Membership
Want to become a member?
Membership is open to those interested in the field of business continuity, emergency management, risk management and other similar disciplines.
Click here to learn more.
Find a Chapter
For more information including a link to the chapter sites, 
click on the world icon.
Title IX Voluntary Preparedness Certification Update – 4th Quarter 2009
For immediate release: December 16, 2009
With announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the October 16th issue of the Federal Register (Vol 74, No. 199, Page 53286) of the selection of three standards as the basis of the PS-Prep program; it became apparent that ACP should update its position on this law. To that end, at the December 9, 2009 public hearing sponsored by DHS in Boston, MA, ACP issued an updated statement on PS-Prep. This was one of several meetings DHS sponsored across the United States in November/December 2009.
A copy of the updated statement is shown below. Donald Byrne is a Managing Director of North River Solutions, Inc., chair of the ACP Committee on PS – Prep, and a member of the Greater Boston ACP Chapter.
A summary of the Chicago DHS public hearing written by Ms. Lisa DuBrock of the Northern Illinois chapter can be found at: http://www.continuitycompliance.org/information/ps-prep-program/report-on-1st-dhs-and-fema-ps-prep-outreach-meeting.
This federal legislation that has the potential to shape the future of emergency management, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity programs for the next few decades. For this reason, ACP urges all members to become familiar with this initiative and to voice their opinion. Specifically, DHS is soliciting feedback on seven specific questions. The ACP board has asked the PS-Prep Committee to develop position statements on each of these seven questions for the Board’s review. That work is proceeding. In the meantime, members are urged to submit their individual responses and opinions to DHS. Comments can be submitted by E-mail by writing to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .(include Docket ID FEMA–2008–0017 in the subject line of the message). Alternatively, log onto Federal eRulemaking Portal: http.www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Updated Statement
With over 4,000 active members, the Association of Contingency Planners is the largest North American organization of Contingency and Emergency Professionals. ACP is pleased to continue our support of the DHS/FEMA efforts to promote private section preparedness.
Our association members are highly credentialed individuals in the areas of emergency response, disaster recovery, business continuity planning, and supply chain resiliency; who represent organizations of all types including small businesses, Global 500 companies, and government agencies. Our members have expressed interest in learning more about the three standards discussed in the recent Federal Register announcement. Through its various chapters across the United States our association is working to provide this information. We would value the opportunity to coordinate our educational efforts with others who share a similar interest in the PS-Prep program.
ACP believes that for PS Prep to be relevant, it must be broad and strategic in its vision and scope. The selection of the three proposed standards seems to offer this flexibility. However, many questions remain as to how the program will be administered especially with regards to organizations that do not wish to incur the expense of a third party certification. Understanding how these standards will be applied is as important an issue as knowing which standards will be used. We look forward to learning more about this topic in the coming weeks.
Helping to clarify the business benefit of participation in PS Prep is a critical topic that deserves substantial attention. Our membership is available to work collaboratively with DHS/FEMA on this and other projects related to the PS Prep program. Working together, DHS/FEMA and ACP can play an important role in documenting Best Practices and educating the market about the benefits of preparedness.
Last, because of the global nature of business, ACP believes it is important to maintain an international perspective on this program. This implies that the PS-Prep initiative be crafted to recognize the contributions of, and insights offered by, the various standards in practice around the world since preparedness in no longer just a national pursuit.
In closing, ACP is prepared to assist DHS/FEMA in any way and we encourage you to work with and through us to gain access to the practical knowledge represented by our membership.
Please feel free to contact Don Byrne ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) with questions on PS-Prep.
