Contingency Planning

DHS, OIG Report Finds Biological Surveillance Program Falling Short of Goals

By Shana R. Deitch August 28, 2007

According to a newly released report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_07-61_Jul07.pdf (DHS OIG), the National Bio-Surveillance Integration System (NBIS), a "key element of DHS' bio-protection program," is "falling short" of its objectives. The NBIS program was started in 2004 as a result of Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD) 9 and 10 http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/editorial_0607.shtm in order to coordinate and integrate biosurveillance data from multiple federal agencies and programs in an effort to better monitor both intentional and naturally-occurring biological threats. The report says that federal agencies have spent an estimated $32 billion was spent since 2001 on electronic surveillance systems and various other IT initiatives to address bio-defense.

The DHS OIG audit found the NBIS program to be lacking consistent and sustained leadership as a result of the DHS reorganization and "corresponding fluctuations in the program approach, priority and accomplishments." The program also lacks adequate staffing for effective program management specifically with regard to oversight of information technology (IT) initiatives and operational planning for NBIS program development. The report also outlines difficulties with coordination among agencies in identifying the types of data needed to support IT development and in addressing privacy and security concerns. Furthermore, the contractor that is responsible for developing the NBIS 2.0 project, the fully-functional next-generation of the NBIS system, will likely not meet the contract schedule and requirements due to a lack of guidance from DHS program management. Full NBIS operational capacity was slated for March 2008.

In the report, the OIG makes five recommendations to the DHS Office of the Chief Medical Officer and the Office of Health Affairs, where the current NBIS program is located, to improve program management:

1. Assess NBIS staffing needs and apply resources to effectively oversee and support program management activities
2. Develop and implement a program plan that identifies the program activities, milestones and outcomes needed to develop an integrated bio-surveillance system as required by HSPD-9 and 10
3. Develop for the IT system contractor a concept of operations that outlines functional and user requirements for NBIS 2.0
4. Develop a plan for improving NBIS outreach and communication with stakeholders to ensure commitment and participation in the creation of an integrated bio-surveillance system
5. Perform an information needs assessment, outlining interagency data content requirements to support NBIS 2.0 operational capability.

Based on the comments received on the draft of the OIG report, the Assistant Secretary of Health Affairs concurred with all of the recommendations and reported that the Office of Health Affairs has made progress on the recommendations in the past year. Specifically, the assistant secretary noted that NBIS is conducting staffing planning - including assessing staffing needs through fiscal year 2008, requesting resources for personnel and working to place federal employees in posts traditionally occupied by contractors. Additionally, a project manager has been contracted to develop a master schedule and track project timelines; six federal agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding with NBIS; and NBIS, together with the system development contractor, is designing a Data Acquisition Strategy to move the program from initial operational capability to full operational capability.

-Center for Biosecurity