Annual Fusion Center Assessment and Gap Mitigation Activities

Fusion Center Assessment

DHS, in coordination with its interagency partners, Fusion Center Directors, and other fusion center stakeholders, manages the annual Fusion Center Assessment, process.

The Assessment collects objective data to evaluate the maturity of fusion center capabilities, which helps state and local leaders identify areas to strengthen capabilities and provides a basis to justify investment requests.

In future years, the Assessment will also collect data on the National Network of Fusion Centers performance, which is critical to understanding the unique value and impact of fusion centers in contributing to national information sharing and homeland security outcomes.

The primary goal of the Assessment is to collect data to:
1. Communicate the value and impact of fusion centers;
2. Identify, assess, and monitor capability development within fusion centers; and
3. Define opportunities to improve the quality and effectiveness of federal government support to fusion centers.

The Assessment focuses primarily on measuring fusion center implementation of the four Critical Operational Capabilities (receive, analyze, disseminate, and gather), which are the current priorities of the National Network of Fusion Centers. It also addresses implementation of the four Enabling Capabilities (privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections; sustainment strategy; communications and outreach; and security), which are key enablers of the fusion process.

Following the completion of the annual Assessment process, DHS publishes the findings in an annual report that describes the aggregate capability and performance of the National Network, as well as data-driven recommendations to further strengthen and mature the National Network.

Annual Fusion Center Assessments

The Assessment is a critical component of a broader Fusion Center Performance Program that is designed to measure the capability and performance of the National Network of Fusion Centers over time.

Assessment data will allow the federal government to better target resources to help fusion centers mitigate capability gaps, maintain those capabilities already in place, and improve performance over time.

Assessment data also informs state and local requests for, and allocation of, resources to address capability and performance gaps. Specifically, Assessment data forms the basis of fusion center-related Investment Justifications for the Homeland Security Grant Program.

Federal, state, and local fusion center stakeholders share a common goal of supporting a nationwide capacity for receiving, analyzing, disseminating and gathering threat information. The purpose of gap mitigation is to assist fusion centers in fully achieving and maintaining their capacity to execute the Critical Operational Capabilities and the Enabling Capabilities.

The federal government focuses its support for fusion centers through the delivery and deployment of gap mitigation resources. These gap mitigation resources provide fusion centers with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to enable the effective execution of the fusion process.

Informed by the results of the annual Assessment, both in terms of fusion centers' capabilities and of the effectiveness of federal support, the federal government identifies those resources that can most effectively support fusion centers with mitigating identified capability gaps and sustaining existing capabilities.

By leveraging the resources identified, the National Network of Fusion Centers can enhance its capabilities in a manner that not only increases the efficacy and efficiency of individual fusion centers but also supports the development of an integrated National Network that shares information and expertise to mitigate risks to the Homeland.