Justification for Emergency

JUSTIFICATION FOR EMERGENCY REVIEW

Employee Self Certification and Ability To Perform In Emergencies

(ESCAPE) Program

The goal of the “Employee Self Certification and Ability To Perform In Emergencies” (ESCAPE) program is to ensure that non-federal individuals who are seeking a contracted position at a designated post are capable of the unique, potentially challenging and life-threatening conditions at ESCAPE posts and are capable of performing certain emergency safety functions. Individuals are required to review with a medical provider the pre-deployment acknowledgement form and then affirm that they understand the physical rigors and security conditions at these posts and can perform any specified emergency functions.

A working group at the State Department has developed this program at the direction of the Under Secretary for Management (M). In the past, a number of individuals have not been able to successfully complete their assignments to these posts because of limiting medical or physical limitations that were not identified before deployment. These limiting conditions put not only these individuals at risk but also post personnel and property. ESCAPE posts are located in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen.

There is a need for an emergency review and approval before the next group of individuals are deployed to these posts in June, 2016 to ensure all can perform their responsibilities.

The Department has therefore determined that:

1. This collection is needed prior to the expiration of time periods normally associated with a routine submission for review under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act;

2. This collection is essential to the mission of the Department of State; and

3. The use of normal clearance procedures will prevent the Department from obtaining this information in time to adequately screen personnel before June deployment to designated posts.

Therefore, the Department of State requests emergency OMB approval for this collection by May 23, 2016.