An organization’s continuity of operations plan documents the overarching strategy, policies, and procedures required to support its headquarters continuity of operations program. As the DHS entity for coordinating the Executive Branch continuity of operations program, National Continuity Programs (NCP) has developed detailed planning guidance and plan templates to help other federal and non-federal entities in their continuity planning.
Continuity Plan Template For Federal Departments/Agencies
The purpose of this Continuity Plan template for Federal Departments and Agencies is to provide instructions, guidance, and sample text for the development of Continuity plans and programs in accordance with Federal Continuity Directives (FCDs) 1 and 2 for the Federal Executive Branch.
Continuity Plan Template For Non-Federal Entities
This Continuity Plan template for non-Federal entities provides a framework for creating a viable continuity plan and focuses on the key continuity planning elements as addressed in Continuity Guidance Circular 1 (CGC 1), Continuity Guidance for Non-Federal Governments (States, Territories, Tribes, and Local Government Jurisdictions), dated July 2013, and Continuity Guidance Circular 2 (CGC 2), Continuity Guidance for Non-Federal Governments: Mission Essential Functions Identification Process (States, Territories, Tribes, and Local Government Jurisdictions), dated October 2013.
For the Continuity Plan Template and Instructions for Non-Federal Entities, click here.
Essential Records Packet Plan Template
This Essential Records Packet Plan template assists with the identification, protection, and ready availability of organizational essential records, databases, emergency operating records, rights and interests records, and other documents are critical to the successful implementation and execution of a robust continuity plan.
Pandemic Influenza
This Pandemic Influenza template provides guidance to assist organizations in developing a Pandemic Influenza Continuity of Operations Plan or, if the organization already has a continuity plan, a Pandemic Influenza Annex. General guidance and sample information is provided for reference and organizations are encouraged to tailor Pandemic Influenza Continuity Plans to meet specific organizational needs and requirements.
ERG Member Planning Guide
Developing Emergency Relocation Group (ERG) Member Planning Guides (PDF 256KB, TXT 25KB), A Guide for ERG Positional Requirements Planning, June 2009. The Guide provides tools (templates and checklists) for developing ERG positional standard operating procedures to support organizational continuity programs. ERG positional guides assist ERG staff to understand the key elements of supporting that position and allow continuity managers access to positional requirements that are considered when preparing a Business Process Analysis of organizational essential functions.
Reconstitution Template
This Reconstitution template is based on Federal Continuity Directive 1, Federal Executive Branch National Continuity Program and Requirements, October 2012, and provides structure and recommended content for developing a reconstitution plan. Reconstitution is the process by which surviving and/or replacement organization personnel resume normal organization operations from the original or replacement primary operating facility.
Devolution Template
This Devolution template is based on the Federal Continuity Directive 1, Federal Executive Branch National Continuity Program and Requirements, and provides a structure and recommended content for developing a Devolution Plan.
Multi-Year Strategy and Program Management Plan
A continuity Multi-Year Strategy and Program Management Plan (MYSPMP) provides multi-year planning guidance for the development of effective continuity plans and programs. The MYSPMP serves as a roadmap for organization continuity planners to follow to ensure that critical activities and resources can be implemented and obtained so that their programs continue to improve over time. The MYSPMP provides strategic guidance, a current program assessment, and outlines program needs, goals, objectives, and strategies for the organization’s Continuity program as well as milestones for accomplishing these activities and any issues, concerns, or obstacles that they may face.
Exercise Templates
NCP developed a series of continuity exercise templates that incorporate updates from the National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan, Federal Continuity Directive 1 and 2, and Continuity Guidance Circular 1 and 2. These exercise templates are compatible with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and meet National Exercise Program requirements.
Department and Agencies Telwork Exercise Template
This Exercise Plan (EXPLAN) template provides exercise planners with the information necessary for their participation in a continuity telework exercise. This EXPLAN Template is a tool to assist agencies to conduct a telework exercise to determine current capabilities to operate in a telework or a socially-distanced environment and to determine what needs to be done to enhance your current capabilities and to better prepare for a pandemic influenza or continuity event.
This telework exercise handbook template is set up to provide an example of an exercise player handbook for use when conducting a telework exercise.
For more information on these or additional templates, please email FEMA-Continuity-WebInfo.