Continuity of Operations
(COOP) Plan
Key Personnel
(COOP Teams)
Alternate Facilities
Delegation of
Authority
Orders of
Succession
Personnel Issues and
Coordination
Essential Functions
Vital Records and
Databases
Interoperable
Communications
Testing, Training and
Exercises

Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Essential functions include all functions:

Explicitly assigned by law or order of the
President.

Determined by the agency head to be essential.

That provide vital support to another Federal
Executive Branch department or agency.

Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Essential Functions are those functions that enable an organization to:

Provide vital services.

Exercise civil authority.

Maintain the safety of the general public.

Sustain the industrial and economic base.

Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Essential functions:

Most important planning element

Basis for determining resource requirements:

Staff




Vital information/critical systems
Equipment
Supplies and services
Facilities






Compile all organizational functions
Identify mission essential functions
Roster personnel to complete those functions
Determine required resources and equipment
Assess alternate facility against needs of mission essential functions

Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Staffing
Staff required to support essential functions:

Number

Skills

Experience

Availability

Timing of requirement






Southern U. of New Orleans eliminating 19 academic disciplines
Tulane layoffs of 233 faculty, elimination of 14 doctorial programs and 5 majors, suspension of 8 athletic teams
LSU system predicts 5,000 layoffs from its New Orleans health system
Dillard U. layoffs of 59% of faculty and staff
Xavier U. layoffs of 58% of full-time faculty and 53% of staff
Source: Chronicle of Higher Education





Functions that need to be resumed within 30 days
Functions that impact external or internal customers
Functions that would cause delays or impact the services/operations of other Departments
Examples include functions that enable hiring of employees, grant management, are required by regulation/statutes, payroll, etc.







Establishes planning parameters
Essential functions - - vital services, civil authority, public safety, sustain industrial/economic base
Carefully review all organizational missions.
Improper identification of essential functions can have negative impact on entire COOP plan
Must also include external partners.
Consideration must be given to department and agency interdependences.

Elements of a Viable COOP Capability
Identifying/Prioritizing Essential Functions

Agencies must determine functions that must be continued in all circumstances.

Essential functions include those that:


Cannot be interrupted for 12 hours.
Must be resumed within 30 days.