Safe, secure and accessible from any high speed internet connection. i-INFO offers flexible ways to manage and share information. i-INFO allows users to choose from a variety of modules to meet their specific needs. The system can be used in the following ways, depending on what package is purchased.

• Instant Access to Organizational contact information
  One of the most fundamental parts of the system is how it manages organizational information (Org Function). Users can access summary information about any registered organization in the system. Any type of organization can register and maintain their contact and emergency information to share, as well as organizational information that is kept private. Staff, key contacts and 24-hour contact information can be maintained centrally or by participating member agencies. Authorized users can quickly find current names and contact information for those they need to reach, whether needed for daily reference information or for planning, coordination and recovery before, during and after emergencies.
  
  
• Up-to-date contact information
  Keeping information about employees, volunteers or others involved with the organization up to date and accurate is critical. The Person function provides users the ability to view summary information regarding persons registered in the network and more detailed information about persons listed within their own organization. The auto-update function keeps critical contact information and important personal information updated through a process where the system automatically contacts each person via e-mail with a request to update his or her own records. As with other i-INFO functions, each person has control over whether their information is shared. Information that can be maintained includes extensive contact information, work history, emergency medical information, skills, education, training, certifications and licenses.
  
  
• Manage Credentialing & Badging
  Authorized users can view the relevant skills, training, certifications, registrations and licenses provided by personnel or volunteers working with their organization. Information regarding background checks and other confidential information can be securely stored in context to each credentialed individual. Regional response team members from multiple agencies can be identified using the system, allowing centralized credential verification during emergencies.
  Multiple types of security and personnel accountability badges can also be entered and managed through the i-INFO system. Detailed data and images can be maintained by each organization and/or regionally to support mutual aid response teams. Information can be selectively exported for printing the needed badges.
  
  
• Control shared and private assets
  Using the Asset function, organizations can manage and selectively share information about any type of asset, including facilities, vehicles, equipment and supplies, with the appropriate responder and support agencies. This allows planners, dispatchers and emergency management to access not only public assets, but private resources that can be registered before or during the incident for surge capacity or specialty equipment. As in other functions, the system supports direct update of asset information at the source.
  The Asset function also allows each organization to maintain critical infrastructure, including transportation, energy and water infrastructures, communications and related facilities. This provides the ability to conduct and document consistent risk assessment and mitigation activities, continuously building local knowledgebase and sharing best practices, as needed.
  
  
• Manage Registration of every kind
  The Registration function provides organizations or regions the flexible ability to collect and/or update virtually every type of resource information within the i-INFO database, including summary or detailed data about the Organizations, Persons or Assets within your network. This function can be used simply to more easily populate your new network’s database, or allow individuals to update their own personal or organizational information. Uses for the Registration function include creating a new member registry, a first responder registry, a volunteer registry, a disaster needs registry; a special needs registry, a mass prophylaxis registry and many others.
  
  
• Streamline Communications
  Authorized users can send messages to either pre-defined or ad-hoc groups using the I-INFO communications function. Whether sending a single e-mail during the course of a project or a high volume mass communication during an emergency, the system provides an easy way not only to send messages, but also storing and organizing messages for after-action retrieval and review. Users can also interface the I-INFO communications function existing call-down system to streamline the update of communications lists and emergency notifications.
  
  
• Document Management
  The Library function allows users to categorize, store, retrieve, check in, check out, maintain versions, manage releases, copy or view a wide variety of documents, including; emergency plans, protocols, policies, checklists, training and exercise materials, drawings, maps, floor plans, databases, news releases, educational materials and many more. Daily use of the Library by relevant agencies, such as Fire Marshals, can provide regional planners and responders to up-to-date facility drawings and plans for public schools, production facilities and other area targets.
  
  
• Event Calendar
  The Event Calendar function allows users from any participating agency to enter and manage information about in-class or online training courses, area meetings, conferences or exercises through the system. Upon release, this information can be published to one or more public calendars, allowing any Internet user to search for particular events or display any or all events for one specific organization or through a consolidated, regional or state–wide calendar.
  The public calendar allows any user to register within the system and request attendance to many of the published upcoming events. Upon approval each participant can be maintained within the system for future reference or sending updates and notifications.
  
  
• Resource Maps
  The Asset Map function allows authorized users such as emergency managers to quickly and easily access information that is shared with their organization. Searching by keyword, the NIMS compliant classification or organization name the user can locate major assets and sub-assets available for the response. The user can choose to filter out information based on a geographic boundary, asset status or mutual aid status. Detail information, including photos can be available for quick review prior to requesting the resource from the responsible agency.
  
  
• Project Request and Request Funding
  The Project Request and Request funding module allows great flexibility in project planning. When linked to a public website, this module allows local residents to submit project ideas and requests via the web. Evaluators can then review and eliminate duplicate or infeasible requests as part of their planning process. Engineers can create and enter rough estimates for budgeting purposes. Once this is completed, Council Members or District Representatives can review all project requests in their district and set priorities for project scheduling and budget allocations. Public input into project requesting helps planners determine areas of need that might otherwise be overlooked.
  
  
• Fund / Master Planning
  Some projects can take years, or decades to complete. As an example, some DOT Highway Plans span 20 years and may pass through many different jurisdictions. Long range planning for these kinds of projects requires specialized tools. The i-INFO Fund / Master Planning module allows Fund Planners, Master Planners and others to create long-range plans for long term projects of every kind. Using the system, Councils of Government, Municipal, State and Federal Long Range Planners can use i-INFO to quickly aggregate plan data at federal levels. This module allows Program Fund Administrator to approve allocation of fund to projects for each Fund Plan for better fund tracking and reporting.
  
  
• Project Summary
  This i-INFO module allows Project Managers to define a project at high level and track project status with an internal blog, to track and report on funds that have been allocated to the project by Fund Managers. Standardized project templates can be created and copied as needed to quickly set up new projects. Project Managers can also pull standardized activities and checklists and assign responsibilities with the ability to track target and completion begin/end dates.
  
  
• Fund Management
  This application allows Fund Managers to manage multiple fund sources–Local, State, Federal, matching, etc.– across multiple fiscal years, and tie those funds to specific projects. Different types of funds are managed, including planned, programmed, authorized and encumbered dollars. The breadth and flexibility of funding, and the ability to rollup funding at project, department, sub-fund, fund, planning authority and funding agency levels is unique and extremely powerful in managing allocations of funds and reporting back to funding sources.
  
  
• Bid and Contract Management
  Bid Managers use this module to set up a bid process, with option to associate the bid with a project. Bid Managers can compare bid responses, award the bid, and notify the bidders electronically of the formal award. Contract Managers can set up a contract from the Bid and track invoice history throughout the project. Alternately, Contract Managers can set up a contract separately, or link it to a project.
  
  
• Projects and Requests on Map
  The Project / Request Map function allows authorized users to quickly and easily access information related to projects or project requests on a map and drill down for detail. When offered on a public website, residents can also look up project and request summary information for a particular location area. This promotes communication to residents about ongoing projects in their neighborhoods and can be used to warn about upcoming street closures or other projects.