Government Services
The AHC has developed service specifically designed for state and local governments.
The AHC’s proven approach to services for it government members is based on assisting states/locals who may have a requirement to:
- Solve a complex problem between multiple agencies
- Support for a “quick turn around” project or urgent need
- Support for all or parts of the grants process
- Improved speed and efficiency in a specific procurement of services
- Evaluating various solutions in the public and/or private sector
- Hiring senior level staff/consultants via a competitive process
- Researching existing public/private projects before starting a new one that overlaps
- Developing “match” for a project
- Outreach and collaboration with the private sector
- Program/Project Coordination
Since 2005, the AHC has responded to government’s request for assistance by developing partnerships and services that solve real world operational issues across multiple states and industry sectors.
Grants Support Services:
- Requirements Development
- Contractor Management
- 25% Match Development
- Multi-State Competitive Procurements
- Multi-State Governance Management
- Program/Project Coordination
Private Sector Integration Services:
- Staffing
- Integrated Planning and Alignment w/Private Sector
- Research & Sector Scanning
- Vendor Community Liaison Interface
- Complex Problem Solving Workshops and Tabletop Exercises with CIKR owners/operators
Below is a brief description of each service.
Requirements Development
The AHC has worked with many states in assisting their requirements development process for specific initiatives in homeland security, emergency management, transportation, communications, and governance related matters.
Contractor Management
The AHC supports government by offering contracting services designed to screen and hire the most qualified candidates for a specific task. The AHC’s process is fast and efficient wit most candidates able to be contracted and start work within 10 days.
25% Match Development w/Private Sector
The AHC’s procurement process assists states and local governments in developing the 25% match required by federal guidelines. This process has been approved by DHS, and incorporates the private sector into the process and utilizes their resources to develop the match. Since 2008, millions of dollars in match of been generated for the state and UASIs.
Multi-State Competitive Procurements
Government has used the AHC many times to conduct multi-state or single state procurements on specific grant projects and initiatives. The AHC has proven procurement policies and procedures that allow open and fair acquisition of services on behalf of government. This process, approved by DHS, also has been instrumental in helping states and counties develop 25% match to meet federal grant guidelines. The AHC’s procurement policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable federal or state law governing procurement processes and conflicts of interest applicable to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.
Multi-State Governance Management
The AHC facilitates multi-state meetings and working groups that bring together both public and private sectors stakeholders to address regional issues. Utilizing proven governance processes and structures, the AHC has been able to operate and manage programs, projects, and integrated planning meetings across a wide geographic footprint that are inclusive of stakeholders from multiple sectors and states. This allows states/local government to participate with their regional peers in an open and fair environment to discuss key issues, areas of deficiencies, and opportunities to partner and improve. This governance process increases the awareness, the trust, and the efficiency of projects across the region. These benefits include:
• Representation of government & business on AHC Board of Directors and Regional Working Groups
• Joint public/private supported regional charters and agreements
• Multi-State policy development
• Facilitation of Joint public/private sector project Steering Committees (e.g. Multi-State Fleet Response Working Group)
Program/Project Coordination
Certain regional, multi-state efforts require coordination of multiple states and their contractors. These types of projects are ideal for the AHC who provides overall program coordination to insure that each component is integrated with the others.
Staffing
The AHC has access to thousands of subject matter experts in government and the private sector. Many of these stakeholders are available for hire on specific opportunities. The AHC has a process in place that can help draft a Scope of Work, collect resumes, screen candidates, and provide resumes to the hiring agency. The AHC can also contract the individuals and manage their work, time sheets, etc…
Integrated Planning and Alignment w/Private Sector
The AHC conducts meetings and workshops designed at integrating and aligning the owners and operators of critical infrastructure into specific state and urban area initiatives. Utilizing experts in the field of collaboration, the AHC can bring the multiple leaders and organizations together with sometimes competing interests to bring about a common understanding, a shared intent and coordinated action.
Research & Sector Scanning
The AHC provides government with targeted research and sector scans able to look across the public and private sector spectrums for specific projects, papers, and solutions that support specific initiatives. This saves government’s time and money as they plan for future initiatives. Knowing what has already been done and who did it is important so that government doesn’t waster precious resources or overlap existing efforts.
Vendor Community Liaison Interface
The AHC can provide a unique Interface to the vendor community on behalf of the states. By serving as a liaison, the AHC can facilitate discussions, information exchange, and requirements development sessions without crossing any legal or ethical boundaries. This allows the government to leverage the experience of research and development teams, and experience project teams from around the country to support their specific projects and programs and planning. New solutions are identified and manufactured all the time, and the AHC can allow government to stay current on specific technologies or solutions.
Complex Problem Solving
The AHC and its partners provide a unique service aimed at solving complex problems for government and the private sector operators of critical infrastructure. This service helps to bring multiple states/agencies together with each other or with the private sector into a facilitated process that allows every participant to be heard. All ideas and concepts are captured by a graphic artist who produces a visual image for all to see. This process allows all parties to understand the “Big Picture”, where they fit in, defines their role in the process, and identifies the top problems to be addressed. It uncovers conflicts, establishes common words or terms, exposes disconnects, and creates trust over the long haul.
In the end , this service brings together people who may not want to work together, identifies their common needs, builds a shared perspective on the issue(s), sets realistic objectives, coordinates actions and create a positive group dynamic that propels the group forward.
As an example, below are listed some sue cases for the Complex Problem Solving Service/Capability:
- The federal government used this process when they wanted to get multiple federal agencies to working together and coordinate their actions following the Haiti earthquakes.
- The American Petroleum Institute used this processed to bring regulators and gas/oil executives to help identify common gaps and opportunities to better protect the supply chains
- Several states and urban areas used some of these services to engage the electric, food, telecommunications and fuel sectors in planning activities and begin the annual CATEX exercise series focused on expediting power restoration and supply chain movement on the East Coast.
- Multiple states have sued these services to jointly work on regional projects in public safety communications in support of FirstNet and the MACINAC, a regional multi-state initiative to assist the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to plan, build, and operate the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) in the Mid-Atlantic region.
- The electric sector's Edison Electric Institute has utilized this service to help resolve utility fleet movement issues across the U.S. when multiple companies move multiple fleets across state lines
- The private sector used this capability to work with federal agencies and Canadian agencies to shorten the border crossing time from 2 hours/truck to 20 seconds/truck.