New York University

Intercep: International Center for Enterprise Preparedness

Recent Events

Update & Current Trajectory of PS-Prep Program (8/09/09)

August 9, 2009 3:50 PM

To date, there have been significant outreach and vetting by DHS in seeking private sector input on the program. Key progress includes:

• Accrediting body has been designated and funded: DHS has designated the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) as the accrediting body for the program, the same organization that has been administering private sector certifications in such areas as quality management (ISO 9001) and environmental management (ISO 14001) and medical device management (ISO 13485) for over 20 years.

• Substantial outreach by DHS and ANAB to businesses and the wider private sector: DHS and ANAB representatives have presented to and sought input from a variety of businesses and their associations. Additionally, two national public stakeholder meetings open to the public were held earlier this year.

• Private sector advisory council has been established by accrediting body: ANAB has established an advisory body consisting largely of a diversity of industry resilience practitioners, their professional associations and organizations experienced in certification. The International Center for Enterprise Preparedness (InterCEP) at New York University is pleased to serve on this body and is committed to channeling private sector input to the appropriate parties.

• Target Criteria to be used in designating preparedness standards have been announced in Federal Register. DHS released these criteria for comment by the private sector as a precursor to designating one or more standards for the program.

• Active participation by DHS and ANAB in National Roundtables focused on linking market-based incentives for resilience to the PS-Prep Program: DHS representatives participated in all five National Roundtables held by NYU’s InterCEP in the last several months. These roundtables addressed supply chain management, rating agency acknowledgement, legal liability mitigation, rationalized business reporting and insurance acknowledgement. These efforts continue in each of five corresponding Working Groups hosted by InterCEP. ANAB has also attended some of these forums and improved its development activities as a result.

While no official announcements have been made, likely next steps include the following:

• Announcement and request for comment on proposed standards could come in next few months. DHS will likely post an announcement in the Federal Register, potentially within the next few months, stating their intention to designate one or more specific standards and soliciting any comments on this proposed action.

• Formal designation of standards. Presuming no compelling objections are raised after the initial request for comment, DHS could then formally designate the one or more standards for the program within the following one to two months

• Accrediting body would then finalize its accreditation processes. ANAB, the designated accrediting body, would then likely finalize the development of the accrediting program within three to six months following the designation of standards by DHS. This would suggest an operable accreditation program potentially in place sometime in the first or second quarter of 2010.

• Accreditation of certifying bodies would follow. After the accrediting process has been finalized by ANAB, interested auditing organizations (registrars) could become “accredited” which would give them the authority to audit and “certify” interested businesses as conforming with one of more of the preparedness standards under the PS-Prep program.

• Business could then seek voluntary certification from certifying bodies. This could potentially be available early as second or third quarter of 2010. It is likely that several industry leading firms will lead the way with initial pilot programs involving their business operations and critical elements of their supply chains.