A model of federal interagency cooperation: the National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research

The terrorist attacks of September 11 and the anthrax mailings a month later prompted a sweeping response by the federal government to improve the preparedness of the US to meet the potential threat posed by a terrorist using a biological agent. This response transcended traditional interagency boundaries, creating new opportunities while producing unique fiscal and leadership challenges. The National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research has made significant progress over the past 12 years because of its ability to adapt to the need for interagency cooperation and overcome many of these challenges. As construction of the National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick nears completion, the US has the capability to pursue a unique whole-of-government approach to the development of medical measures to counter the threat of bioterrorism. In addition to the high-level support of many in the federal government, the key success factors for this effort have been (1) a critical mass of leaders with the right leadership characteristics, (2) development of a compelling vision and accompanying narrative understood and articulated by all partnering organizations, and (3) recognition of the need for a partnership office to do the important communication and collaboration work in the organization to synchronize the information available to all the partners. The major barrier to interagency cooperative efforts of this kind is the inability to comingle funds from different appropriations.