56. The NC3B Capability Panels will contribute to the development of the NISP in their respective C3 areas of responsibility by responding to the RFCP as indicated above. The co-ordination of NISP development effort throughout the NC3B sub-structure should be based on the following guidance.

57. RFCPs are handled at the IP CaT and national levels. The normal procedure for handling RFCPs call for the IP CaT to review the status of the RFCPs presented at its previous meeting, their content is discussed and the IP CaT defines its position with respect to these RFCPs. If the RFCP issue is covered by other working groups, these groups must be formally requested to provide comments. National subject matter experts may look for some additional review of the RFCPs at a national level. Significant problems identified in this process should be brought to the attention of the IP CaT within a period of eight weeks. The final deadline is however the date of the meeting of the final review of the NISP. This period is meant to encourage tasking of national experts to verify national positions and to co-ordinate with national representatives in other capability panels.

58. The secretaries of the Capability Panels will constitute the primary point of co-ordination with the IP CaT, to help the IP CaT to obtain the adequate support from each Capability Panel;

59. In special cases, specific requests for information or even questionnaires will be sent to the relevant Capability Panels or Teams, in order to receive expert views on specific issues, technologies, or other relevant information.

60. The IP CaT Leader (or suitably delegated IP CaT subject matter experts) will be available to participate in any Capability Panel or Team meeting when necessary or required.

61. RFCPs requiring a response in a more timely manner will be handled by the IP CaT outside its scheduled meetings and within a two week period from receipt of the RFCP. The IP CaT will use a web based collaboration tool, to discuss and develop a recommendation regarding these urgent RFCPs. The IP CaT recommendation will be passed directly to the NC3REPS, via its secretary, for approval by the NC3REPS. Once approved by the NC3REPS, the NISP database will be updated to reflect the NC3REPS decision.

62. The chairman IP CaT will give an annual update to the NC3REPS highlighting the RFCPS handled by the IP CaT including: