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This paper presents the position of the InterAgency Board (IAB) on an approach to developing a national bioterrorism response capability to address long-standing gaps in domestic bioterrorism preparedness and response. The IAB proposes a model that brings together public safety jurisdictions, federal resources, processes, standards, and doctrine to support the creation of a network of locally owned and operated validated bioterrorism response teams that constitute a national, rather than a federal, capability. Under this model, responder organizations that meet eligibility requirements can apply to operate through contracts as approved bioterrorism response organizations within their own jurisdictions. These teams would be trained and equipped to meet a set of national standards and would work collaboratively with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory Response Network (LRN) in bioterrorism incident responses.