solicit ideas for issues to address during 

the workshop. 

Program Guidance Update #5 

Action: ODP is accelerating the delivery of additional training courses currently in pilot 

testing for priority delivery to UASI jurisdictions. 

Description: ODP is accelerating the release of several additional courses for attendance by 

grantees. The three courses are at different stages of development but are being 

accelerated for more rapid release to grantees. Brief descriptions of the classes

follow. 

AWR-122 Law Enforcement Deterrence of Terrorist Acts (Train-the-Trainer; 

16 hours): This course is designed to provide certified federal, state, and local law

enforcement officers with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to assist in the 

prevention and/or deterrence of WMD terrorist incidents by using awareness level 

knowledge. This course will provide law enforcement officers with competency

in the following areas: adult learning techniques, intelligence gathering, 

recognition of the threat posed by suicide bombers, reinforcing the importance of 

community oriented policing, field interviews/contact cards, traffic stops, 

identifying state and international credentials and documents that have been 

altered, understanding materials used to produce CBRNE agents or materials, 

understanding the necessity of collection and sharing terrorist information with 

various agencies. 

The course is being piloted in August/September and should be available in 

October 2004. 

AWR-170 Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Awareness Training Program (16

hours): This two-day course is designed for all first responders with statutory 

arrest authority to include patrol officers, deputy sheriffs, campus and tribal 

police, investigators/detectives, arson investigators and other individuals with 

similar duties. The course will present the attendee with an overview to include 

their role in intelligence gathering, the intelligence process, types of intelligence,

channels of communication, intelligence networks, security of information, 

documentation of intelligence information, ethics, resources, and legal 

considerations. 

The course is being piloted in August/September and should be available in 

September/October 2004. 

PER-231 Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents (Train-theTrainer, 35.5 hours): This is an operations level course designed to provide 

advanced training in weapons of mass destruction, focusing on the unique threat 

posed by suicide bombers. The course is designed to provide participants with the 

skills and knowledge necessary to develop policies; tactics, techniques and 

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procedures; training; and operational capabilities required to prevent, interdict, 

respond to, and mitigate the effects of a suicide bombing attack. 

The course is expected to be available in late August 2004. 

Program Guidance Update #6 

Action: Grantees may use ODP grant funds to support additional training in the following

areas: search and rescue, SWAT simunition, and medical trauma. 

Description: ODP has expanded the allowable training costs under the following grant 

programs to address the additional areas that could prove crucial to responding to 

a terrorism incident: 

• FY 2004 HSGP 

• FY 2004 UASI 

• FY 2003 SHSGP Parts I and II 

• FY 2003 UASI Parts I and II 

ODP encourages grantees to consider supplementary training opportunities for the 

following areas: 

• Search and rescue 

• SWAT simunition 

• Medical trauma response 

Grantees may take advantage of these additional training opportunities provided 

that they pair these courses with supplementary ODP-approved training that

addresses the unique requirements of CBRNE terrorism response. ODP

funds can be used to pay for courses in the above categories only if attendees also 

receive training that specifically addresses CBRNE terrorism. Example ODP 

CBRNE terrorism courses that could be combined with the new general training 

areas include but are not limited to: 

Additional Training 

Areas Example ODP CBRNE Terrorism Courses 

Search and rescue AWR-130 Incident Response to Terrorist 

Bombings 

AWR-140 WMD Radiological/Nuclear Awareness 

PER-230 Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings

- Operations Train-the-Trainer 

PER-240 WMD Radiological/Nuclear Responder 

Operations Course 

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SWAT simunition PER-222 Public Safety Response - Sampling 

Techniques and Guidelines 

PER-221 Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical 

Operations Course - Technician Level 

Medical trauma response PER-211 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 

Operations and Planning for Weapons of Mass 

Destruction 

MGT-390 Hospital Emergency Management: 

Concepts and Implications of WMD Terrorist 

Incidents 

More specific information on these additional training opportunities will be

included in the FY 2005 grant guidance for states and urban areas. States are 

encouraged to continue using Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials 

Emergency Preparedness grant funds to support hazardous materials training. 

(Additional information available on the program website at: 

http://hazmat.dot.gov/hmep.htm.) 

Grantees should refer to the guidance for requesting ODP approval of non-ODP 

course development and attendance, as included in the FY 2004 HSGP and FY 

2004 UASI program guidance. 

Program Guidance Update #7 

Action: ODP is accelerating the release of “The New Chaos: Responding to Suicide 

Bombings,” a training video on suicide bombings. 

Description: ODP accelerated the release of “The New Chaos: Responding to Suicide 

Bombings” as a result of the Interagency Security Planning initiative. This video 

was developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) on behalf 

of ODP. The video’s primary focus is to provide first responders with a better 

understanding of the devastation caused by suicide bombings. The training tool 

also provides guidance on procedures to follow in the event of a suicide bombing. 

Program Guidance Update #8 

Action: ODP is expanding delivery of Terrorism Early Warning Group (TEW) technical 

assistance to additional jurisdictions to build information/intelligence analysis and

sharing capabilities, to include command, control, communications, computers, 

intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR). 

Description: ODP has identified the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Terrorism Early 

Warning Group (TEW) as a model for replication throughout the country via 

ODP’s technical assistance program. The Los Angeles County TEW is a 

prototype because of its success in gathering and analyzing large quantities of 

intelligence information from a regional, multi-discipline approach while ensuring

a flow of intelligence information from all sectors and through all levels of 

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government. This ODP technical assistance program will share lessons learned

about establishing TEW operations and how to share that information through 

regional teams. Included in this approach are strategies for prevention, detection, 

apprehension, and response. 

The establishment of a TEW within local jurisdictions is a critical element of 

terrorism prevention activities. TEW TA will help high priority jurisdictions

launch fusion centers that can analyze large quantities of intelligence information 

from a regional, multi-discipline approach, while simultaneously ensuring a

streaming flow of intelligence information from all sectors and through all levels 

of government. 

The TEW TA has three primary components: 

• Orientation Sessions—Understanding the TEW Model: ODP is 

providing orientation sessions at the Los Angeles TEW Resource Center 

to assist and local jurisdictions understand the TEW model and the keys to 

successfully adopting the model to meet the specific needs of individual 

jurisdictions. 

• Direct Technical Assistance Workshop—Structuring Your Own 

TEW: As a follow-up to the Los Angeles orientation, ODP will send a 

team of experts to an individual jurisdiction that has indicated an intention 

to develop a local TEW. The technical assistance team will organize a 

workshop to: 

o Provide consulting and organizational support to develop a TEW

model that works best for each jurisdiction 

o Review templates for target folders, requests for information, 

alerts, etc. 

o Organize jurisdictional working groups 

o Develop an implementation plan 

o Provide assistance to the level required to ensure jurisdiction 

success 

• Continuing Technical Assistance—Implementing the TEW Model:

The TEW Resource Center, established by the LATEW through ODP 

assistance, is a valuable continuing technical assistance resource for all 

TEWs nationwide. The Resource Center will be available to answer 

routine follow-up questions, and will maintain a library of best practices, 

training information, and conference offerings. 

All requests for technical assistance should be submitted to the ODP Centralized

Scheduling and Information Desk at (800) 368-6498 or your ODP Preparedness 

Officer. 

Program Guidance Update #9 

Action: ODP is accelerating delivery of planning assistance using the Emergency 

Response Synchronization Matrix to all UASI jurisdictions. 

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Description: The Emergency Response Synchronization Matrix (Sync Matrix) Technical 

Assistance (TA) program provides an effective means for developing emergency 

preparedness and response capabilities and allows users to integrate, coordinate,

and synchronize plans for multi-jurisdictional emergency operations. Developed

by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), U.S. Department of Energy, Sync 

Matrix is an innovative software tool that provides emergency planning assistance 

by graphically displaying the complex multi-jurisdictional activities that support 

the planning and decision-making process. 

ODP is accelerating the availability of this service to all UASI jurisdictions. 

Sync Matrix technical assistance will help jurisdictions: 

• Enhance emergency planning by eliminating the difficulties associated 

with the preparation of coordinated emergency operations plans and 

procedures; 

• Enhance emergency response exercise design and evaluation; 

• Provide feedback that allow planners to identify needed improvements in 

plans, procedures, and training requirements; 

• Provide a response implementation and management tool. 

The technical assistance will be delivered through a series of on-site 

consultations: 

• Initial assessment meeting(s) will enable TA recipients to gain a broad 

understanding of the TA service and allow the TA provider to gain a solid 

understanding of the core city’s planning requirements. 

• A kickoff meeting will formally launch the TA initiative. 

• On-site training workshops provided by the TA provider will teach TA 

recipients how to properly use the Sync Matrix software. 

• Return visits will be scheduled as needed to ensure effective Sync Matrix 

implementation. 

The duration of the technical assistance delivery will vary depending on location. 

The initial assessment meeting(s), kickoff meeting, and training workshops can 

generally be conducted over the course of 3-6 months with return visits scheduled 

as needed. Emergency management/homeland security managers and planners 

from UASI core cities comprise the target audience. Sync Matrix is initially 

being offered to UASI core cities. 

Planning process and software training will last two days. The training ratio is 

one instructor for every five students. A maximum of ten students will be trained

in each urban area. Support is limited to the jurisdictions included in the defined

urban area for a core city and the appropriate state-level emergency

management/homeland security agency. Jurisdictions outside the defined urban 

area may participate with the approval of ODP and their state homeland security 

points of contact; however, they are responsible for covering all costs (scientific 

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effort, travel, supplies, licenses, etc.) of their participation. Each member of the 

defined urban area will receive one license for the Sync Matrix software.

Additional licenses would be purchased through ANL. 

All requests for technical assistance should be submitted to the ODP Centralized

Scheduling and Information Desk at (800) 368-6498 or your ODP Preparedness 

Officer. 

Program Guidance Update #10 

Action: ODP is deploying risk assessment assistance for port authority and mass transit 

systems. 

Description: ODP has made available the UASI Port/Mass Transit Technical Assistance 

Program to port or mass transit agencies participating in the UASI program. The 

purpose of the technical assistance is to help port and mass transit agencies 1)

prioritize security countermeasures and emergency response capability needs 

based on terrorist threats and risk; and (2) develop a roadmap for future port/mass

transit agency funding allocations for terrorist attack risk reduction. 

The technical assistance employs the ODP Special Needs Jurisdiction Tool Kit to

conduct: 

• Risk assessments to evaluate the relative risk of a port/mass transit 

agency’s critical assets to attacks by terrorist groups using weapons of 

mass destruction;

• Response capabilities assessment to assist port/mass transit agencies in 

assessing the response capabilities needed to respond to terrorist attacks; 

• Needs assessments to evaluate the results of the risk and response 

capabilities assessments and help agencies prioritize security 

countermeasure(s) and response capability needs according to identified 

risks. 

The port and mass transit technical assistance efforts leverage any previously 

performed threat and vulnerability assessment work to avoid duplicative

assessment efforts and maximize the project’s effectiveness.

All requests for technical assistance should be submitted to the ODP Centralized

Scheduling and Information Desk at (800) 368-6498 or your ODP Preparedness 

Officer. 

Program Guidance Update #11 

Action: Grantees are encouraged to register for and participate in the Lessons Learned 

Information Sharing system. 

Description: In April 2004, ODP, in cooperation with the National Memorial Institute for the 

Prevention of Terrorism, launched Lessons Learned Information Sharing, the

national network of lessons learned and best practices for emergency response 

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providers and homeland security officials. The network’s secure information is 

designed to facilitate efforts to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism across all 

disciplines and communities throughout the United States. In addition to afteraction reports, research, and secure messaging among network members, Lessons 

Learned Information Sharing features three types of original content: 

• Lessons Learned: knowledge and experience derived from actual incidents, as 

well as observations and historical study of operations, training, and exercises. 

• Best Practices: peer-validated techniques, procedures, good ideas, or solutions 

that work and are solidly grounded upon actual experience in operations, 

training, and exercises. 

• Good Stories: exemplary—but non-peer-validated—initiatives implemented 

by various jurisdictions that have shown success in their specific 

environments and that may provide useful information to other communities 

and organizations. 

The system is available to emergency response personnel at no charge. Grantees 

are encouraged to register for and participate in the Lessons Learned Information 

Sharing system through the following website: www.llis.gov. 

Program Guidance #12 

Action: Grantees are encouraged to join and participate in the Responder Knowledge 

Base, a web-based tool designed to assist state, territory, local, tribal and private

entities share equipment-related information. 

Description: The Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) is sponsored by ODP and the National 

Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism in Oklahoma City and began 

operations in October 2003. The RKB is designed to provide emergency 

responders with a single source for integrated information on current equipment. 

By integrating this information into one location, responders, vendors, standards 

organizations, training facilities, and grant making organizations have a trusted 

first source to answering questions such as: 

• What equipment is on the market? 

• Has it been certified? 

• If so, to what standard? 

• What training is needed to use it effectively? 

• Are there experts available for consultation and questions? 

The RKB includes the following content areas: 1) Products; 2) Standardized 

Equipment List (InterAgency Board); 3) Authorized Equipment List (Office for 

Domestic Preparedness); 4) Terrorism Response Objectives; 5) Standards; 6) 

Certifications; 7) Operational Suitability Testing; 8) Grants; 9) Training; and 10)

Publication/Reference. 

Grantees are encouraged to join and participate in the RKB to stay abreast of 

equipment-related information. 

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Program Guidance #13 

Action: ODP, in cooperation with the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of 

Terrorism in Oklahoma City, will launch and provide access to the Terrorism

Knowledge Base, an integrated website that provides information on the history, 

affiliations, locations, and tactics of terrorism entities operating throughout the 

world. 

Description: ODP will launch the Terrorism Knowledge Base (TKB) to facilitate the sharing of

information on terrorist groups among state and local emergency response 

personnel. 

The TKB is sponsored by ODP and the National Memorial Institute for the 

Prevention of Terrorism. The TKB will be a one-stop resource for comprehensive 

research on domestic and international terrorism. TKB contains information on 

terrorist incidents, terrorism-related court cases, and terrorist groups and leaders. 

In addition to content and raw data, the TKB features a suite of analytical tools, 

including a GIS-powered interactive map, statistical reports, and a user-defined 

graphing utility. The site features data from three existing databases as well as 

original research on terrorist entities. The website and its content will be

available free of charge to researchers, policymakers, journalists, emergency 

response personnel, and the general public. 

The TKB is expected to launch in late summer 2004. Upon release, grantees are 

encouraged to join and participate in the TKB to obtain pertinent background 

information on global terrorist groups. 

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