Common use of Illinois Terrorism Task Force Clause in Contracts

Illinois Terrorism Task Force. The Illinois Terrorism Task Force was created by executive order in May 2000. This order also defined the composition of the Task Force to include state agencies with response capabilities or resources that support training and response, including representatives from state/local fire service, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, law enforcement, public works, public health, National Guard, and emergency management. Representatives from the FBI and FEMA are also included. The Task Force created committees on Training, Bio-Terrorism, Crisis Management, Transportation, Public Information, Volunteer Coordination, and Communications. The committees included representatives from federal, state, regional and local governmental entities, as well as from public agencies, advocacy associations and private entities. Illinois EPA participates on three of these committees. The Task Force has accomplished the following: • Mobile Response Teams were created to assist local first responders and to coordinate the state's response. • A critical assessment of local health departments and hospitals was conducted for bioterrorism preparedness. • A uniform training philosophy and curriculum for First Responder Training was developed. Terrorism and incident command system modules were incorporated into required law enforcement, fire service, and emergency management training. • State and local emergency managers were trained in, and then tested pursuant to a statewide assessment of terrorism vulnerability and preparedness. This was used as the basis for a statewide three-year strategy to address deficiencies. • A statewide mutual aid system for weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other catastrophic disasters was put in place. This includes fire equipment, emergency medical service apparatus, and search and rescue capability. • Equipment protocols and standardization guidelines are being developed with respect to WMD-related procurements to enhance the efficiency of any response involving multiple responding agencies. • WMD exercise guidelines were put in place to help focus local efforts on specific scenarios, scope of training, development and evaluation, and funding requirements. In addition, Illinois EPA provides technical expertise on responses involving chemicals to state and local response teams. Illinois EPA has participated in field-training exercises addressing potential terrorism scenarios with local response groups, as well as the State Weapons of Mass Destruction (SWMD) teams. Supporting and enhancing such efforts is a significant ongoing commitment for Illinois EPA. Illinois EPA has played a significant role in many of the Task Force accomplishments. The most notable achievements were helping to create and equip the state response teams and in recommending standardized equipment and protocols for all response teams. Illinois EPA has completed counter-terrorism training for nine emergency responders that are located in three response offices across the state. The nine emergency responders and one member of management have completed additional training to the HAZMAT Technician Level B certification, which included CBRN response operations. Illinois EPA’s current capabilities to respond in the CBRN realm include: • CBRN agent identification; • Sampling and multi-media monitoring for agents; and • Assistance with evidence collection, and decontamination.