[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40778-40780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17717]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2018-0041]


National Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Capabilities 
Analysis Database

AGENCY: Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP), National Protection 
and Programs Directorate (NPPD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments; new collection, 1670--
NEW.

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SUMMARY: DHS NPPD IP will submit the following information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until October 15, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS-
2018-0041, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Please follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Please include docket 
number DHS-2018-0041 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Written comments and questions about this 
Information Collection Request should be forwarded to DHS/NPPD/IP, 
ATTN: 1670--NEW, 245 Murray Lane SW, Mail Stop 0612, Jenny Margaros, 
Arlington, VA 20528.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available 
to the public through relevant websites. For this reason, please do not 
include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as 
sensitive personal information or proprietary information. If you send 
an email comment, your email address will be automatically captured and 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and 
made available on the internet. Please note that responses to this 
public comment request containing any routine notice about the 
confidentiality of the communication will be treated as public comments 
that may be made available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion 
of the routine notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Jenny Margaros at 703-235-9381 or 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Homeland Security Presidential 
Directive-19: Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United 
States, DHS was mandated to have a regularly updated assessment of 
domestic explosives-related capabilities. It required DHS to expand its 
National Capabilities Analysis Database, which is now known as the 
National Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Capabilities Analysis 
Database (NCCAD). Currently, the President's Policy Directive-17: 
Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (PPD-17) reaffirms the 2007 
Strategy for Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United 
States. It provides guidance to update and gives momentum to our 
ability to counter

[[Page 40779]]

threats involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
    The NCCAD provides State, local, tribal and territorial law 
enforcement stakeholders a method to identify their level of capability 
to prevent, protect, mitigate, and respond to an IED threat. It also 
provides Federal stakeholders an overarching view of the Nation's 
collective counter-IED capabilities.
    Information is collected by Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) 
personnel and contractors. These individuals travel to locations across 
the Nation to gather the requisite information. OBP personnel and 
contractors facilitate initial baseline assessments either face-to-face 
or via webinar in order to get stakeholders familiar with the NCCAD 
system, provide clarifying information, and answer questions. Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement personnel with a 
counter-IED mission assist NCCAD personnel to coordinate a training 
location for personnel from the four disciplines (bomb squads, 
explosives detection canine, special weapons and tactics teams (SWAT), 
and dive units) to take their respective assessment. The OBP 
facilitator begins by conducting a short brief on the reasons for NCCAD 
and how it can help them as units.
    The NCCAD assessments consists of a total of 56 tasks bundled into 
specific question sets spread across the four (4) disciplines 
representing specific tasks encompassing personnel, training, and 
equipment. The OBP and the NCCAD team used federal requirements (FEMA 
Resource Typing) to create the overarching list of questions in the 
question sets. Where there were no requirements, OBP and NCCAD worked 
with subject matter experts to identify best practices to create the 
assessments. Subject matter experts and Federal, State, local agency 
representatives collaborated to rank and stack each question and 
question set in order of importance and priority. At that time, weights 
were assigned to the questions, which provide the capability 
calculation for the whole question set.
    The first group of questions in the assessment focus on the profile 
of the unit, i.e., the number of technicians/handlers; primary 
assignment versus collateral duty assignment; number of IED responses 
in the past twelve (12) months; number of special events in the past 
twelve (12) months. The rest of question sets are delineated by task: 
Implement Intelligence/Information Gathering and Dissemination; 
Implement Bombing Incident Prevention and Response Plans; Incident 
Analysis; Incident Mitigation; Access Threat Area; Contain or Mitigate 
Hazards; Conduct Scene Investigations; and Maintain Readiness.
    Each discipline's questionnaire only includes question sets 
specific to that discipline. This means that while multiple disciplines 
may have the same question set title, the questions may not be the 
same. For example, the SWAT and canine questionnaires both have the 
question set, Maintain Readiness, however, only the canine 
questionnaire includes specific questions about leashes, water bowls, 
and kennels, as equipment needed to maintain readiness. This tailoring 
allows for a large question pool, while ensuring specificity depending 
on the discipline being assessed.
    The information from each individual unit is collected into the 
database. Upon completion of inputting the unit information, the 
program, using the appropriate algorithms, creates a capabilities 
analysis report for the unit commander. The report identifies current 
capabilities, existing gaps, and makes recommendations for closing 
those gaps. Additionally, the NCCAD allows the unit commander to 
identify the most efficient and effective purchases of resources to 
close those gaps. At the State, regional, and National-levels, the data 
is aggregated within the selected discipline and provides a snapshot of 
the counter-IED capabilities across the discipline. OBP also intends to 
identify the lowest, highest, median, and average capability levels 
across units, States, regions, disciplines, and the Nation. This data 
will be used to provide snapshots of the C-IED capabilities and gaps to 
inform decision-makers on policy decisions, resource allocation for 
capability enhancement, and crisis management. Data collected will be 
used in readiness planning, as well as steady-state and crisis decision 
support during threats or incidents. NCCAD data will assist operational 
decision-makers and resource providers in developing investment 
justifications that support State homeland security strategies and 
national priorities.
    The National Incident Management System (NIMS) Resource Typing 
assessment is a subset of the NCCAD assessment questions which identify 
the number and type of bomb response teams that a unit has based on its 
composition. There are seven tasks with a total of 32 questions. 
Resource Typing Definitions are used to categorize, by capability, the 
resources requested, deployed, and used in incidents. Measurable 
standards identifying resource capabilities and performance levels 
serve as the basis for this categorization. National NIMS resource 
types support a common language for the mobilization of resources 
(equipment, teams, units, and personnel) prior to, during, and after 
major incidents. Resource users at all levels use these definitions as 
a consistent basis when identifying and inventorying their resources 
for capability estimation, planning and for mobilization during mutual 
aid efforts. National NIMS resource types represent the minimum 
criteria for the associated component and capability.
    All responses are collected via electronic means via the virtual 
assessment program. While the actual data collection is done through 
the NCCAD database through IP Gateway, OBP personnel facilitate the 
collection of the data by assisting users via a face-to-face discussion 
or webinar. This is particularly useful for first time users to 
understand the nuances of the NCCAD system and how they can use their 
assessment to help justify resource requests and help with steady-state 
and threat-initiated decision-making. It is NCCAD policy to not accept 
the questionnaires in paper format. If there is a power outage at the 
event site or if the website is down due to technical reasons, 
facilitators have copies of the paper format for stakeholders to 
continue filling out. Facilitators do not collect these hard copies. 
Stakeholders keep them to update the electronic assessment when they 
next access it. OBP is cutting down this possibility even more by 
beginning the utilization of tablets and hotspots for those individuals 
who do not have laptops or internet access.
    This is a new information collection.
    OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

[[Page 40780]]

    Title of Collection: National Counter-Improvised Explosive Device 
Capabilities Analysis Database.
    OMB Control Number: 1670--NEW.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 2,717.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,735 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Recordkeeping Burden: $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.

David Epperson,
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-17717 Filed 8-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-9P-P