Organization Structure. The ICLN organization structure is as follows: At the strategic level, the Joint Leadership Council (JLC) is composed of senior leadership members from each of the signatory D/As and is charged with helping to ensure that the appropriate strategy is in place to support an effective all-hazard laboratory response capability. The JLC provides advice and advocacy to senior Federal Government leaders with the objective of aligning and supporting an appropriate strategy and requisite funding with appropriate consideration of capability gaps in effective laboratory testing for detection and response to health and national security emergencies. The JLC is chaired by the DHS Office of Health Affairs (OHA) representative to the JLC and meets annually with the Network Coordinating Group (NCG). The JLC is administratively supported by DHS OHA. Each signatory from the member organizations designates a JLC representative or representatives for the respective organization with the ability to obtain decisions regarding budgets and policies. The JLC representative will make provisions for a responsible alternate designee to ensure continuity on issues and presence at all meetings. At the discretion of the JLC, additional senior leadership representatives from a signatory organization may accompany the signatory’s representative/designee to JLC meetings. The JLC: o Guides the ICLN in system-wide strategic planning through the NCG; o Promotes coordinated initiatives and implementation thereof, consistent with applicable authorities and funding restrictions of signatory organizations; o Reviews ICLN strategic plans and supports coordinated Federal budget development; o Makes recommendations on issues elevated by the NCG in the best interest of the ICLN as a whole; and o Approves inclusion of additional networks into the ICLN and modifications to this MOA. At the operational level, the NCG is composed of representatives from signatory D/As and the operational leaders of the individual laboratory networks. The NCG is charged with promoting enhanced capability, capacity, and integration of network functions. The NCG is chaired by DHS OHA and meets monthly. Each of the signatories intend to support one or more senior representatives who have: o Authority to obtain network decisions and decisions on the commitment of resources rapidly; o Knowledge of laboratory practices and testing capacity, network operations, and policies and emergency response practices; o Knowledge of interagency government systems and stakeholder concerns; and o Sufficient technical support from their organization, including staff support, to execute his or her responsibilities effectively. The NCG is to operate by agreement among members. If agreement cannot be achieved, the issue may be presented to the JLC for consideration and resolution, when appropriate. The NCG: o Ensures timely communications among all member organizations; o Establishes the common operating procedures of the ICLN (e.g., notification and reporting guidance) for timely, high-quality, and interpretable results; o Promotes coordination for effective agent prioritization; appropriate analytic methods for high quality, timely, and interpretable results; proficiency testing, quality assurance, and accreditation of participating laboratory testing entities; training across networks; and information management, including data exchange and knowledge management; o Ensures legal and ethics issues relevant to the functioning of the networks are referred to appropriate legal and ethics advisors; o Develops and proposes a comprehensive laboratory network strategic plan that enables the integration of the networks; o Establishes the agenda for, and supports the effective operation of, the JLC; and o Helps ensure the ICLN has appropriate relationships and alignment with the National Response Framework. The NCG is to establish and guide ICLN subgroups in support of its role to: o Create standardized and integrated approaches for the ICLN; o Promote organization, coordination and conservation of assets and resources; o Address critical issues affecting the reliability of data provided to decision makers; o Provide an initial analysis of an incident and ongoing advice and coordination; o Serve as a forum for the discussion and dissemination of information; and o Address any other relevant issues areas as deemed appropriate by the NCG Chair. The NCG may consult with other Federal organizations in support of its work. Permanent and ad hoc Subgroups support decisions of the NCG by providing consultation on matters before the NCG. Subject matter experts from government (Federal, State, and local), academia, professional organizations, and business may provide technical support as appropriate and determined by the NCG. The need for subordinate groups is to be determined by the NCG. Subgroups are to be chaired by Federal staff within the response laboratory network system, who may be assisted by individuals enlisted via contract to provide specific technical support services to the Federal Government. The Subgroups review key issues and requirements of the networks (e.g., agent prioritization, methods development and standards, proficiency testing, quality assurance, accreditation, information management, and external outreach) and devise recommendations for operational or policy choices. Provision of technical input by non-Federal personnel will be conducted in a manner that will not require the establishment of a Federal advisory committee and that will comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and will otherwise be consistent with Federal practice on the solicitation and receipt of such input.
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