PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP UNIT

The Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) partnered with the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s InfraGard to create Partners for Arizona Safety and Security (PASS).  The intent was to exchange information relating to Arizona’s Safety and Security with the Private Sector.  In June 2007, ADEM hosted a Private Sector meeting.  More than 100 Private Sector organizations were represented at the meeting.

Subsequently, under ADEM’s leadership the State of Arizona will partner with private sector representatives to form a strategy, and an operational plan for creating an organization that would enable the communication, collaboration, and action necessary to resolve the effects of a catastrophic event which neither the public nor private sector can resolve independently.  The outcome of this planning process will yield the Arizona Business Operations Center (ABOC) concept and baseline models for communications, information sharing, and resource exchange. 

The development of the ABOC is intended to be an incremental and iterative process— utilizing planned training, exercises, and actual events to build and mature it’s capabilities over time.  The objective of these efforts is to continue to enhance the quality and effectiveness or the state’s response capabilities and protect the interests of our state’s communities and constituents.

The ABOC is intended to become a key mechanism that the State of Arizona and the private sector jointly utilize to coordinate and catalyze the response and recovery from disasters and emergencies. The scope of ABOC operations is to provide a forum for the rapid dissemination of information, determination of needs, aggregation of integrated solutions, and fulfillment of critical requirements during a catastrophic emergency.   The ABOC is not intended to supersede or replace existing public or private sector capabilities.  It is intended to enhance those capabilities by facilitating effective communication and coordinated action.

The ABOC will be staffed by a team of representatives from private sector corporations, utilities, industry associations, and chambers of commerce critical to response efforts.   Together, the ABOC will coordinate with a small team of analysts working directly with the State’s Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to provide bi-directional communication, and to coordinate efforts. 

The ABOC will be a private sector entity.  It will be created, supported and staffed by the private sector.  The ABOC will be activated and staffed during times of crisis and will assist in the management of catastrophic disasters, emergencies, and incidents affecting the State’s residents.  The ABOC may also be initiated in anticipation of significant events, for disaster planning, training, exercises, and other non-emergency situations as required.   The ABOC can and will act independent of the SEOC.  It may be activated to serve the private sectors need without the involvement of the SEOC.

Arizona P.A.S.S. will continue to function as a pipeline of information between the government and private sector partners.

CONTACT
For additional information regarding the Continuity of Operations Planning, please contact us for your area of interest.