Which instrument is used to formalize pre-arranged interagency cooperation before an incident?

• A. Letter of Agreement
• B. Memorandum of Understanding
• C. Cooperative Agreement
• D. Interagency Coordination Protocol

Answer: (A)

Pre-planned, formalized resource sharing and cooperation between agencies is established through a Letter of Agreement, which outlines who will do what, which resources are available, and how to request them before an incident. This type of document is specifically designed to set in advance the arrangements for incident operations, so when an event occurs there’s a clear, agreed path for mutual aid and coordinated action without delay.

A Memorandum of Understanding tends to be broader in scope and less focused on the operational details needed for immediate incident response. A Cooperative Agreement is usually related to a funded project or grant rather than day-to-day incident cooperation. An Interagency Coordination Protocol, while it could govern how agencies coordinate, is not the standard pre-incident instrument used to codify concrete commitments in advance of an incident.