Date: 201706
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZMP.ARTCC, MN
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZMP
ATC / advisory: Center ZMP
Second aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Automation Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: My URET (User Request Evaluation Tool) showed red alerts on Aircraft X and Aircraft Y. Aircraft X had been flashed through Denver 9 at FL390 from the northwest heading southeast into my airspace. Denver 9 was also flashing Aircraft Y to me at FL390 on a collision course with Aircraft X. The loss of separation was going to occur less than 3 minutes inside my airspace. There was traffic at FL370 directly below Aircraft Y. I initiated a call to the Denver 9 controller and informed him I was uncomfortable with these two aircraft that needed to cross paths. The Denver 9 controller told me that Aircraft X was unable to make FL410. This indicated to me that he not only saw the traffic; but realized that something needed to be done to separate the two aircraft. From our brief conversation it sounded like the only attempt he made at separating Aircraft X and Aircraft Y was to ask one of the aircraft if they could climb. It wasn't until I initiated the call that he informed me that only one of the two aircraft couldn't change altitudes. He then asked me what I wanted him to do. I replied calmly; 'Could you give me something to work with?' Immediately; another voice that sounded combative and argumentative came on the land line and shouted; 'It's your traffic; what do you want us to do?' I said; 'Turn Aircraft Y; 40 left.' They took the hand off back on Aircraft Y and entered '40L' in the data block and flashed him back to me. Aircraft Y passed about ten miles behind Aircraft X. The reason why this was so dangerous is that if I wouldn't have initiated the call to Denver and told them how to separate two aircraft that were leaving their sector and entering mine is that these two aircraft were certain to lose separation within 4 minutes of entering my sector. If I were to have a 'stuck mic' or one of the two aircraft went NORDO there would have been catastrophic results. Denver controllers notice that these two aircraft were on collision courses and made a very minimum amount of effort to ensure separation. Then; when I called to inquire about the situation they became combative and argumentative.




Synopsis: ZMP Center Controller reported an unsafe conflict situation that was being handed off by another Center.