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Wildland Fire Information and Technology WFIT Support to NWCG Business Needs

NWCG committees, which represent the functional areas of wildland fire management on an interagency and intergovernmental basis, establish information and technology (IT) capability requirements and/or business needs in their mission areas. These IT capability requirements or business needs are communicated through NWCG Coordinators to the NWCG Executive Board and WFIT Program Board. The WFIT Program Board then provides leadership, funding recommendations, and support in turning these requirements into actual IT capabilities through applications, infrastructure, etc.

The portfolio of NWCG IT business needs or capability requirements is provided below. NWCG maintains a full list of applications currently in operation and maintenance, including information on the NWCG Committee or Subgroup(s) responsible for maintaining the associated capability requirements and business needs.

Coordination and questions about the NWCG IT capability requirements portfolio, including progress, next steps, and funding request status, can be directed to Steve Manthei, WFIT Program Manager (steven_manthei@ios.doi.gov), and Dave Schultz , NWCG Coordinator (dschultz@blm.gov) and liaison to WFIT Program Board.

NWCG IT Business Needs (July 2024)

PDF version of this table

NWCG
Committee		 IT Business Need WFIT Submission Date NWCG Priority
RMC SAFENET:
Risk management capabilities, related to safety reporting. Resolve overlaps, gaps, and inconsistencies. Need to define requirements.
SAFENET Improvements: correcting some language on the website, trying to streamline our posting process and make the “outputs” more useful for RMC to identify emerging issues and trends.
 		 June 2023 1
IPSC/IPS Electronic Check-in:
Development of eCheck-In, eDemob and eExtensions.
See NWCG Exec Board memo 21-003, Incident Management Remote Response Electronic Check-In Pilot Project.
 		 Aug 2021 2
NCSC Dispatch Cost Analysis Tool (DCAT):
A standard process to assess workload and budget for dispatch/coordination centers. Identified as high priority by the NCSC and the IDIP study. Work of a task team supported by NWCG (March 2018) and FMB (April 2018). NWCG Exec Board support for DCAT tool in Oct 2023.		 Oct 2023 3
DMC EDG Database:
Data integration services, with focus on a “data cache.” See NWCG Data Management Strategy, WFIT Data Cache Requirements Document, IFDC Alternatives Analysis, and DMC Recommendations for Data Cache.
DMC is evaluating the use of EDG as the tool to support a Data Cache.
 		 2020 4
NCSC Integrated OAT Training Environment:
The intent of this project is to create a replica of the IRWIN production environment along with all the connected applications to allow end-to-end user practice/training for all the connected wildland fire applications. This system would allow employees to train in an end-to-end incident lifecycle workflow utilizing all the IRWIN integrated applications without impacting any of the production environments, during normal day to day operations.
 		 Aug 2023 5
IBC/IPS e-ISuite Improvements:
Functionality improvements, incorporating the use of eCheck-In, eDemob and eExtension in support of incident management. 
 		 In Committee Review 6

 

Applications in the Operation & Maintenance Phase (link to EDG)

NWCG Committees

  • Identify the business need and establish the IT capability requirements in their respective mission areas. The goal is to identify the capability or business need and not the application or technology for the solution.
    • The requirement should not read “upgrade FireNet.” It should identify the need to “enhance collaboration.” The WFIT team will then identify the best application or technology needed to meet the requirement.
  • Maintain and/or modify existing IT capability requirements. Changes may require alterations to an existing application or the replacement of one or more applications with a new approach to providing the capability.
  • Jointly with NWCG staff, consolidate and prioritize NWCG-wide IT capabilities each year.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with business subject matter expert responsible for IT applications currently serving the committee’s mission area. Coordinate capability requirements efforts with IT project manager.

Data Management Committee (DMC)

  • Provide support to committees in development of IT capability requirements.

  • Provide support to committees and WFIT for data standards and integration.

NWCG Coordinators & Staff

  • Collect, consolidate, and update IT capability requirements both in development and in operation and maintenance from committees each January.
  • Jointly with NWCG committees, consolidate and prioritize NWCG-wide IT capabilities each year.
  • Inform NWCG Executive Board of new and changing IT capability priorities and request support for presenting the IT Capability Requirement to the WFIT Program Board.

NWCG Executive Board

  • Assess, revise as necessary, and forward NWCG prioritized IT capabilities requirements to Fire Management Board (FMB) annually by March.
  • Support presenting business needs and IT capability requirements to the WFIT Program Board.

Fire Management Board (FMB)

FMB assumed the role of the WFIT Management Activity Board, chartered in 2012, to “provide a forum for senior wildland fire program managers to provide the WFIT Executive Board with information and recommendations regarding requirements, priorities, strategies, policies, and investments for interagency wildland fire investments.”

When FMB meets in the role to support WFIT, it meets as the Information and Technology Advisory Board (ITAB).

  • Provide a mechanism for coordinated and integrated federal wildland fire program management and implementation.
  • Assess, support and forward NWCG prioritized IT capability requirements

WFIT Executive Board

  • Lead and oversee the WFIT program and suite of investments.
  • Provide information and recommendations to the U. S. Forest Service and Department of Interior investment review boards regarding strategies, policies, and investments for interagency wildland fire investments.
  • Represent and advocate for the interest, requirements, and priorities of wildland fire IT, including infrastructure and services necessary to conduct wildland fire business.

Assemble, as appropriate, committee representatives, a DMC representative, NWCG Coordinator, relevant application business lead if you are updating existing applications, and other primary stakeholders to address the following:

  • Purpose and Engagement
    • Develop, validate, modify, or replace capability requirements.
    • Ensure the capability requirements are consistent with the committee/subgroup mission.
    • Identify related capability requirements; seek opportunities to consolidate.
  • Process Management
    • Define roles and expectations for everyone involved.
    • Establish timelines, checkpoints, and completion due dates.
    • Identify and engage other NWCG committees/subgroups who must be involved in vetting the capability requirement.
  • Resources Available

The NWCG provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations, including the establishment of IT capability requirements for wildland fire. NWCG operational standards are often enhanced, and sometimes accomplished altogether, by IT processes and applications.  IT capability requirements are statements that define the IT capability needed to achieve a particular standard of practice, product, or service.  Effective IT capability requirements should address the following:

  • Relevance: Is the capability relevant to the NWCG mission? Is it relevant to the committee mission? How will it improve mission effectiveness? What capabilities are needed to provide products or services essential to your mission?
  • Scope: Does the capability benefit field-level wildland firefighters and fire managers? Will it improve national standardization? Will it enhance firefighter safety? Is it national, regional, or local in scope? Is it interagency or agency specific?
  • Purview: Is the capability unique to wildland fire? Does it sensibly fall under the purview of the NWCG?
  • Sustainability: Will the capability have a long-term impact? Will it address a significant and consequential issue or concern, even in the short term?
  • Impact: Is the capability new, a revision of an existing capability, or a replacement of one or more existing capabilities?  What problems does the capability solve?
  • Efficiency: Does the capability reduce data entry, leverage existing information and capabilities, address needs for multiple committees, or reduce costs?
  • Time to impact: When is this capability needed?  When is it likely to be delivered, if funded?
  • Defined Process: Does an existing workflow process exist? Is it still relevant? Is a new defined workflow process needed to support sunsetting existing systems?

NWCG Latest Announcements

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Status/Check-In Recorder (SCKN)

Date: August 27, 2024
Contact: Incident Planning Subcommittee 

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Status/Check-In Recorder, PMS 350-32, NWCG Position Task Book for Status/Check-In Recorder (SCKN), PMS 311-32, and Checking In Resources Customer Service Job Aid, J-111 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for SCKN includes the Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Book, and job aid were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Status/Check-In Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Status/Check-In Recorder, PMS 350-32

NWCG Position Task Book for Status/Check-In Recorder (SCKN), PMS 311-32

Checking In Resources Customer Service Job Aid, J-111

The Next Generation Position Task Book and Incident Position Standards are now available for Safety Officer, Field (SOFF)

Date: July 26, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee 

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Safety Officer, Field, PMS 350-81 and NWCG Position Task Book for Safety Officer, Field (SOFF), PMS 311-81 are now available.

The Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) is responsible for monitoring operations on an incident from a risk management perspective to provide for the welfare of incident resources and the public. The new Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort.

References:

NWCG Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) Position

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Safety Officer, Field, PMS 350-81

NWCG Position Task Book for Safety Officer, Field (SOFF), PMS 311-81

Updated NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc), PMS 277

Date: July 25, 2024
Contact: Incident Planning Subcommittee 

The Incident Planning Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc), PMS 277.

The NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc) establishes the standards for collection and retention of records on wildland fires. This July 2024 update will provide incident management teams the most current standards required to maintain incident records and submit them to host units at the close of an incident.

References:

NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc), PMS 277

eDoc Box Directory (zip file)

NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle Typing Standard Request for Comment

Date: July 24, 2024
Contact: Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee 

The Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee has released Equipment Bulletin 24-002 NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard - Request for Comment. This bulletin outlines the proposed NWCG OHV typing standard, as well as the business need for establishing the standard. Comments on the proposed standard will be accepted through August 15th using the comment form linked below.

References:

ETC-EB-2024-02: NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard - Request for Comment

NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard Comment Form