USDA-FSIS is not able to provide funds for the exercise.  Each participating organization will be responsible for funding their own travel, lodging, and/or per diem.

The first day of the exercise (FSIS participants only) will be held in the Beltsville District Office's conference room located in Suite 1-2275 B, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD.

An official invitation will be sent out about one month prior to the exercise for final confirmation of the participants.

Objectives:

To exercise and test the coordination of non-routine incident emergency response actions among:

- FSIS program offices and associated field staffs

- State and local agriculture and public health agencies

- Primary federal emergency response organizations

- Food industry

Structure

This 2 Day exercise is scenario and inject-driven, and facilitated.

USDA-FSIS will be the only players during the first day.

USDA-FSIS and all other organizations will play during day 2!

Injects:

- Scenario elements or information, including directives, instructions, and decisions, that are provided by exercise controllers to stimulate participant activity.

- Injects will be written.

- Injects ensure necessary events occur so all objectives are met.

Five distinct phases representing significant periods in incident progression, respponse and recovery.

Each phase begins with the introduction of multiple injects representing key events and communications occurring within the phase.

Following the inject introductions, participants will review the situation and engage in group discussions of appropriate response actions.

Participants will provide a "Debrief" of their group's actions based on the scenario and discuss their interactions with other stakeholder groups.

Guidelines

This is not a test.  Varying viewpoints, even disagreements, are expected.  This is intended to be an open, low-stress environment.

The exercise setting is the ideal opportunity to consider different approaches and suggest improvements to current resources plans, and training.

Responses should be based on current capabilities (i.e. you may use only existing abilities and assets).

Assumptions

In any exercise, a number of assumptions and artificial constructs may be necessary to complete the discussion within the time alloted.  During this exercise, the following apply:

- There is no "hidden agenda", nor are there any trick questions intended to mislead participants.

- Participants should assume that all organizations are implementing their current plans, procedures, and protocols.

Rules of Conduct and Engagement

- Don't make anything up.

- Except for "real" emergency notifications, all contact used during the exercise will be simulated verbally or in writing.

- Communication elements, links, systems, and equipment will be simulated.  The Exercise will not interfere with the real world emergency communications.

- Use available resources provided, e.g. maps, policies and programs.

- Respond to the scenario presented.

- Use the tracking form provided to track injects and actions.

Roles

- Participants respond to the situations as presented based on experience and knowledge.

- Observers may support the participants in the group as they develop responses to the situation.  However, they are primarily invited to observe.

- Facilitators provide situation updates and moderate group discussions.

- Table Reporters summarize discussions at their respective tables about each phase and report to the entire group.

- Trusted Agents are subject matter experts from various FSIS program offices.