www.interoperability.virginia.gov1 1 commonwealth of virginia’s interoperability governance...

1www.interoperability.virginia.gov 1

Commonwealth of Virginia’s Interoperability Governance

Overview

Chris EssidCommonwealth Interoperability Coordinator

www.interoperability.virginia.gov 2

Agenda

• Full Time Interoperability Coordinator

• State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC)

• State Interoperability Advisory Group

• Initiative Action Teams (IAT’s)

• Recommendations

3www.interoperability.virginia.gov 3

Hired Interoperability Coordinator

• The Secure Commonwealth Panel recommended to the Governor that a position be created to work across state and local governments to coordinate interoperability efforts

• The position of Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator was established in December 2003

• Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator– Within the Office of the Governor– Not linked to any one system, focus on overall coordination– Liaison between local, regional and state efforts– Focus full time on interoperable communications, not a part time

job


Virginia Planning Process


SCIP Methodology

The Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology is a tool that outlines a step-by-step planning process for developing a locally-driven, statewide strategic plan for communications interoperability.

The SCIP methodology is the result of a collaboration between SAFECOM and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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CICO Outreach


Interoperability Governance Snapshot


State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC)

-Office of the Secretary of Public Safety-Office of the Secretary of Public Safety-Office of Commonwealth Preparedness-Office of Commonwealth Preparedness-Office of the Secretary of Technology-Office of the Secretary of Technology-Statewide Agencies Radio System -Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS)(STARS)-Virginia Military Advisory Committee -Virginia Military Advisory Committee (VMAC)(VMAC)-Virginia Information Technologies Agency -Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA)(VITA)-Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator-Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator

-Virginia Fire Chiefs Association-Virginia Fire Chiefs Association

-Virginia Municipal League-Virginia Municipal League

-Virginia Sheriffs’ Association-Virginia Sheriffs’ Association

-Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police-Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police

-Virginia Association of Counties-Virginia Association of Counties

-Virginia Association of Governmental -Virginia Association of Governmental

EMS AdministratorsEMS Administrators

-Virginia Association of Public Safety -Virginia Association of Public Safety

Communication OfficialsCommunication Officials

Local RepresentationLocal Representation State RepresentationState Representation


Virginia Interoperability Advisory Group•Advisory Group membership consists of

the 14 SIEC members and;•Virginia Department of Emergency Management•Virginia Department of Fire Programs•Virginia Department of Forestry•Virginia State Firefighters Association•Virginia Emergency Management Association•Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services•Virginia Local Government Information Technology Executives •Northern Virginia Chief Information Officers•Northern Virginia Emergency Managers

Committee•Hampton Roads Planning District Commission•Central Virginia Communications Board•Virginia National Guard•Piedmont Regional Interoperability Project

•Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association•Virginia National Emergency Number Association•Virginia Professional Firefighters Association•Virginia Department of Health•Virginia Department of Transportation•Virginia Port Authority•Virginia State Police•Virginia Department of Health’s Emergency Medical

Services•Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation•Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services•Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries•Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications •At Large EMS Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue

Squads•Virginia Campus Law Enforcement Association•Wireless E-911 Services Board•Capitol Region Communications Steering Committee•Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority •State Interdepartmental Radio System Board


FY 2006 Activities

Chartered an Initiative Action Team (IAT) to address Initiative 3 of the FY 2006 Strategic Plan:

“As defined by NIMS, identify and adopt common language protocols in the Commonwealth for day to day operations and major emergency situations.”


• Virginia Sheriffs Association• Virginia Chiefs of Police• Virginia Fire Chiefs Association• Virginia Association of Public Communication Officials• Virginia Department of Corrections• Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services• Virginia State Firefighters Association• Virginia Department of Fire Programs• Virginia State Police• Localities- Fairfax, Henrico, Virginia Beach, Powhatan,

Chesterfield

IAT Members


Why day to day AND mutual aid?• IAT was committed to eliminating the

“loophole” in NIMS• Responders react with how they are

trained in stressful situations• We will only be successful if we live and

practice common language day to day• BUT, there are a few situations where

coded language may be necessary for responder safety….

FY 2006 Activities


Methodology• Two questionnaires sent to Virginia’s public

safety agencies• One facilitated face-to-face meeting to determine

recommendations• On-going discussion via conference calls to

continue to define the terms and recommendations

• Endorsements sought and received from Fire Chiefs, Chiefs of Police and State Police

FY 2006 Activities


• Results– One Phonetic Alphabet– 4 Situations that Require Coded Language

• Responder in Immediate Danger• Responder Needs Assistance/Backup• Responder is Taking or Recommends Taking

Subject Into Custody• Responder or Dispatcher is Going to Convey

Sensitive or Confidential Information

– All other transmissions in Plain English

FY 2006 Activities


• Hire a Full Time Coordinator and ensure they are at a level of state government that will allow them to be a champion

• Establish a State Interoperability Executive Committee with legislation or an Executive Order

• Develop a Statewide Interoperable Communications Plan

• Ensure that the SIEC has the ability to make formal recommendations on how grant funds are spent on communication projects

• Have funding set aside to support implementation of the initiatives within the Statewide Interoperability Plan

Recommendations


QUESTIONS?


Thank you

Chris EssidCommonwealth Interoperability Coordinator

[email protected]


Supplemental Slides


Planning

Before FY 2004 FY 2007 FY 2009

The Future of Existing Communications

Interoperability Initiatives

Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS)

Common Language Protocols

Radio Caches

Interoperability Channels

Management & Coordination

Practitioner Driven Governance StructurePerformance Measures

Grants Coordination

No statewide plan to coordinate local, regional and state investments

Practitioner driven Statewide Interoperable Communications Plan established and leveraged

Practitioner-based governance formally established & continues to drive improved interoperability

State agencies operate individual communications systems that often cannot talk to one another

21 agency statewide system (STARS) implemented in Region 1

STARS fully operational statewide for 21 agencies and interfaces with localities are coordinated

No statewide communications baseline exists to identify gaps and solutions

A statewide baseline survey conducted for equipment, polices, SOP’s, frequencies, etc.

Baseline survey information used to identify gaps and opportunities to select best solutions

Localities and disciplines use thousands of differing 10-codes

Common language best practice established and endorsed by major public safety organizations

Common language adopted and used statewide for day to day and mutual aid situations

Limited radio cache available for major emergency situations and mutual aid events

Large cache exists in the NCR and a 30 radio cache exists at each Virginia State Police Division

Regional radio caches implemented in Hampton Roads, Richmond and other metro areas as required

Interoperability channels programmed into radios vary by region and locality

NPSPAC, VTAC, UTAC national interoperability channels required in all portable radios by SIEC

All portable radios have the same interoperability channels with standardized channel names

No mechanism for locals to bring interoperability issues to the state level

State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) and Advisory Group established

Funding is distributed on a case by case basis by multiple agencies with little coordination

SIEC coordinates grants to ensure alignment & compliance – over $9.2 million prioritized by SIEC

The SIEC continues to make recommendations on all state interoperability funding for voice and data communication projects

No statewide measurement of interoperability to show progress

Performance measures established to determine the effectiveness of the interoperability effort

Interoperability baseline established with multiple years of measurement showing improvement

Communications managed on local or regional level with little coordination across borders

CICO merged into the Governor’s Office of Commonwealth Preparedness

CICO in Governor’s budget & continues to effectively manage interoperability improvement

Update and refinement of the Plan continues to incrementally improve communications

Baseline Survey


Accomplishments


Major Achievements

Established the Project Management Office within the Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator’s Office

Hosted three annual Virginia Interoperability Communications Conferences (VICC). The 2006 VICC saw 320 participants.

Developed and currently implementing FY 2007 Plan

Secured an Executive Order formally establishing the State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC)


Major Achievements (continued)

Since 2004 the SIEC has conducted competitive grant processes that has resulted in $4.1 million in local interoperability grants

Improved coordination among Virginia’s state agencies for interoperability projects

Disseminated an RFP to conduct a statewide inventory of communications equipment, governance, and operating procedures

Established Virginia’s Common Language Protocol to transition from 10-codes to plain language as required by NIMS


Grants Overview


Charlottesville-Albemarle-UVA received a $6 million FEMA FY 2003 Interoperable Communications Equipment grant

Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the City of Alexandria are a part of the National Capital Region (NCR) and have spent $55 million in UASI funding for voice and data interoperability projects

The Virginia Beach MSA and Hampton Roads PlanningDistrict Commission has received a total of $12.5 millionIn Interoperability Grants from UASI and COPS

The Richmond MSA used $3.3 million of $6 million in UASI funding for interoperable communications needs

The Lynchburg and Roanoke MSA’s received $1.4million 2006 COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Grant


Why Regionalism?

• DHS requires a regional approach for distributing grant funds

• Regionalism will help the CICO work with stakeholders and additional members of the public safety community to:– Discern the effectiveness of previous plans– Discover new challenges– Continue to involve a multitude of stakeholders in

driving the Commonwealth’s direction in regards to interoperability


The Plan

• Support the goals and initiatives of the Plan

• Clearly show how the project or equipment needed addresses multiple disciplines and jurisdictions

• Comply with NIMS• Adopt the Common Language Best

Practice• Ensure equipment is on the AEL or has

an exception letter on file


The Plan

• Ensure all subscriber radios are programmed for mutual aid and interoperability channels

• Show proof of appropriate FCC licenses

• Comply with XML

• Comply with Project 25 as appropriate

• Comply with all other federal grant guidance that is provided with the RFP


Current Funding Cycle

• Funding available to localities as a result of DHS funding allocations

• Approximate release date of RFP – February 2007

• Applicants must comply with a preferred project list for funding– List was determined by interoperability

investment submitted


National Preparedness Goal Priorities

1. Implement the NIMS System and the National Response Plan

2. Expand Regional Collaboration

3. Implement the Interim National Infrastructure Protection Plan

4. Strengthen Information Sharing and Collaboration Capabilities

5. Strengthen Interoperable Communications Capabilities

6. Strengthen CBRNE Detection, Response, and Decontamination Capabilities

7. Strengthen Medical Surge and Mass Prophylaxis Capabilities


Authorized Equipment List• Go to

http://www2.rkb.mipt.org/ and log onto the Responder Knowledge Base for current AEL information

• If the equipment is not listed on the AEL for the appropriate funding cycle, exceptions can be granted.


Authorized Equipment List

To gain an exception for equipment not listed on the AEL:

• Contact Chris Essid to see if the purchase is in line with the state goals and objectives

• Then his office will verify with VDEM that the equipment is an allowable purchase (sometimes this may have to be approved by DHS).


Interoperability Continuum


Gather Regional Data From Leaders at the VICC

Regional Focus


Grants for Communication Projects

• 2005 Local Interoperability Grants

• 2006 Local Interoperability Grants

• Grants from 2003-2006


Voice & Data Communication Projects

• Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS)

• State Interdepartmental Radio System (SIRS)

• WebEOC

• Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN)


Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS)

• VHF High Band digital trunked system that is P25 compliant for voice and data

• Will provide necessary and reliable communications for 20 participating state agencies by upgrading the existing Virginia State Police land mobile and microwave radio networks

• STARS will consist of 80 microwave sites, 45 land mobile sites, VOIP, P25 compliant with open architecture

• 134 localities will given an RF talk path which will allow patches to be created when needed and then these localities will be able to talk with other localities or state agencies using the STARS infrastructure


STARS Mobile Data• Beyond voice, STARS enables access to data needed for first responders to be

better prepared and informed for enhanced decision making intelligence.

• The Commonwealth will be one of the first states to employ an Integrated Voice and

Data (IV&D) land mobile radio architecture that uses the same mobile radio for both voice and mobile computer communications. Integrating the voice and data networks saves the Commonwealth the expense of a separate data infrastructure with an additional radio/modem in each vehicle. The IV&D infrastructure will also provide Over-the-Air Re-Keying (OTAR) of the radio encryption, a recent technological innovation. This allows the encryption codes resident in the vehicle’s equipment to be managed remotely.

• The system provides responders in the field:– Remote access to law enforcement databases

– Intra-agency and inter-agency text messaging

– Interfaces with Virginia State Police (VSP) Computer Aided Dispatch

– Global Positioning System (GPS) support for Automated Vehicle Location (AVL)


STARS Interoperability• VHF and 800 MHz wireless communications for 6 tunnels:

• Big Walkers Mountain, East River Mountain, Hampton Roads• Elizabeth River Downtown, Elizabeth River Midtown, Monitor/Merrimack

• Project 25 compliant which will allow various vendor equipment that is P25 compliant to work with the system

• Dual Band 700/800 MHz portable radios will be able to directly communicate with local and regional 800 MHz systems via 700 MHz vehicular repeaters

• Transportable site with 50 portable radios that can be moved to disaster sites to assist with disaster recover efforts

• Questions concerning STARS should be addressed to the STARS Program Director Captain Michael E. Bolton at (804) 646-2022.


Commonwealth’s Link to Interoperable Communications (COMLINC)

• COMLINC will allow the opportunity for communication systems in 700MHz, 800 MHz, UHF and VHF to communicate

• Allows dispatchers within counties and cities to establish up to eight patches

• One of the paths will come back to the STARS network and the locality dispatcher may use the other patches to connect agencies within the jurisdiction or to other localities

• The State Interoperability Executive Committee approved a $1.5 million pilot project in conjunction with the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness to implement this Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

– Links 14 localities in Richmond region– Will leverage lessons learned before funding statewide

• Lynchburg and Roanoke MSA’s were awarded $2.3 million in COPS grants to implement COMLINC

– Will link at least 30 localities in the Roanoke and Lynchburg regions


State Interdepartmental Radio System (SIRS)

• SIRS is a statewide low band frequency at 39.54 MHz that has enabled multiple law enforcement agencies the ability to communicate since 1978

• Primarily used by sheriffs departments and police departments when communicating with the Virginia State Police or other localities while traveling outside of their primary radio footprint

• SIRS will continue to be used after the new Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) is built


Web EOC-Data Interoperability between State & Local Emergency Operation Centers

• Virginia State EOC acquisition– Web-based emergency

management communications system

– Partnering with VDOT, VDH and other state agencies

– Allows data interoperability with Maryland & D.C. EOC’s

– Localities will have access to state activity and data via Web

– Allows EOC’s to create event logs and share information

• For more information please contact Harry Colestock at (804) 674-2408


Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN)

• Developed a base map for the entire state so that GIS data can be the same throughout VA

• Will allow data to be loaded onto maps as layers to give first responders and dispatchers better information

• Data collection is a local driven process that involves the localities as the key stakeholders; data is only good if accurate

• Working with the E 911 Wireless Board that funded the Virginia Base Mapping Program

• For more information about VGIN please contact Bill Shinar at (804) 786-8175


CapWIN – Capitol area Wireless Integrated Network

• Capital area Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN) project is a partnership between the States of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia

• CapWIN will allow officers to run queries from the following crime databases in all three jurisdictions

– National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

– Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN)

– Maryland Integrated Law Enforcement System (MILES)

• CapWIN can be implemented with: (1) commercial connection (2) off the shelf laptop and (3) CapWIN license

• City of Waynesboro Police Department implemented CapWIN for mobile data computing

www.interoperability.virginia.gov1 1 commonwealth of virginia’s interoperability governance...

Documents

interoperability efforts

state efforts

time job slide

cico outreach slide

secure commonwealth

local governments

interoperable communications

stepbystep planning