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Incident Business Advisor

INBA Incident Position Description

The Incident Business Advisor (INBA) is responsible for ensuring incident business management practices are followed according to National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) guidelines and agency policy. An INBA reports to the Agency Administrator. The INBA works in the Finance/Administration functional area.

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Leadership Level 4, Leader of Leaders (Provide Direction)

  • For additional information review Level 4 description, expected behaviors and knowledge, suggested development goals, and self-study opportunities.

Prepare and Mobilize

  • Ensure individual readiness.
  • Obtain and assemble information and materials needed for kit.
  • Travel to and check in at assignment.
  • Obtain copies of incident information from the Agency Administrator or designee:
    • An appropriate decision support system document,
    • Delegation of Authority for the INBA and the Incident Management Team (IMT),
    • Instructions for cost containment,
    • Information about political concerns,
    • Incident Action Plan (IAP),
    • Operating guidelines and other relevant plans, and
    • Contact names, numbers, and positions/functions of cooperating/assisting agencies.

Build The Team

  • Obtain resources to organize the workspace and complete assignments.
  • Evaluate and share pertinent information that may affect incident business management with the Agency Administrator and other agency staff.
  • Meet with host agency staff and support unit personnel (e.g., buying team, payment team, expanded dispatch, and Dispatch Center Manager) throughout the incident assignment to identify and discuss concerns and share information.

Supervise and Direct Work Assignments

  • Identify, analyze, and use relevant situational information to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions.

Perform Incident Business Advisor-Specific Duties

  • Serve as the incident business liaison to Area Command, Unified Command, and Multi-Agency Coordinating (MAC) group.
  • Review and/or assist in the development of cost-share agreements.
  • Communicate the Agency Administrator’s requirements for cost tracking and containment requirements to the IMT.
  • Provide the Agency Administrator or designee with an overview of incident business management practices to include cost apportionment personnel or additional cost analysis beyond what is provided by the IMT. Make recommendations for improvements.
  • Ensure the appropriate delegation of authority is established to authorize replacement of non-NFES (non-standard cache) items.
  • Ensure incident resources follow the appropriate guidance for Damage/Loss of Government Property as outlined in the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902.
  • Provide agency-specific cost information, such as the agency-specific payment center and parameters given by the Agency Administrator, to the incident Finance Section Chief.
  • Ensure cost management measures are in place as outlined in the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902.
  • Analyze incident resource cost information, including the evaluation and tracking of inefficient and uneconomical operations, and communicate that information to the IMT through the Finance Section Chief.
  • Review incident business reports/documents to ensure agency direction is being met and that requested reports are accurate and timely.

Communicate and Coordinate

  • Identify and report issues of concern to the incident supervisor.
  • Interact and coordinate with agency staff, the IMT, and other support units to receive and provide current information.
  • Update the Agency Administrator on current accomplishments and/or concerns, including current incident business management operations and any decisions made in concurrence with agency direction or policy.

Manage Risk

  • Report all accidents or injuries to the incident supervisor.
  • Account for location, health, safety, and welfare of assigned personnel.
  • Ensure compliance with all safety practices and procedures for yourself and those around you.

Documentation

  • Maintain a daily record of activities.
  • Ensure that the finance packages meet the jurisdictional agency’s requirements.
  • Ensure the Incident Finance Package follows the guidelines outlined in the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902, including: written narrative documenting actions and decisions of the INBA and written documentation on all outstanding items, unresolved issues, problems, etc., along with recommended resolutions.
  • Crew Time Report (CTR), SF-261 (Watch: How to correctly fill out a CTR)

Demobilize

  • Review incident demobilization plan and provide input to Agency Administrator as necessary.
  • Participate in individual closeout meetings with Agency Administrator as well as incident finance/administration sections.
  • Complete narrative and review with Agency Administrator.
  • Ensure all incident business management requirements are met prior to closeout with the host agency or transfer of command to another IMT.
  • Complete the demobilization checkout process before being released from the incident.
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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases New Equipment Bulletins

Date: September 27, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released three new Equipment Bulletins:

  • ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers.
  • ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories.
  • ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance.

These bulletins remind field going personnel of important issues related to equipment for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers

ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories

ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee is looking for your feedback on Staff Rides

Date: September 20, 2024
Contact: Ashleigh D'Antonio and George Risko, Leadership Committee

The Experiential Learning Subcommittee needs to hear from the field about where the greatest need lies regarding staff rides and their accessibility.

  • Do you have an event you would like to turn into a learning experience?
  • Do you have a staff ride built, but are struggling to implement the delivery?
  • Do you need help building capacity?
  • What other ideas do you have to support experiential leadership training?

Fill out this short survey below to help us help you.

References:

Staff Rides: Feedback

Staff Rides

Updated NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

Date: September 19, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

The Incident Business Committee has updated the NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934. This update expands the provisions for hiring emergency personnel.

References:

NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

IBC Memorandum 24-03

NWCG 2024 Spring/Summer Highlights

Date: September 13, 2024

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Welcome to our latest highlights from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, where we explore the latest updates, insights, and efforts that develop interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.
 

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NASA JOINS NWCG!

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is officially an associate member of NWCG. As such, NASA is beginning to collaborate with wildland fire management agencies with the goal of increasing collaboration across agencies and leveraging NASA data, technology, and innovation for nation-wide efforts in wildland fire management. NASA has a rich history of research, development, and technology transfer in the areas of Earth science, space technologies, and aeronautics that support the NWCG mission.

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The modernization of NWCG’s website involved migrating to Drupal 10, a cutting—edge content management system, and leveraging Amazon Web Service GovCloud for secure and efficient hosting. These upgrades help ensure that the NWCG website remains current in content management practices, offering enhanced customization, improved performance, and an overall superior user experience.

NWCG Leadership Committee

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The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program announced the Professional Reading Program’s 2024 list!

The years books include:

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Learn more at the NWCG Leadership Committee

INCIDENT PERFORMANCE AND TRAINING MODERNIZATION

In 2023, NWCG kicked off the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. A training system overhaul focused on developing a performance-based training system designed to shift training to on-the-job when appropriate.

Over the next five years, NWCG intends to analyze all positions within the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. To date we are currently working on 30 incident positions, and planning for 20+ in calendar year 2025.

Subject Matter Experts from a variety of geographical areas and agencies recently completed the position analysis for 16 positions. From this analysis, Incident Positions Standards and a Next Generation Position Task Book will be developed for each position.

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Incident Performance and Training Modernization

NEXT GENERATION POSITION TASK BOOK

In April 2024, NWCG launched the new Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB) which is a key component of the IPTM effort. This revised evaluation tool is designed to work in conjunction with the newly developed Incident Position Standards.

Major Next Gen PTB changes:

  • Structured to improve constructive conversations between evaluators and trainees.
  • Reference new Incident Position Standards.
  • Include only tasks required to be evaluated for successful performance.
  • Trainees will be rated on their performance vs. initialing whether a task was completed.
  • Must include written feedback when trainee does not meet the standard.
  • Will be position specific (no combined PTBs).
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NWCG’s training course catalog is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

To access the training course catalog, visit WFLP and either set up an account or login as a guest.