Office of Grants and Training 

Preparedness Directorate 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Washington, DC 20531

G&T Information Bulletin 

No. 205 March 23, 2006 

TO All State Administrative Agency Heads 

All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

All State Homeland Security Directors 

All Urban Area Core City/Core County Points of Contact 

FROM: Tracy A. Henke 

Assistant Secretary, Office of Grants and Training 

SUBJECT: Update – Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan Review Process and 

Exercise Validation 

Government at all levels has recognized the critical importance of tactical interoperable 

communications. In support of this priority, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 

Preparedness Directorate, Office of Grants and Training (G&T) continues to work with States 

and local communities to enhance the ability of our Nation’s first responders’ to communicate 

quickly and effectively during a catastrophic event, man-made or natural. This priority is also 

reflected in Information Bulletin #192, which requires Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)-

designated Urban Areas and other State-designated metropolitan areas (hereafter “sites”) to 

develop and test their Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP) with a full-scale 

exercise (FSE). These exercises will identify State and local needs that should guide future 

investments. 

 

In continuing recognition of the immediate and critical need to increase interoperable 

communications capabilities throughout the country, the deadline for validating the TICP 

through an FSE (previously established in the Fiscal Year [FY] 2005 Homeland Security Grant 

Program Guidance) has been accelerated. FSEs must be conducted by September 30, 2006. 

This adjusted timeline for FSEs will ensure that sufficient time is allocated to complete the 

After Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) process. The validation process, including 

the final AAR/IP, must be completed by December 31, 2006. 

TICP Review Process 

As previously identified, Tactical Interoperable Communication Plans must be submitted to 

appropriate G&T Preparedness Officers by May 1, 2006. Please find attached to this bulletin, 

information regarding the TICP review process and the Homeland Security Grant Program 

(HSGP) Incident Command System (ICS) Communications Unit Leader (COML) 

competencies. 

Attachment #1: TICP Review Process

This attachment summarizes the process that G&T will use to evaluate submitted 

TICPs. The review process is designed to validate TICPs, or to make grantees aware of 
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any deficiencies in their plans. Grantees will also be advised of next steps according to 

the outcome of the TICP review. This review process document also provides 

information to grantees on the following: 

• TICP Submittal Process; 

• Peer Review Process; 

• Composition of Review Panel; 

• TICP Acceptance Checklist; and 

• Notification of Review Results Process. 

Attachment #2: COML Core Competencies

This attachment provides detailed information regarding COML Core Competencies. 

In accordance with National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards, the FY 

2005 HSGP guidance requires grantees to designate and train a COML to support TICP 

execution. Currently, the NIMS COML training curriculum is incomplete; therefore, 

the requirement that a COML receive NIMS-compliant training has been temporarily 

waived. Grantees are still responsible for designating a COML for their TICP, and the 

attached “COML Core Competencies” document identifies 19 required core 

competencies for jurisdictions to reference in developing, equipping, and training a 

TICP COML. Each jurisdiction’s designated COML will be required to follow up with 

the relevant NIMS certification training when it becomes available. 

Exercise Requirement 

In recognition of the need for greater interoperable communications capabilities throughout the 

country, the deadline for validating the TICP through an FSE (previously established in the 

Fiscal Year [FY] 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance) has been accelerated. 

FSEs must be conducted by September 30, 2006. This adjusted timeline for FSEs will ensure 

that sufficient time is allocated to complete the After Action Report/Improvement Plan 

(AAR/IP) process. The validation process, including the final AAR/IP, must be completed by 

December 31, 2006. 

G&T recognizes the additional efforts required on your part to meet the new deadline. 

Therefore, if sites already have thier FSE scheduled and/or planned to be conducted prior to the 

September 30 deadline, they may use that exercise to meet the requirement as long as it meets 

the following: 

• The TICP has been submitted to G&T via the State Administrative Agency (SAA) and 

has been reviewed and approved by the TICP Review Board prior to exercise conduct 

• The planning, conduct, and evaluation of the exercises is consistent with the 

requirements of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) 

SAAs must notify their Preparedness Officer of the exercise conduct date, so that G&T can 

provide an assessment team to independently validate the site’s TICP during the exercise. 

Tactical Interoperable Communications Conference 

In an effort to accommodate the accelerated exercise timeline, G&T will host a Tactical 

Interoperable Communications Conference in early May 2006. This conference will lay the 

foundation for each site’s FSEs by: 
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• Discussing key interoperable communications initiatives 

• Providing information on TICP review process 

• Determining overarching exercise capabilities and objectives 

• Providing guidance for planning, conducting, and evaluating the exercises 

• Outlining an independent assessment and validation approach for each exercise 

• Scheduling each site’s FSE 

Specific feedback on each site’s TICPs will not be provided at the conference. The TICPs will 

be reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts and feedback provided directly at a later time. 

Additional information about the conference, including the date and location, will be sent to 

you in the very near future. 

G&T is aware that a large number of the personnel that will be participating in the TICP 

Conference are also currently involved in the planning process for the Hurricane Preparedness 

Exercises occurring in FEMA Regions I, II, III, IV, and VI in mid-May (to include 

participation from all Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard States). While this conference may not 

be ideal in its timing, it is imperative that G&T hold the conference during May in order to 

give the Urban Areas and metropolitan areas a sufficient amount of time to plan their 

respective FSEs. 

G&T Support Services 

In addition to the conference, G&T will provide assistance in developing the TICP and direct 

support for the design, development, and conduct of the exercise. 

TICP Support

Assistance in developing the TICP is available through G&T’s Interoperable 

Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP) on a first-come, first-serve 

request basis. The technical assistance request must be submitted through the SAA. To 

inquire further about this support please, contact your G&T Preparedness Officer or the 

Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at 1-800-368-6498 or askcsid@dhs.gov. 

Direct Exercise Support

Through the Direct Support Program, G&T utilizes multiple Exercise Support Teams 

that have significant experience in designing, developing, and conducting exercises. 

Direct support is available for those sites that have not started the planning process for 

their respective exercise. Direct exercise support may be requested to assist with 

exercise related activities such as: 

• Developing exercise documentation; 

• Designing exercise scenarios; 

• Facilitating planning meetings and exercise conduct; and 

• Developing After Action Reports/Improvement Plans (AAR/IPs). 

The ‘Exercise Direct Support Application and Users’ Handbook’ can be accessed by 

visiting http://hseep.dhs.gov. These applications must be sent through each entity’s 

respective SAA and be submitted to G&T via email (hseep@dhs.gov). 

Additional Information 
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For more information on how to plan, conduct and evaluate an exercise in accordance with 

HSEEP, please refer to HSEEP Volumes I-IV located at: http://hseep.dhs.gov. 

States and Urban Areas may use any existing HSGP or UASI Exercise funds to attend the 

Tactical Interoperable Communications Conference in May. 

Additional questions may be directed to your Preparedness Officer or the Centralized 

Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at askcsid@dhs.gov or 1-800-368-6498. 

Urban Areas and metropolitan areas are reminded that they must first submit their 

TICP to the SAA and then G&T for approval prior to conducting an exercise. 

Critical Milestones 

May 1, 2006 Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan submission deadline 

May 2006 Tactical Interoperable Communications Conference 

September 30, 2006 Exercise Conduct completed 

December 31, 2006 Final AAR/IP submitted