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Lafayette Group worked on behalf of DHS to provide technical assistance to Denver area officials preparing for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which was held from August 25-28, 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Lafayette Group planned a tabletop exercise that tested the readiness of the communications systems being used for the DNC. In addition, Lafayette Group
worked with Denver area communications officials to identify the types and volume of radio and communications equipment that will be used by visiting agencies, the media, and other organizations at the DNC, and provided recommendations on how to avoid potential interference between these multiple communication mechanisms and systems during the event.
Campus Security Kickoff Meeting Held in Washington D.C.
In January, the Campus Security Initiative Kickoff Meeting was held in Washington, D.C. bringing together chiefs from major cities and campuses to discuss current issues related to campus-city law enforcement coordination (e.g., major campus threats, training, interoperable communications). The Honorable Domingo S. Herraiz, Bureau of Justice Assistance Director, kicked off the initiative with his support for the effort. During the meeting the participants focused on key policy issues to formulate questions for an upcoming survey.
Lafayette Group managed all aspects of the meeting including securing hotel meeting space, arranging travel for subject matter experts, and developing the agenda for the meeting. Lafayette Group also provided on-site support during the meeting and facilitated discussions during the breakout sessions. Throughout the year, Lafayette Group will continue to provide support for the Campus Security Initiative by fielding a survey to law enforcement in major cities, planning future policy workshops, and drafting the model guidelines.
IWS Executive Session and Technical Workshop
Lafayette Group continues to provide support to the Irregular Warfare Support (IWS) Program and Technology Support Working Group within the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Combating Terrorism Technology Support Office. Lafayette Group is facilitating an Executive Session and Technical Workshop to provide the opportunity for members of the law enforcement community to share lessons learned and best practices with Defense Department participants. The session will focus on technologies and program methodologies that can assist DoD participants in the areas of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. The Executive Session will assist in establishing a framework to share technology and program methodologies between these communities and leverage products from research and development activities within the law enforcement community.
CEDAP Technology Demonstrations
In January, Lafayette Group supported the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) technology demonstrations for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From providing subject matter experts to making travel arrangements to providing on site meeting support, Lafayette Group managed all aspects of this event. Lafayette Group also produced the schedule and coordinated all logistics, including close coordination with the government’s contracting officer. Over the two days, subject matter experts reviewed and evaluated hundreds of proposals from vendors. The 2008 CEDAP Catalog of Technologies will be based on recommendations from the demonstrations, produced and distributed by Lafayette Group, and available through the CEDAP program.
Development of Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans
Lafayette Group worked with the 56 States and Territories to complete their Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIP) and submit them to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the December 3, 2007 deadline. Lafayette Group staff provided extensive assistance to the States and Territories throughout 2007. The team provided continuous SCIP-related guidance and information to State and local officials, and coordinated and facilitated on-site SCIP Kickoff meetings and Workshops in over 30 States and Territories.
PSIC and SCIP Peer Review Panels Held in St. Louis
Lafayette Group supported the DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate in its combined effort with the Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) and the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), in coordinating the peer review of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Investment Justifications and the SCIPs. The investment justifications detailed how the States and Territories plan to utilize their portion of the $1 billion in grant funds allocated as part of the PSIC Grant Program.
The peer review process was conducted from February 11-14, 2008. Lafayette Group assisted with the many preparatory tasks involved in this nationwide undertaking, to include: solicitation and selection of volunteer panelists; coordination of training and orientation for the peer reviewers; peer reviewer assignments to individual States and Territories; and collection of reviewer comments and feedback prior to the February panel sessions. The feedback developed by the peer reviewers during the February panel sessions will be used by NTIA and DHS when evaluating the investment justifications and the SCIPs.
States Develop Disaster Emergency Communications Plans
Lafayette Group is working with FEMA in the development of State Disaster Emergency Communications Plans. Utilizing its extensive experience and involvement in State and local communications, Lafayette Group is identifying the key communications personnel and agencies within each State and collecting pertinent data and background information. The data being collected includes: geographic and demographic information; State and local working relationships; communications systems and resources; governance structures; tribal, military and private industry involvement and assets; communications initiatives; metropolitan area resources and capabilities; and intangibles, such as political and financial factors that may impact communications within the State. After completion of the profiles, Lafayette Group will help conduct on-site assessments in the States.
NSA 2006 Annual Conference and Exhibition was recently held in Orlando, Florida, from June 17-21, 2006, and featured more than 500 exhibitors displaying the latest products for law enforcement. The conference featured more than 40 seminars on various law enforcement issues including four that were facilitated by Lafayette Group—CALEA, CEDAP, HSIN, and DHS Technical Assistance programs.
ICTAP worked with over 65 Urban Areas (UAs) around the country to complete their Tactical Interoperable Communications Plans (TICPs) and submit them to DHS by May 2006. Once the plans were submitted, Lafayette Group helped organize and facilitate several peer review panels to evaluate the real-world applicability and usability of the TICPs. The panels consisted of five subject matter experts, most of whom helped to write their own region’s plan, and two DHS ICTAP representatives.
The summer of communications-based exercises has begun. Each UASI is now required to validate their plan through a full-scale exercise. As the sites begin the TICP Validation Exercises, throughout the summer before the September 30, 2006 deadline, Lafayette Group staff members are working hard to assist in a number of ways. As part of the ICTAP team, Lafayette Group staff members are working as both site managers and evaluators. While helping sites move forward with their exercise planning, the Lafayette Group employees also take their communications expertise on the road and evaluate other sites' exercises.
Terrorist Early Warning (TEW) Group Implementation Guidance The National TEW Resource Center, in coordination with the Lafayette Group is developing a four volume resource manual. Volume I was released and distributed in March, 2006. This volume provides an overview of the TEW and its application in day-to-day practice.
Lafayette Group recently hosted the HSIN Northeast Conference on April 18-20, 2006 at the Omni Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts. This conference was a huge success, thanks to all of the partnering agencies that attended. Attendees brainstormed and discussed ways in which to better improve HSIN in terms of information management, information flow, and the many functions and attributes of the Web-based portals.
Lafayette Group worked with over 65 Urban Areas (UAs) around the country to complete their Tactical Interoperable Communications Plans (TICPs) and submit them to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by the May 1, 2006 deadline. The plan is a living document applicable to both day-to-day interoperable communications activities and emergency situations. Lafayette Group will continue to support the urban areas in testing and validating the TICPs through a full-scale exercise requirement.
Terrorist Early Warning (TEW) Group Implementation GuidanceThe National TEW Resource Center, in coordination with the Lafayette Group, is developing a four volume resource manual. Volume I will provide an overview of the TEW and its application in day-to-day practice. It will be released in February, 2006.
Lafayette Group is supporting deployment efforts to the eight Pilot States, and the 20 plus new States which will be coming on-board. Requests to HSIN from local jurisdictions continue to flow. This will not only prompt an influx of new users, but more significantly, a dramatic increase in the volume and variety of information available on HSIN. At the same time, HSIN is working diligently to enhance the system´s utility and accessibility for its users. During 2006, HSIN will implement a fully automated system for Communities of Interest to register their new users, and technical improvements will be introduced that will make HSIN more responsive and easier to navigate.
On February 9, the Lafayette Group assisted the Major City Chiefs (MCC) with a press conference to mark the release of the Terrorist Threat Guidelines. This compendium of guidelines was developed by MCC, who represent law enforcement in the largest metropolitan areas of the United States, and the seven major Canadian jurisdictions. These guidelines were created to ensure a uniform response by local agencies to National security threats.
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