Federal Continuity of Operations and Government Policy
Federal Continuity of Operations and Government Policy : "It is the policy of the United States to maintain a comprehensive and effective continuity capability composed of Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) programs to ensure the preservation of our form of Government under the Constitution and the continuing performance of NEFs under all conditions (National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD) -51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) -20, National Continuity Policy). Continuity requirements must be incorporated into the daily operations of all agencies to ensure seamless and immediate continuation of Primary Mission Essential Function (PMEF) capabilities to ensure critical government functions and services remain available to the Nation's citizens. Continuity planning will occur simultaneously with the development and execution of Federal agency programs. This means that organizations must incorporate redundancy and resiliency as a means and an end. In support of this policy, the Federal executive branch has developed and implemented a continuity of operations program which is composed of efforts within individual agencies to ensure that their Mission Essential Functions (MEFs) continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies including localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies. These efforts include plans and procedures, under all readiness levels, that delineate essential functions, specify succession to office and emergency delegations of authority, provide for the safekeeping of vital records, identify a range of continuity facilities and locations, provide for interoperable communications, provide for human capital planning, validate these capabilities through tests, training, and exercises (TT&E), specify a devolution of control and direction, and provide for reconstitution. All agencies, regardless of their size or location, shall have in place a viable continuity capability to ensure continued performance of those agencies' essential functions under all conditions". (DHS, FCD 1, 2007, 2)
No records Found