Which of the following is NOT an input used to create an Improvement Plan (IP)?

The correct answer is resource allocation from state budgets because this aspect is typically not directly used to create an Improvement Plan (IP). Instead, Improvement Plans focus on addressing specific operational gaps or shortfalls through actionable steps obtained from exercises and assessments. The plan is intended to refine capabilities based on lessons learned, thus including actionable steps, recommendations from officials, and the Training and Exercise Plan as foundational inputs.

Resource allocation, while essential for executing the plans, falls outside the immediate scope of identifying what improvements are needed or how to formulate those improvements into a structured plan. It's more about the funding and budgetary considerations that support initiatives rather than directly shaping the content of an Improvement Plan. The other options represent direct inputs that contribute to the identification of needs and the formulation of actions within the Improvement Plan, thereby aligning with its primary purpose.