Office for Domestic Preparedness 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

 

ODP Information Bulletin 

No. 129 August 9, 2004 

TO All State Administrative Agency Heads 

 All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

 All State Homeland Security Directors 

FROM: C. Suzanne Mencer 

 Associate Director 

SUBJECT: Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program (HSPTAP) 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) is 

pleased to announce the Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance Program 

(HSPTAP). HSPTAP provides direct assistance to State and local jurisdictions to improve their 

ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism involving chemical, 

biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons. A primary objective of the 

program is to enhance the capacity of State and local jurisdictions, as well as special needs 

jurisdictions such as port authorities and mass transit agencies, to develop, plan, and implement 

effective strategies for CBRNE preparedness. Through HSPTAP, technical assistance (TA) may 

be provided to State and local governments, law enforcement, fire, hazardous materials, and other 

community agencies that have CBRNE preparedness responsibilities. All TA services are 

available to eligible recipients at no charge as ODP will cover the cost of providing the technical 

expertise, travel, and related expenses. 

Technical Assistance Defined 

Technical assistance is a process of providing help to resolve a problem and/or create innovative 

approaches to CBRNE terrorism prevention, response, and recovery. TA seeks to provide State 

and local jurisdictions with assistance that can accomplish one or more of the following objectives: 

• Identify a problem 

• Address an identified problem 

• Address items in a corrective action plan from a completed exercise 

• Fill “gaps” between equipment, training, and exercise programs 

TA deliveries can be combined or modified to meet the specific needs of each requesting 

State/local jurisdiction. In order to best accommodate the wide variety of TA needs and 

deliverables, ODP supports several levels of technical assistance:
 

• LEVEL ONE: Provision of general information to raise awareness or enhance familiarity 

with practices/protocols required within all jurisdictions. Level One delivery methods 

include: 

o Information 

o Resources 

• LEVEL TWO: Delivery of solution packages and performance models drawn from 

Federal, State, and local studies, best practices, and experience that guide the 

implementation of various initiatives. Level Two delivery methods include: 

o Models 

o Templates 

o Samples 

• LEVEL THREE: Delivery of rigorous, customized solutions through direct, on-site 

support. Workshops, guidance, and facilitation efforts maximize direct interaction 

between TA providers and TA recipients to ensure the successful implementation of the 

most complex initiatives. Level Three delivery methods include: 

o On-site Specific Workshops 

o Direct Guidance and Consultation 

o Meeting Facilitation 

HSPTAP Catalog 

ODP has compiled and published the HSPTAP Catalog to provide a definitive resource for 

grantees interested in HSPTAP services. This comprehensive reference document contains 

information on all available TA services, as well as those currently under development. Key 

programmatic information is conveyed in a concise, user-friendly format so that State and local 

jurisdictions can rapidly locate TA services that meet their individual CBRNE terrorism 

prevention, response, and recovery needs. Additionally, the document also provides instructions 

on how to request TA, including a “TA Request Form.” The HSPTAP Catalog is available 

online through the ODP website (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/ta_catalog.htm) and a PDF copy 

has been attached. The online version of the HSPTAP Catalog will be updated frequently to 

include new services, streamlined processes, and links to additional information. 

Contact and Further Information 

ODP will continue to expand HSPTAP into a robust resource for State and local jurisdictions. 

Available TA services are continuously being updated and refined. In addition, new services are 

rapidly being identified, designed, and developed. For further HSPTAP information, please 

contact the ODP Preparedness Officer assigned to your State or contact the Centralized 

Scheduling and Information Desk at (800) 368-6498 or askcsd@ojp.usdoj.gov.