Benefit Cost Analysis

Date:         February 8-9, 2012

Time:         8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Location:  Univesity of Wyomning Outreach Building

                  951 North Poplar

                 Casper, Wyoming 

Attention Please Read Carefully

This Course has Pre-Requisite Training

Lodging:  Please make your own reservations.  Reference Homeland Security Room Block - Hampton Inn-Casper, 1100 N Poplar Street, Casper, WY  82601  307.235.6668

Hampton Inn & Suites

1100 North Poplar

Casper, Wyoming  82601

307-235-6668

The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be hosting a 2‐day Benefit Cost Analysis training February 8th and 9th. The training will begin at 8 a.m. both days.  The purpose of this course is to provide participants with the background information on FEMA grant programs, hazard mitigation options, and project cost estimating.

Training Details: Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) is a decision making methodology that organizes all the social and financial costs and benefits of a project in order to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of options. BCA originated with public works projects and has since been adapted to most areas of public decision making. FEMA uses this same concept to calculate and prioritize projects for grant funding by comparing the benefits of a project against its cost. FEMA has developed the BCA tool to standardize the compilation and evaluation of information that is needed to measure the cost effectiveness of a natural hazard mitigation project.

All participants are responsible for travel to and from the training. The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security will reimburse per diem and lodging expenses at the federal rate for this training.

Registration:  Please utilize the Event Brite web link.   Registration will close Friday, February 3, 2012.

 Pre-requisite Training

Students attending the training are required to complete one of the two on-line courses prior to attending the classroom portion of the training. They can be found on the BC Helpline website, http://www.bchelpline.com/training.html

Introduction to Benefit-Cost Analysis Training: This training is for those who are not currently familiar with the BCA program or in need of a refresher. http://www.bchelpline.com/PreReq/index.htm

Bridge Training Course: This training is for users familiar with the previous BCA program to ensure they are aware of the new terminology and elements of the new Tool. http://www.bchelpline.com/Bridge/index.htm

Computer Requirements and Software Download

Students are responsible to arrive at the course with their own computer pre-loaded with the FEMA BCA software.                                                                                                                                              The latest version of the software is available for download via the FEMA Benefit-Cost Analysis website: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/bca.shtm    Students MUST have Full Local Administrative Rights to load the software, in the event there are issues with the software upon arrival at the class.   Please ensure that you have Full Local Administrative Rights to load the software and the software has been loaded prior to the class.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. If folks need assistance loading the software on their computers, they can look at the installation guidance on the FEMA Benefit Cost Analysis website or they can call the BC Helpline at: 855-540-6744. 

Student Manuals

The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security will provide student manuals for the training participants.