The North Texas Fusion Center (NTFC) is essential to our Region. It is analysis driven. The fusion processproactively seeks to identify threats posed by terrorists or criminal enterprises and stops them before they occur-prevention is essence of the intelligence process. It is a collaborative effort of the two analysts to Protect...the financial support for two intelligence Research Analysts will allow the NTFC to continue to strengthen information analysis, product development and dissemination and the FLO network through fusion liaison officer recruitment and
training.
Project Description
Briefly summarize the project, including pro9posed activities and intended impact.
The North Texas Fusion Center project for FY22 UASI funds will pay for partial staff salaries for two-research analyst.
This would effectively support DHS’s priorities of enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies, including DHS, enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places; and addressing emerging
threats (transnational criminal organizations).
The project would help sustain the NTFC’s ability to meet the performance measures identified in DHS’s annual fusion-center assessment, including collecting, analyzing and sharing intelligence; supporting LE investigations; assessing risks to special events and soft targets; evaluating activities of known or Suspected Terrorists and transnational-crime members (e.g., gang members in the Collin County Detention Facility); managing a Fusion Center Liaison Officer (FLO) network of 355 representatives from all levels of LE, emergency management, public health, military personnel, and the private sector; and participating in the information Sharing Environment National threat Evaluation and Reporting (NTER) Program, Texas Suspicious Activity Reporting Network (TXSARN), FBI Enhanced Engagement Initiative (EEI), Texas School Safety Work Group, and the National Counterterrorism Center’s (NCTC) Operation Center Alert Program.
The Project would benefit the over 7.5 million people who live in the DFWA UA.
Problem Statement Provide a detailed account of the issues, threats or hazards that your project will target. For federal Homeland Security Grants, include specific references to the regional or state Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk
Assessment (THIRA) as applicable.
NTFC’s project will chiefly target the UASI priority of enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies (by sustaining analytic capability and activity)- and, to a lesser extent, the second and third
priorities related to soft targets/crowded spaces (by sustaining special-event risk and facility-risk assessments) and emergent threats (by sustaining detention-intelligence operations about transnational crime).
Also, NTFC’s project will help maintain NTFC’s ability to continue to compile, analyze, and share information and support LE and first responders; to meet operational standards (including a privacy policy (Gov’t code, 421.085)),
including sharing information with TXSARN, contributing to the activities of the School Safety Working Group, participating in the TxFCPC, and helping to achieve objectives of the Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2021- 2025, to cooperate with the Texas Fusion Center (e.g., helping to comply with parts of the Governor’s Executive Order GA-07 (Sept. 5, 2017)) and support the maturation of the Information Sharing Environment; and to address emerging threats (transnational crime).
Thus, NTFC’s project directly aligns with sections 2 (c) (1) (3) and (4), 2(c)(ii),
and (iv) of the OOG’s Funding Announcement-LETPA (Eligible Activities & Cost). This project will help maintain NTFC’s ability to perform basic functions discussed in DHS’s fusion-center assessment (e.g., responding to requests for information or services from LE and other officials and private partners, vetting and submitting SARs, submitting qualifying SARs to eGuardian, and circulation BOLOs and situational-awareness bulletins) and to continue to compile, analyze, and disseminate terrorist, threat-to-the-life, and criminal information to support efforts to prevent terrorist and other threatening activity (i.e., Fusion Center Guidelines, no. 14; Baseline Capabilities (process capabilities)).
The project is consistent with the fusion-center descriptions and Goal 1-Prevention-and Goal 4- Response-in the Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and the same mission areas in the National Preparedness Goal (2d ed. 2015).
The THIRA also identifies a fusion-center role in the three target capabilities of (1) Forensics and Attribution (to assist the JTTF in identifying personnel to support the acquisition, analysis, and sharing of information associated with the collection, examination, and analysis of evidence after a CCTA, as well as the identification of perpetrators), (2) Intelligence and Information Sharing (to assist the JTTF in periodically reviewing the UA’s ability to effectively execute the intelligence cycle), and (3) Interdiction and Disruption (to assist the JTTF in notifying personnel assigned
to support interdiction and disruption activities in light of a threat or identified suspects or contraband). This project would help sustain NTFC’s ability to contribute along these lines. The NTFC, can also assist with the followingHazards identified in the DFWA THIRA: (1) January 2022, the NTFC stood up our Emergency Operations Center to provide real-time operational and analytic support to DHS, FBI, and local LE entities that responded to the terrorism- based hostage incident at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.(2) On 23rd and 23th of February 2022, the NTFC remotely monitored deteriorating weather conditions related to the Winter 2022 ice storm and provided local support to LE and EM entities as needed. (3) On 13th Match 2022, the NTFC stood up our Emergency Operations Center to provide tactical-level monitoring and support to local LE entities responding to incidents related to the Bandidos OMG anniversary party (“Thunderdome II”) held in Farmersville, Texas. Existing Capability Levels Describe the existing capability levels, including resources that are currently in place to support this project prior to the use of grant funds.
NTFC’s mission is to protect the citizens of North Texas by creating a synergistic ISE among governmental and corporate stakeholders. NTFC takes an all-crime, all-hazards approach to try to mitigate threats or hazards to the region, while protecting all residents’ rights.
NTFC operates from 0600 to 1900 hours, Monday – Friday, with two full-time research analysts that perform key functions referenced here. The analysts must also respond to critical events and potential threats during other hours.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) and Texas Fusion Center (TXFC) support the NTFC by having access to all SARs submitted via iWatchTexas.org. This helps ensure that all threat reporting delivered through iWatchTexas.org during non-operating hours will be addressed. However, TX DPS and TXFC do not have access to SARs submitted to NTFC through other channels (e.g., email, telephone, NTFC website).
In addition, the NTFC supports: Detention Intelligence Unit: The DIU collects detention intelligence from the county jail (1298 beds), vets and checks
information against other information available to NTFC, and submits criminal intelligence information (28 C.F.R. 23.3(b)(3)) to the state’s gang-related criminal-information database, TXGANG.
Because submissions meet the submission criteria (Code of Criminal Procedure, art. 67.054), these reports represent valuable, high quality work. In 2021, the analyst submitted 108 reports to TXGANG. Because a substantial percentage of this work relates to cartels or cartel-related gangs, this work directly targets the threats of “gangs” and “transnational organized crime” identified in DHS, OI&A Under Secretary David J. Glawe’s Aug. 21, 2019 letter to fusion-center partners as well as DHS’s emerging-threat priority.
North Texas Criminal Interdiction Unit: NTFC routinely supports the NTXCIU – a mutual-aid effort – that works highway interdiction in eight counties in Northeast Texas (all but two are in DFWA UA). The NTXCIU has arrested over 185 traffickers; seized tons of illegal drugs, over a million in bulk cash, and several military-style weapons, intercepted three loads of human cargo; recovered nearly 30 stolen vehicles; and the Child Exploitation Unit investigated 1392 cases with over 168 arrested. Although distinct from the NTFC, the NTXCIU is on the local
forefront of fighting transnational crime.
The NTFC maintains a robust network of 355 Fusion Liaison Officers that includes 133 law enforcement officers, 93 private-sector partners, 33 fire personnel, 23 emergency management professionals, 19 military personnel, 17 public
health officers, and 37 critical infrastructure advisors. This network maximized NTFC’s ability to support two-way flows of information, increasing the quality and quantity of intelligence products originating from this AOR. In addition to sharing information and intelligence with its FLO partners, NTFC also provides valuable training and resources to further bolster relationships and collaboration in the community. Counterterrorism and Infrastructure Protection Program: The CT/CIP program addresses concerns related to foreign terrorist organizations, homegrown violent extremism, and domestic violent extremism, including risks to soft targets
or crowded places throughout North Texas. CT/CIP efforts include evaluating the presence and activity of KSTs and TOC members operating in the area; collecting, analyzing, and sharing information and intelligence linked to terrorist
organizations; and providing FBI with actionable threat reporting via eGuardian. The CT/CIP participates in the planning and operation of region-wide terrorism-related exercises. This NTFC program also provides Special Event Threat Assessments and Facility Security Assessments. SETAs assess potential terrorism, criminal, and security threats to special events (concerts, bike and road races, parades, rallies, and similar soft targets) in NTFC’s AOR.
FSA reports recommend physical-security improvements (reinforced locks, security gates, lighting, surveillance cameras, blast-resistant windows, flow-of-traffic recommendations, and employee-awareness training) upon a facility’s request. NTFC has produced dozens of SETA and FSA reports since 2017.
The NTFC provides significant intelligence and analytic support to counter the growing threat of Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) in the North Texas area. The
NTFC provided direct operational support for over 250 demonstrations and protests across the greater Dallas-Fort Worth region during 2020 including right-wing protests, left-wing protests, and the social justice movement.
The NTFC also provided operational support for the 2020 Presidential Election, including two formal analysis products and one-facility security review addressing threats from right-wing and left-wing extremist groups upset with the election results.
The NTFC maintains a particular focus on potential threats from members of Antifa, Atomwaffen Division, Boogaloo Boys, Oath Keepers, Neo-Nazis, Patriot Front, Proud Boys, Q-Anon, the Three Percenter militia movement, and other organized militias or extremist groups active in this area.
The NTFC monitorsthe evolving DVE threats in the area through persistent social media surveillance on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and many others. NTFC has produced dozens of SETA and FSA reports since 2017. This work
directly supports DHS’s priority of enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places. Collaborative Effort: NTFC houses part-time and full-time personnel from the following agencies: DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), TX DPS, Texas National Guard Counter-Drug Task Force Analyst, Texas Department of Family & Protective Service, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. NTFC also accepts temporary duty assignments for local law-
enforcement personnel.
NTFC’s hosting of part-time and full-time personnel and coordination of the FLO Network extends NTFC’s value and ability to serve the counties in the DFWA UA and ensures that the center has the essential property of being acollaborative effort (e.g., 6 U.S.C. 123h(j)(1); Gov’t Code, 421.001(2-a)).Existing Capability Gaps
Describe the existing capability gap(s) which will be addressed by the project. For Federal Homeland Security grants, include specific references to the regional or statewide State Preparedness Report (SPR).
NTFC has only two analysts to serve in one of 3 fusion centers located in the DFWA urban area who is the nation’s 11th most populous UA with over 7.8 million people and 150 jurisdictions. The NTFC is unable to operate 24/7. The NTFC’s FY22 project is aimed at maintaining the analysts’ capabilities, not extending their hours of operation. UASI funds will be used to fund the NTFC analysts’ partial salaries.
Although NTFC operates during hours comparable to many other small fusion centers (1 -15 staff) (2017 National Network of Fusion Centers, Final Report, at p.9), the NTFC is unable to operate 24/7 as encouraged by DHS I&A
Under Secretary David J. Glawe’s Aug. 21, 2019 letter to fusion-center partners and order no. 7 in Governor Abbot’s Executive Order GA-07 (Sept. 5, 2019).
This project addresses fusion center personnel capability gaps identified in the SPR under Intelligence and Information Sharing section p 44-46. NTFC is currently planning to sustain their current staffing levels but would also eventually like to expand to 24/7 coverage. Impact Statement
Describe the project goals/objectives and how this project will maintain capabilities or reduce capability gaps identified in the SPR and address the national priorities.
The project will be effective in helping to sustain the NTFC’s analytical ability and capacity to fulfill a fusion center’s basic functions. It will also be effective in helping to meet the UASI priorities of enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies and, to a lesser extent, of enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded place and monitoring the emerging threat of transnational crime. Financial support for two Intelligence Research Analysts will allow the NTFC to continue to strengthen information analysis, product development and
dissemination, and the FLO network through fusion liaison officer recruitment and training.
Homeland Security Priority Actions Identify the State Homeland Security Priority Action.
1.1.1 Enhance intelligence coordination and collaboration across the state's network of intelligence nodes and with
federal partner organizations, to include development of common processes and standard for recognized fusion
centers.
Goal 1 - Prevent Terrorist attacks and organized criminal activity in Texas.
Objective 1.1 - Expand and enhance the statewide intelligence capability that reduces the threat of terrorism enterprises with an emphasis on proactive ntelligence. Lead for reporting: Texas Department of Public Safety.
UASI Strategy Priority Actions Identify the UASI Strategy Priority Action. Urban Area Impact.
D/FW/A UASI Goal 5 – Enhance Intelligence and Information sharing, gathering, and analysis.
D/FW/A UASI Objective 5.1 – Expand and enhance regional intelligence capability and collaboration in accordance with DHS/DOJ Baseline Capabilities for State and Major UA Fusion Centers.
D/FW/A UASI Priority Action 5.1.4 – Enhance operations managing emergency and special events as described in the Texas Homeland Security Regional Response Plan with specific focus on terrorism/crime nexus: intelligence, analysis, operations, investigations, and resource management.
Target Group
Identify the target group and population expected to benefit from this project.
The project directly benefits the North Texas Fusion Center. However, all FLO Network partners and citizens in the DFWA UA benefit from the project.
Long-Term Approach
Describe how the applicant agency will maintain the capabilities supported by this project without additional federal funds. If sustainment is dependent upon federal grants, describe the ongoing need for future grants, as applicable. Collin County funds the Operations Captain, Operations Sergeant, and Administrative Assistant who supervise andsupport the NTFC. Consistent with 6 U.S.C. § 607(a)(2)(F), (G), the PRICE Act, Pub. L. No. 110-412 (2008), and FEMA’s FY21 NOFO (HSGP), UASI funds should continue to finance the compensation of the fusion center’s research analysts.
Project Activities
Investment Category: Information and Intelligence Sharing/Cooperation
Implementation Strategy
Provide a brief description of how the project activity is performed.
Collect, analyze, and share information and intelligence to federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners through product development, requests for information, suspicious activity reporting, outreach, training, and
planning.Capabilities
DHS Project Type: Expand and enhance regional intelligence capability and collaboration in accordance with DHS/DOJ Baseline Capabilities for State and Major UA Fusion Centers.
Identify if this investment focuses on building new capabilities or sustaining existing capabilities.
Existing capabilities (Sustain) Are the assets or activities deployable or shareable?
Will this investment require new construction or renovation, retrofitting, or modification of existing structures?
No
Will these funds support a project that was previously funded with HSGP funding?
Yes
Project Management, Milestones, and Measures
Project Management Step Involved: Execute
Milestones:
List 3 to 5 milestones of this project, and then list the intended completion date for each milestone. Milestones should occur throughout the project. Milestone Completion Date
NTFC Research Analysts will attend at least two training
events to enhance their analytic tradecraft capabilities.
01/01/2023
Participate in a minimum of two regional-wide intelligence
meetings to discuss recent terrorism trends in NTFC’s AOR
and provide feedback for active terrorism investigations.
03/31/2023
Facilitate a minimum of four training sessions for detention
officers assigned to the Detention intelligence Unit.
06/30/2023
Participate in two tabletop and/or practical exercises with
NTFC stakeholders to simulated terrorism events.
07/31/2023
Conduct a minimum of one training seminars for Fusion Liaison Officers (FLO) in an effort to increase the FLO network.
09/30/2023
Measures
Output Measures Target Level
Number of exercises conducted. 0
Number of individuals participating in exercises. 0
Number of intelligence and information sharing systems
created, maintained or enhanced.
10
Number of intelligence products created. 15
Number of people trained. 0
Number of trainings conducted. 0
Outcome Measures Target Level
Number of agencies actively participating in the Intelligence
and Information Sharing Program.
250
Number of agencies served by the interoperable
communication system.
2
Number of intelligence products distributed/shared. 150
Percent (%) of population that can be reached by
emergency public information technologies.
0
DHS I&A Fusion Center Performance Measures
Please select the DHS I&A performance measure(s) this project funding will support. Below are the measures you
have marked.
2020.1 Percentage of Federal Information Intelligence Reports (IIRs) originating from fusion center information that address a specific Intelligence Community need.
2020.2 Percentage of evaluation Federal IIRs originating from fusion center information that the IntelligenceCommunity otherwise used in performing its mission (e.g., contained first-time reporting; corroborated existing information; addressed a critical intelligence gaps; or helped define an issue or target).
2020.3 Percentage of fusion center distributable analytic products that address a specific Intelligence Community
need.
2020.4 Number of Suspicious Reports (SAR) vetted and submitted by fusion centers that result in the initiation or enhancement an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
2020.5 Number of SAR vetted and submitted by fusion centers that involve an individual on the TSC Watchlist.
2020.6 Percentage of Requests for Information (RFIs) from the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) for which fusion centers provided information for a TSC case file.
2020.7 Percentage of I&A Watchlist nominations that were initiated or updated existing case files based on information provided by fusion centers.
2020.8 Number of distributable analytic products co-authored by one or more fusion centers and/or Federal agencies.
2020.9 Percentage of fusion center distributable analytic products that address
Homeland Security topics.
2020.10 Percentage of fusion center distributable analytic products that address state/local customer information needs.
2020.11 Percentage of key customers reporting that they are satisfied with fusion center products and services.
2020.12 Percentage of key customers reporting that fusion center products and services are relevant.
2020.13 Percentage of key customers reporting that fusion center products and services are timely for mission needs.
2020.14 Percentage of key customers reporting that fusion center products and services influenced their decision making related to threat response activities within their AOR.
2020.15 Percentage of key customers reporting that fusion center products and services resulted in increased situational awareness of threats within their AOR.
2020.16 Number of tips and leads vetted by the fusion center.
2020.17 Number of tips and leads vetted by the fusion center that were provided to other F/SLTT agencies for follow up action.
2020.18 Number of responses to RFIs from all sources.
2020.19 Number of situational awareness products developed and disseminated by fusion centers.
2020.20 Number of case support and/or tactical products developed and disseminated by fusion centers.
2020.21 Percentage of Federally designated special events in which fusion centers played a direct role.
2020.22 Percentage of Federally declared disasters in which fusion centers played a direct role.
2020.23 Number of public safety incidents in which fusion centers played a direct
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