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Below are frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to the CEAS Program.
Additional information is available www.ceas.com and the CEAS Customer Support Center at 888-353-BNET.
Q: What are the costs associated with the CEAS Card?
A: Costs for the CEAS program are borne by program participants. However, rather than charge a yearly fee to participating companies, all costs associated with the program (e.g, application management, card procuding and training,) are built into the cost of the cards. This allows costs to be distributed equitably, with smaller businesses paying a relatively lower fee for their few employees and larger companies paying more, commensurate with their number of critical employees. Top
Q: Does the government profit from the CEAS Program?
A: No. The City of Philadelphia does not receive any profit from the CEAS Program. Businesses are crucial to the City's and the nation's economic well-being. The City is providing this tool for businesses to gain quicker access to their facilities to mitigate potential long-term damage and financial loss from a disaster. Top
Q: How do you insure that terrorists don't get the cards?
A: The card would not be of practical use to anyone with ill intent as it does not allow any form of restricted access until after an event occurs. BNet does confirm the legitimacy of the company; however, the onus is on the business to vet its employees' backgrounds and to insure that they are appropriate holders of the CEAS credential. Top
Q: Will the police recognize my CEAS card when I present it?
A: Yes, the Philadelphia Police Department has developed written procedures to implement CEAS and to train officers to recognize the card. Top
Q: What happens if I present my card but the police officer denies me access?
A: CEAS cardholders must always comply with a police officer's decision to deny access, whatever the reason given. Keep in mind that access may be limited or denied at any time during activation due to changing conditions. If during an official CEAS activation there appears to be confusion regarding enforcement of the system, comply with the police request and call BNet at 888-353-BNet (2638). Top
Q: How will we know when restricted areas become open to CEAS cardholders?
A: The Mayor or his/her designee will authorize activating CEAS. Public media announcements will be made of the activation, so please tune in to your local news outlets, such as KYW 1060 AM. Additionally, the City will also seek to make this information available on the CEAS Activations / Updates page of this website. Top
Q: Who controls access and how will they know and be trained to give CEAS cardholders access when appropriate?
A: The Mayor or his/her designee will authorize activating CEAS, but public safety officials, primarily the Police Department, controls access at a site. Police officers are trained to recognize the CEAS credential along with the different levels of access that can be implemented. It is important that the CEAS Cardholder carry a second form of photo identification, preferably corporate- and government-issued ID. Keep in mind that enforcement of the system is by police officials at the site. Access may be limited or denied at any time during activation due to changing conditions. Top
Q: Does CEAS offer any guarantees for access?
A: No. Even if CEAS is activated, access may be limited or denied at any time by the police due to changing conditions. The CEAS credential only provides access into the restricted area; if you do not own your facility, your building's management may deny you access inside the facility. Although access is not guaranteed, CEAS offers your business the best potential for access during an emergency. BNet recommends that companies discuss access with their building managers in advance. Top
Q: I have outside vendors that are critical to my business recovery. How do I get them in?
A: Businesses can sponsor employees from their critical vendors. Sponsored vendor credentials are counted towards your company's allocated number of credentials. Certain vendors who meet the City’s requirements may be eligible to receive All Area Access credentials. Critical vendors should be only those who are essential to immediate business recovery needs. Top
Q: What is a Level C "critical industry" and why do they have priority access?
A: The designation of Level C critical industries allows firms that are deemed part of the "critical infrastructure" by the City priority access into a restricted area. Municipalities are NOT required to allow Level C access first and may choose to allow all levels of access at once depending on circumstances. Top
Q: What is BNet, and why did the City partner with BNet?
A: BNet was created as a result of federal and New York State initiatives to establish emergency management partnerships between the public and private sectors. The BNet Board of Directors and public-sector Advisory Board are comprised of volunteers from businesses and government agencies across New York and its bordering states. These volunteers worked together to design a system that met the needs of businesses while maintaining appropriate controls for public safety.
The City partnered with BNet because the CEAS system offered a cost-effective method to resolve the historic problem of preventing unnecessary access into a restricted area, while allowing necessary access to achieve business and economic recovery. Top
Q: Wouldn't it be cheaper if the City provided this service instead of BNet?
A: No. System development, management, and oversight would be far too costly to the City. BNet as an organization is better equipped to handle program startup costs and maintenance costs across implementations in several cities and regions. Top
Q: Are BNet or the City liable if a CEAS credential holder gets injured while in the restricted zone?
A: By participating in the CEAS program, companies agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Philadelphia and BNet. Top
Q: What types of companies currently participate in the CEAS program?
A: A diverse array of businesses currently participates in the CEAS program. These include organizations from the financial services, insurance, building/ property management, and pharmaceutical and bioresearch industries. Small and mid-sized companies such as law, accounting and professional service firms also participate. Top
Q: What type of work is involved for the businesses participating in CEAS?
A: Businesses must identify coordinators, who will be responsible to administer the program at the corporate level. Coordinators will screen and determine appropriate employees to apply for the credential. They must also manage the distribution, collection, and turnover of credentials, maintaining an accurate accounting of their credentialed employees. All cardholders must be trained using the BNet web-training tool. Businesses must also comply with specific requirements related to liability insurance coverage and indemnification as set forth by the City and BNet. Top
Q: What type of employees would you recommend as CEAS credential holders?
A: First consider the people who protect and secure your assets following an emergency. There is no guarantee as to how long you may be allowed in the restricted area, nor may the situation allow occupation of your workplace for a significant stretch of time as conditions may deteriorate. Therefore, we suggest that you first consider your immediate needs for activities such as damage assessment, technology shutdowns, critical data and document removal, and physical protection and building restoration. Top
Q: Why are only businesses allowed into this program and not residents?
A: Businesses are allowed access on a small scale and for specific purposes. Residential recovery and re-entry will be handled separately by the City's public safety agencies. Top
Q: Many of my employees live outside of the City. Will the CEAS card be valid in other states or counties?
A: Use of CEAS credentials is established by written agreement between BNet and the City of Philadelphia. Other municipalities may recognize the credential when allowing traffic through their jurisdiction, but, without an agreement in place with a bordering municipality, travel restrictions may still apply. Top
Q: If restrictions are also placed in the areas surrounding Philadelphia, will CEAS cardholders be able to get access to get into the City?
A: Perhaps. If alternate means of accessing the City are not available, the City may ask adjoining jurisdictions to honor the credential for passing traffic. Remember, the CEAS credential is intended for use during serious emergencies and not to avoid inconvenience when alternate means of access are available. Top
Q: Are similar services offered by other vendors?
A: Not to our knowledge and not in the means currently available from BNet, and at no cost to the City. Top
Q: When can I use my CEAS card?
A: The card becomes a valid instrument of access only after the system has been officially activated following an event within the City. Even then, access is limited to those cardholders who work in or are assigned to the restricted area. Top
Q: What is an All Area Access Card and do I need to have one?
A: All Area Access Cards may be issued to a narrowly defined set of business types, service and supply providers that provide critical recovery services or products to government or critical industries. These businesses may be requested to provide services to a multitude of potential locations within the jurisdiction that will only be defined once an emergency event occurs. Businesses must apply to the City of Philadelphia, through BNet with appropriate justification to be eligible for this type of card. Limits on the amount of All Area Access Cards will be determined on a case-by-case basis during the review process. Top
Q: What is a Multi-Facility Access Card and do I need to have one?
A: Multi-Facility Access Cards are photo identification cards that are issued to a specific individual for access to ALL company facilities within the City of Philadelphia. The Multi-Facility Access Card is made available to companies with multiple worksites within a given jurisdiction. Cards are granted on a limited basis. Top
Q: How long is the cardholder training?
A: The time required for CEAS card training is approximately 30 minutes. Top
Q: Where can I find additional information pertaining to the CEAS program?
A: Additional information is available www.ceas.com and the CEAS Customer Support Center at 888-353-BNET.
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