Funding for the Congressionally-authorized National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) is an annual appropriation through the Homeland Security National Training Program Cooperative Agreement.
Funding: The NDPC has been funded annually at various levels since 1998.
Congress has invested millions of dollars into the development of the NDPC, ensuring that all US emergency responders/receivers have access to high-quality training. This funding allows the NDPC to develop and deliver training at no direct cost to state and local agencies.
The NDPC as a Homeland Security National Training Asset
The NDPC is an entity with deep experience, demonstrable expertise, unique competencies, and a long-standing relationship with DHS/FEMA; one which is trusted by state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions. It supports the national training program mandate to identify, develop, test, and deliver homeland security training to all emergency disciplines. Created after the Oklahoma City federal building bombing, the NDPC has the ability and willingness to continually evolve to meet the needs of America’s responders/receivers.
Further, the NDPC has the ability to be immediately responsive to the unique first responder/receiver training needs of each state through cooperation and coordination with each State Administrative Agency. The NDPC provides each state with targeted and needed first responder/receiver training to address current gaps and strengthen its identified core capability needs, thus enhancing our nation’s preparedness.
The NDPC enables the consistency, effectiveness, and efficiency of centralized management with decentralized training and course deliveries.
The robust training network that has been created by the NDPC is a result of stability and the continued support of Congress. Benefits of this network include a relevant database to provide specific information on each state’s receipt of training assets from the NDPC and the benefits derived from fiscal support.
The stability and long term investment in the NDPC serves as a force multiplier for all future funding by providing:
- no need for start-up costs to develop a program;
- high quality curriculum and course deliveries at no direct cost to state and local agencies;
- trusted, expert cadre of instructors with real world experience from across the country;
- continuity in training for improved mutual aid and collaborative response efforts;
- quality assurance and high caliber peer review of curricula;
- continual reevaluation of course materials for relevance and emerging needs;
- ability to assist states and responders in remaining relevant and consistent by aligning course content to national doctrine and standards;
- ability to reach a large, diverse, and growing audience by employing innovative training techniques;
- promotion of the whole community approach to emergency preparedness;
- ability to help communities analyze training gaps and provide appropriate training;
- affiliations with renowned academic, state, and federal institutions;
- significant investment in information technology infrastructure, facilities, training equipment, and materials;
- established, proven data collection and reporting systems and processes, designed specifically to meet the needs of FEMA and state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies;
- well-developed trusting relationships between NDPC members and state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies;
- well-developed trusting relationships between NDPC members and relevant federal agencies beyond funding agency;
- nationally recognized outcome-based studies to demonstrate effectiveness and broad-reaching training outcomes; and
- over 2 million trained responders/receivers as of the end of FY13. This number is increased to overall 6 million responders/receivers as a result of Innovation of Diffusion*.
Traditionally, Continuing Training Grant recipients have not shown the ability to sustain training beyond the initial funding period. As such, many of the CTG developed courses, if deemed to have ongoing need and relevance, have been assumed by existing NDPC members who have the facilities, infrastructure, and ability to sustain them.
With Congress’ investment in the NDPC over the years it would be extremely difficult, costly, and time consuming to attempt to replicate this consortium and its human resources, products, and facilities.