ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
Instructions
2
The purpose of a continuity plan and program is to ensure that an organization can perform its essential functions and provide critical services no matter the threat or hazard faced. Developing continuity metrics and then evaluating and assessing continuity plans and programs against these metrics is an important step for planners and managers. By examining areas for improvement and areas of strength, organizations can better prioritize and resource continuity needs and gaps.

This Continuity Assessment Tool (CAT) can be used by non-federal organizations to assess a continuity plan and program against the requirements for a viable continuity program and plan as outlined in the Continuity Guidance Circular (CGC). The CAT can assist organizations and communities in identifying areas of strength, areas for improvement, best practices, and lessons learned. The CAT should be used on a regular basis (e.g., annually) as a method for determining whether gaps exist in an organization's continuity plan and program. Federal departments and agencies (and other organizations following federal guidance) should choose to use the Continuity Evaluation Tool (CET), which is designed to evaluate compliance with federal continuity directives.

Within the CAT, there are three sections for evaluation, each of which correspond to the three chapters of the CGC: Getting Started, Building a Capability, and Maintaining a Capability. Each section includes continuity activities and supporting tasks critical to that chapter. These supporting tasks are further divided according to the five solution areas found within the State Preparedness Report: planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise (POETE). Through this format, an organization can identify its overall progress against the three steps of initiating, building, and maintaining a continuity capability, as well as identify its progress against the POETE elements.

The CAT uses a 10-point scoring system. This progressive scoring system is an integral part of the evaluation and allows an organization to demonstrate progress from one assessment to the next. For each task within each chapter, please select the value on the scale that best represents how much progress your organization has made with regard to the objective or criterion described by the statement. The description of progression for each task is not meant to be prescriptive; an organization should discuss and determine its score against each task using the descriptions as a guide. The summary page will calculate and provide the comprehensive score, as well as a summary score for each chapter, each POETE element, and each POETE element within each chapter.
3
4
LabelNo
Progress		Limited
Progress		Moderate
Progress		Substantial
Progress		Objective
Achieved
5
ExplanationScore of 0 indicates that, while this aspect of the continuity capability may be applicable to the organization, no progress has been made towards achieving the identified objective. This may be because there has been no activity in this area or because of insurmountable barriers.• Preliminary efforts have been initiated.
• Needs related to this objective have been recognized and the organization is beginning to identify requirements in this area.
• Few, if any, steps have been implemented successfully so far.

• Significant efforts are under way but the objective has not yet been fulfilled.
• Important gaps remain.
• Challenges that could potentially undermine achievement exist and have not yet been resolved.
• Efforts to achieve this objective are established and stable.
• Some weaknesses or barriers that prevent success persist, but strategies to resolve them are documented and well under way.

Score of 10 indicates that the organization has fully achieved this objective with regard to its continuity capability. All barriers to success have been overcome. Strengths are robust and likely to be sustained. Evidence is readily available attesting to this level of achievement.
6
Scale Value012345678910
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100