Office of Grants and Training 
Preparedness Directorate 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
Washington, DC 20531 


G&T Information Bulletin 
No. 221 October 2, 2006 


TO: 
All State Administrative Agency Heads 

 All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

All State Homeland Security Directors 

All Urban Area Core City/Core County Points of Contact 

FROM: 
Tracy A. Henke 
Assistant Secretary 

SUBJECT: 
Investment Planning and Program Management Technical Assistance 

The Office of Grants and Training, Preparedness Directorate announces the availability of two 
new on-site or Level 3 technical assistance (TA) services: Investment Planning TA and Program 
Management TA. These new services seek to bring together a multi-disciplinary and multi-
jurisdictional group of planners and homeland security personnel, and will promote a common 
approach for investment planning and program management. These TA services will be 
available beginning in October and can be delivered either to individual states or regionally. 

The Investment Planning TA highlights best practices and is intended to guide state and local 
managers in a planning process for homeland security investments, including: 

• 
Identifying and prioritizing the multiple homeland security program initiatives that may 
require funding; 
• 
Collaborating with neighboring jurisdictions to discuss regional investments; 
• 
Developing a business case and acquisition strategy that justifies investments; 
• 
Identifying milestones and timelines necessary to meet project requirements; and 
• 
Managing funding challenges related to re-scoping investment plans after funding is 
awarded. 
The Program Management TA builds off the existing Program Management Handbook, 
incorporates the vision for preparedness outlined in the National Preparedness Goal, and 
provides guidance on how to apply program management concepts to multi-jurisdictional and 
multi-disciplinary programs. Specific components include: 

• 
Identifying and coordinating with key stakeholders from neighboring jurisdictions and 
across multiple disciplines; 
• 
Assessing programmatic and preparedness strengths and weaknesses and planning 
approaches; 

• 
Developing a program staffing and budget plan that is aligned with the state’s strategic 
plans; and 
• 
Evaluating interdependencies and challenges specific to urban area, state or region. 
The Investment Planning TA is designed to be most beneficial for managers and staff in the State 
Administrative Agency and/or state homeland security office, as well as program and project 
managers at the urban and local levels. The Program Management TA is designed for homeland 
security project managers at both the state and local levels, as well as for discipline-specific 
homeland security managers throughout the state. At this time, the TA deliveries may only be 
formally requested by the State Administrative Agency. However, since the content of each 
delivery is pertinent to both states and urban areas, G&T encourages representation from both at 
the TA deliveries. 

The Investment Planning and Program Management TA services will be conducted on-site at the 
request of the state or region and are available beginning in mid-October. If you are interested in 
receiving these services, please submit the attached Technical Assistance Request form to the 
appropriate G&T Preparedness Officer or to HSVAC@dhs.gov. 

If you have any additional questions, please contact your Preparedness Officer or the Centralized 
Scheduling and Information Desk at askcsid@dhs.gov, or via telephone at 1-800-368-6498.