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certification resources
Next Phase of Working Groups on the New Voluntary Certification Program for Business Preparedness
October 10, 2008 7:04 AM
InterCEP is hosting the next phase of Working Groups (dates below) in which participants will provide input on the design and development of the Voluntary Public Sector Certification & Accreditation Program. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressly solicited public comment on the following topics and these will be the focus of the next phase of Working Group activity:
- The scope of the certification program;
- The desired content of the voluntary "preparedness" standards to be designated;
- Existing standards that should be evaluated and selected in this process;
- Target criteria that should be the foundation for evaluation of comprehensive voluntary preparedness standards to be developed in the future; and
- Views concerning standards and approaches for small businesses.
General Objectives for InterCEP Working Groups: At this juncture, InterCEP seeks to serve as a catalyst and collaborator, working with other organizations both to promote awareness of the program and to provide input into its development. All parties are of course encouraged to contact DHS directly as well.
These upcoming Working Group sessions will build on the momentum from the initial meetings held in March 2008 and various forums held last year. DHS and the accrediting body of the new voluntary certification program, ANAB, requested the proceedings of these working groups to inform its initial planning of the program. InterCEP provided proceedings directly to DHS and ANAB. Click here to access these proceedings. InterCEP will again provide proceedings directly to these bodies following this next phase of Working Group meetings.
The overall objectives guiding these groups are set provisionally as follows:
- To identify existing practices and principles in specific topical areas relevant to private sector preparedness;
- In view of these practices and principles, to identify issues, opportunities and potential strategies relevant to the design and implementation of the voluntary business preparedness certification program; and,
- To gather these outputs generated by working group participants and communicate them to program stakeholders including where appropriate DHS, accrediting and certifying bodies.
DHS Update: On October 1, 2008, DHS circulated a draft list of target criteria selection of standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation & Certification Program. These target criteria do not represent the proposed "standard" rather they are a draft set of criteria which could be used by the DHS designated officer to determine whether a recommended standard is "appropriate" for the Certification Program (i.e., whether it promotes private sector preparedness). DHS welcomes private sector input on this list via:
Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Program
FEMA National Preparedness Directorate
500 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20472
E-mail: privatesectorpreparedness@hsi.dhs.gov.
DHS will soon post a notice to the Federal Register which will outline details of the Program, including: targeted criteria to select preparedness standards; additional existing standards; and, best practices, standards, and approaches for small businesses preparedness certification. Input will again be solicited, in particular from the private sector, from organizations who wish to serve as certifying bodies and from organizations who develop related standards. Click here for the announcement on the draft list of Program target criteria.
Key Topics and Open Questions: InterCEP's research suggests that the success of the accreditation and certification program will depend largely on the extent to which the program addresses operational needs of organizations and the extent to which bottom-line incentives can be forwarded through the program. Working Groups have therefore been organized around topics that correspond to key elements of the business case for preparedness, including:
- Legal
- Supply Chain
- Insurance
- Rating Agency
- Business Reporting
Any and all stakeholders with a demonstrable professional interest in the program are encouraged to join and participate in the working groups. DHS representatives may participate in working group meetings as observers. Prospective working group participants, including those who participated in previous Working Group meetings, should join the effort by registering below. There is no charge for participation. The following meetings will be conducted via a web-based platform that includes a teleconference.
The Rating Agency Working Group
The agenda will focus on DHS's topics and additionally address issues and potential next steps identified in previous Working Group meetings. Click here to read the previous Rating Agency Working Group Proceedings.
Date: October 24, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
The Business Reporting Working Group
The agenda will focus on DHS's topics and additionally address issues and potential next steps identified in previous Working Group meetings. Click here to read the previous Business Reporting Working Group Proceedings.
Date: October 29, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
The Legal Working Group
The agenda will focus on DHS's topics and additionally address issues and potential next steps identified in previous Working Group meetings. Click here to read the previous Legal Working Group Proceedings.
Date: Nov 14, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
The Supply Chain Working Group
The agenda will focus on DHS's topics and additionally address issues and potential next steps identified in previous Working Group meetings. Click here to read the previous Supply Chain Working Group Proceedings.
Date: November 18, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
The Insurance Working Group
The agenda will focus on DHS's topics and additionally address issues and potential next steps identified in previous Working Group meetings. Click here to read the previous Insurance Working Group Proceedings.
Date: November 20, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Register
Background: On August 3, President Bush signed into law, ''Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007'', H.R. 1 (Public Law 110-53.). Title IX of this Act calls for the creation of a voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program. The purpose of this program is to enable the assessment of business preparedness and facilitate potential benefits to these businesses as a result.
N.B. InterCEP acknowledges that the business case for preparedness certification may additionally depend on a wide range of other issues, including especially: the importance of sector-specific program elements (e.g., for critical infrastructure sectors); the unique considerations pertaining to small- and medium-sized enterprises; etc. We encourage individuals interested in forming a working group around a topic other than those identified above to contact InterCEP if it is felt that the Center can potentially assist to addressing these issues.