Fact Sheet: Forward Challenge 04

Release Date: 05/13/04 00:00:00

During May 12-13, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting the first ever, federal-government wide continuity of operations (COOP) exercise "Forward Challenge 04."  More than 40 federal agencies, including DHS, are testing and evaluating COOP procedures during a simulated terrorism-based scenario to ensure essential functions and responsibilities continue during an emergency or situation that may disrupt normal Federal government operations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has responsibility for oversight and management of the Federal Executive Branch COOP program.

A threat or emergency condition may require federal departments and agencies to relocate to alternative sites.  Based on FEMA Federal Preparedness Circulars, all Federal agencies and departments have COOP plans that ensure capability to perform essential functions under various conditions. Federal departments and agencies must conduct tests, training and exercises to demonstrate capability of plans.

The objectives of this exercise are focused on executing the COOP at the Federal level.  In an actual event, notification, communication and coordination with our state, local and private sector partners would be a top priority, but for the purposes of this exercise we are focusing on the Federal level.

Objectives for Forward Challenge 04 exercise include:

• Establishing an operation capability at an alternate facility;
• Implementing succession and delegation of authority plans;
• Demonstrating an interoperable communications capability;
• Demonstrating a redundant communication capability; and
• Demonstrate the ability to access vital records necessary to conduct normal operations from a designated alternative location.

Forward Challenge 04 provides the framework for testing interoperability and interconnectivity between Federal departments and agencies from individual COOP sites throughout the United States and will ensure compliance with a recently mandated requirement to engage in continuity of operations activities.  Federal departments and agencies will be evaluating their individual response.

Participating Federal Agencies

• Homeland Security Council (HSC)
• National Security Council (NSC)
• Director Central Intelligence (DCI)
• Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Department of Commerce (DOC)
• Department of Defense (DOD-OSD)
• Department of Education (Ed)
• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
• Department of Interior (DOI)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Department of Labor (DOL)
• Department of State (State)
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Department of Treasury (TREAS)
• Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
• Federal Reserve Board
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• General Services Administration (GSA)
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• National Communications System (NCS)
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
• Peace Corps (PC)
• Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• Selective Service System (SSS)
• Social Security Administration (SSA)
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
• United States Coast Guard (USCG)
• United States Postal Service (USPS)
• US Agency for International Development (USAID)
• United States Secret Service (USSS)
• US Courts

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This page was last modified on 05/13/04 00:00:00