DHS EP&R
Mission
Assignments (MAs)
What is a
Mission Assignment (MA)?

Work order issued by DHS EP&R to a
Federal agency directing completion of a
specific task, and citing funding, other
managerial controls, and guidance

Given in anticipation of, or response to a
Presidential declaration of a major
disaster or emergency
CDRP-2
Three Types of
Mission Assignments (MAs)
1. Federal Operations Support (FOS):



Any type of support to Federal responders
100% Federally funded
Before or after declaration
“FED TO FED”
CDRP-3
3 Types of MAs (Cont’d)
2. Technical Assistance (TA):



TA for expertise advice
100 % Federally funded
Eligible after declaration
“Brain Power = Clean Hands”
3. Direct Federal Assistance (DFA):




For goods and services beyond the State’s
capability to provide
Functions normally under State/local
purview
Requested by State; subject to cost-share
Eligible only after declaration
“Dirty Hands and We do the Work”
CDRP-4
Common Terms in Mission
Assignments (MA) Process

Action Request Form (ARF)

MA Form

MA Tasker

Emergency Support Function (ESF)

Federal Approving Official (FAO)

State Approving Official (SAO)

Operations Section Chief

Mission Assignment Coordinator (MAC)
CDRP-5
Mission Assignment
Phases (3)
Incident
Declaration
REQUEST Process
MISSIONPhase
ASSIGNMENT
Process
2: MA
Phase 1:
Issuance
MA ISSUANCE
4.
Phase 2:
MA EXECUTION TRACKING &
MONITORING, STAND-DOWN
& DEACTIVATION
Phase 3:
MA BILLING &
REIMBURSEMENT/CLOSEOUT
& STATE COST SHARE
CDRP-7
Set-Up Activities

Notification and ESF activation

Budget established

NEMIS Rights

Delegations of authority

Presidential declaration (specifies cost share
and waivers)

DHS EP&R-State agreement (assurances from
State)
CDRP-8
REQUEST PROCESS – Identifying Needs
through the State
A variety of sources can identify
needs for Federal assistance:
STATE
GOVERNMENT
State
Assistance
Federal
Assistance
VOLUNTARY
ORGANIZATIONS
LOCAL & COUNTY
GOVERNMENT
TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT
FEDERAL
AGENCIES
PRIVATE SECTOR
(BUSINESS & CITIZEN GROUPS)
CDRP-9
REQUEST PROCESS - ARF Form

NOTE!! All official requests should be
made to DHS EP&R via the Action
Request Form (ARF)
• Verbals (follow up in writing!)

ARF is logged in the “Tracking Log”
(by Mission Assignment Specialist)
CDRP-10
Building a Good Request
CDRP-11
Request Process Continues…

Operations Section Chief – Reviews ARF





Eligible under Stafford Act?
Beyond State and local capabilities?
Permanent restorative work?
Existing other Federal agency authority?
Operations Section Chief - Coordinates with Logistics
• Can request can be met through DHS EP&R?
(Internal DHS EP&R Supply or Purchase or Contract)
If not, ARF is routed to appropriate Branch Chief to work
with OFA to prepare SOW, $$ and completion date.
THEN Request = MISSION ASSIGNMENT
CDRP-13
Building a Good
Statement of Work
CDRP-14
Phase 1:


MA reviewed OPS Section Chief for content
MA is signed (in NEMIS/eCAPS ) by:






MA Issuance
MAC
PO
State Approving Official (SAO) –(TA or DFA)
FAO (i.e., FCO, Dep. FCO or Ops Chief)
Comptroller > certifies and obligates funds
> forwards obligated MA to the DFC and copy
to the MAC
MAC provides a copy to the assigned agency
CDRP-15
Phase 2: MA Execution

Tasked Lead Agency –
1. Begins task
> May subtask support agencies or contract with vendors
2. Agency’s Action Officer (AO) tracks progress and
documents all expenditures
3. AO coordinates with DHS EP&R’s Project Officer (PO)
4. AO submits two reports to PO:
a. Work progress report -
b. Financial status report www.fema.gov/ofm/ofed_agencies.shtm
CDRP-16
Reimbursable Costs
ELIGIBLE COSTS

Permanent Federal agency personnel:
Overtime, travel, per diem

Temporary personnel: Wages, travel, per diem

Costs paid from trusts, revolving funds, etc.

Costs of contracts and materials, equipment
from agency’s regular stock
CDRP-17
Non-Reimbursable Costs
NON-ELIGIBLE COSTS

Work performed by an agency under their own
authority

Repairs to OFA facilities

Litigation costs

PFT regular salaries, benefits, and indirect
costs (i.e., sick time, cash awards)
CDRP-18
Phase 3: MA Billing/
Reimbursement & Close-out

Support agency bills reviewed by lead agency &
paid by DHS EP&R from lead agency’s obligation

Lead and other agencies with direct MAs bill DHS
EP&R

DHS EP&R DFC reviews bills and pays agency

MAC/PO/FAO reviews work, approves payment

OFA submits final bill

Remaining funds deobligated, MA file closed

State billed for cost share
CDRP-19
Pre-scripted Mission
Assignments (PSMAs)

Developed to facilitate rapid
response and standardize mission
assignments.

Mission statement and dollar
amount $$ serve as a general
guideline or template
• IF NEEDED -Revise PSMA to fit the request!!!!
CDRP-20
Pre-scripted Mission
Assignments (PSMAs)

Encourage “thinking ahead”

Purpose is not to “recreate the
wheel”

Operations Chief has discretion to
change
CDRP-21
CDRP-22