ART - Planning for the Unexpected - Purchasing 2009

The document discusses the importance of recovery efforts after a catastrophe and the role of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the NIGP's Procurement Response and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) community in emergency preparedness and response. The document explains that recovery aims to restore the affected area, workplace, or community to its previous state by focusing on rebuilding destroyed property, reemploying displaced workers, and repairing essential infrastructure. It emphasizes the need to address not only the physical losses but also the psychological impact of trauma, such as post-traumatic stress and depression, which can persist even after physical normalcy is restored. After a period of reflection, representatives from various agencies, suppliers, and aid recipients are encouraged to come together to discuss their experiences and review and refine the emergency plan. This debriefing is crucial for the continuous improvement of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery plans. The document introduces the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is used in the United States to coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management across federal, state, and local agencies. NIMS helps organizations prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from emergencies of any cause, size, location, or complexity. However, NIMS does not assist in locating resources when systems are down during an emergency. To address this gap, the NIGP's PREP community provides an emergency logistical support network and a partnership database to help local governments obtain operational support from pre-identified partners outside the impacted area and quickly identify sources of supplies. Participating agencies in the PREP community offer a reliable source of goods and services to each other during emergencies. They sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and agree on delivery methods of materials and services. The document explains that participating in PREP involves selecting one of three levels of support. Level One provides access to the PREP network, information sharing, and the ability to request assistance in an emergency. Level Two offers additional support protocols, access to a list of suppliers and resources, and assistance in connecting with suppliers. Level Three provides advanced support, including executing supply agreements on behalf of the PREP entity and temporary duty assignments for staff augmentation. To enroll in the PREP program, interested parties can visit the NIGP website or contact them for more information.