State Contracting in a Foreign Animal Disease Response This session was designed to be hosted by the Lead Agency for an agriculture emergency response and attended by state contracting personnel. The discussion will focus on the procedures to utilize state contracts during a foreign animal disease response. Ideal group size should be no more than 30 people. Primary attendees should include contracting personnel from your agency as well as individuals familiar with your state’s emergency contracting procedures. This session should take one to two hours to facilitate depending on the engagement of the audience. This presentation was developed with funding from the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture following the 2014-2015 response to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI). Developed with funding from the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture

Workshop Objectives Overview of the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture project Review lessons learned from the HPAI outbreak related to state contracting Discuss ways to implement emergency state contracting during a foreign animal disease response This slide provides some general objectives for the workshop. These can be adjusted and modified based on the Lead Agency’s ultimate objectives.

2015 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza December 2014 - June 2015 21 states impacted 211 commercial and 21 backyard premises Depopulation of 7.5 million turkeys and 42.1 million egg- layer and pullet chickens Cost over $950 million This is a general overview of the 2014-2015 HPAI response. If your state responded, it would be better to include more specific information about the response in your state and the impact. If your state didn’t respond, the above information will provide a little perspective for participants on the overall impact of the HPAI response and the duration for responding states. Reference: 2016 HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, January 11, 2016.

Who Responded to HPAI? United States Department of Agriculture State Departments of Agriculture Local Emergency Management Industry Others This slide is intended to give attendees an idea of who responded. Not all entities responded in every state. In some states with smaller outbreaks, the USDA may have been less involved. If your state responded to the outbreak, you should list all the agencies that supported your response.

MSPSA After Action Review Project Lessons learned from 10 states Interviews or reviews of written After Action Reports Focus on state and local challenges that could be addressed through facilitated discussion This project was initiated following the HPAI response, but the discussion and subsequent actions may be applied to a variety of future responses. This project is intended to look specifically at state and local issues that could be addressed through a facilitated discussion format. It is not primarily intended to focus on state/federal issues.

MSPSA After Action Review Project (cont.) Identified four priority topics for states ICS structure improvements Local communication State communication State contracting improvements This workshop deals with state contracting improvements This slide highlights the four areas that were selected by Partnership survey participants. This presentation addresses one of these areas.

State Contracting Lessons Learned Resources within the state were not fully utilized Many resources, specifically contractors, within the state were not fully utilized during the response Emergency contracts often have restrictions which do not coincide with a long term foreign animal disease response The next two slides give a general overview of the challenges mentioned by states during the initial review of this project related to implementing state contracts in an animal disease emergency. Feel free to ask participants if these issues are or could be applicable in your state.

State Contracting Lessons Learned (cont.) The state Lead Agency in a foreign animal disease response is not familiar with the process needed to engage emergency contracts Utilizing contractors within the state may reduce some of the economic impact to the local community Challenges, as described by some states following the HPAI response, relate to the inability to fully utilize resources quickly through state contracts. Issues may include, for example, the lack of familiarity with the process and/or time restrictions. The ability of the state to hire local contactors quickly may lessen negative impact to the community.

Emergency Contracting The next series of slides give examples of questions that the facilitator should ask to explore how these challenges may be overcome. There may be questions to change, add or delete. The facilitator should make whatever changes are necessary to meet the needs of the agency.

State Contracting Procedures Does the state have emergency contracting procedures? How would the Lead Agency access and/or issue a contract? What are the limitations to utilizing emergency contracts? The next series of slides give examples of questions that the facilitator should ask to explore how these challenges may be overcome. There may be questions to change, add or delete. The facilitator should make whatever changes are necessary to meet the needs of the agency.

State Contracting Procedures (continued) What state agencies have expertise in emergency contracting? How can these agencies be leveraged to support the lead agency? How does a state declaration impact emergency contracting? The next series of slides give examples of questions that the facilitator should ask to explore how these challenges may be overcome. There may be questions to change, add or delete. The facilitator should make whatever changes are necessary to meet the needs of the agency.

State Contracting Procedures (continued) How can the Lead Agency address these limitations? What information needs to be developed to issue an emergency contract? Can this information be developed prior to an emergency? The next series of slides give examples of questions that the facilitator should ask to explore how these challenges may be overcome. There may be questions to change, add or delete. The facilitator should make whatever changes are necessary to meet the needs of the agency.

State Contracting Procedures (continued) Are there specific positions within the Lead Agency’s ICS structure that require knowledge of the state contracting procedures? Who can provide personnel to fulfill these positions? What training is needed? The next series of slides give examples of questions that the facilitator should ask to explore how these challenges may be overcome. There may be questions to change, add or delete. The facilitator should make whatever changes are necessary to meet the needs of the agency.

Additional Discussion This presentation is intended to facilitate a discussion to improve your state’s ability to utilize state contracts in response to an animal disease emergency. It is recommended to assign tasks designed to improve the contracting process through collaboration of the lead and supporting agencies and organizations.