Services Description
874-1 - Consulting Services
As with any management tool, the ultimate goals
of EMSs and strategic planning are to improve the quality, timeliness
and efficiency of services. The federal government has wisely recognized
the implementation of management tools as important to its future
operations. Increased customer satisfaction and confidence are vital
to the functioning of any organization. EI fully understands these
management tools and can help federal agencies recognize how they
can and cannot be used to encourage operational improvements. EI has
extensive experience with strategic planning and EMSs. EI's team includes
strategic planning experts who have assisted various clients in understanding
and utilizing strategic planning and two RAB Certified ISO
14001 Lead Auditors who have hundreds of days of experience
auditing and implementing ISO 14001-conforming EMSs for government,
industry and numerous other organizations. EI's team understands all
facets of EMSs and ISO 14000. EI has advised government agencies as
to the benefits of EMSs, has trained federal government personnel
on EMSs and EMS auditing and has worked with industry on the actual
use of EMSs. These projects have included planning, documentation,
implementation, operation and review of EMSs as well as the development
of strategic environmental management plans. EI will provide whatever
strategic planning assistance is needed by federal agencies, whether
it means helping an agency agree on what goals are essential to its
mission or building commitment to these goals among key stakeholders.
EI assists federal agencies in all phases of strategic planning including
preparation, articulating missions and values, assessing the environment,
agreeing on priorities, and writing, implementing, monitoring and
evaluating the strategic plan. EI is able to prepare clear and informative
materials that are appropriate for each of these phases. EI’s
knowledge and communication skills can help federal agencies utilize
strategic planning to ensure their operations are efficient and headed
toward common goals.
Under this SIN, EI offers the following services:
874-2 - Facilitation Services
EI has extensive experience providing government
agencies and private clients with facilitation services. Our track
record of success displays our dedication to and expertise in bringing
groups to consensus. As a result of our interdisciplinary approach,
we are able to understand the variety of viewpoints and backgrounds
involved in a facilitated process. EI prides itself on its integrity,
expertise and efficacy. Our philosophy is that effective and lasting
solutions to problems are based on a respect and appreciation of diverse
viewpoints and high quality credible analysis of science, law and
policy that is accessible to all. This combination best informs and
assists legislators, regulators, the public and stakeholders in making
the difficult value judgements inherent in government decision-making.
Our team has successfully conducted multi-party facilitations and
interagency working groups for federal and state agencies, as well
as local governments including the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, FWS,
NMFS, NOAA, Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department
of Fish and Wildlife. The facilitations have focused on a number of
contentious issues including natural resource damage assessments,
improving interagency cooperation, the deepening of the Columbia River
channel, selection of restoration options, flood risk management,
selection of dredged material disposal sites and navigation safety.
EI has developed a myriad facilitation tools because we tailor each
process to the needs of the client as well as the concerns and interests
of the parties at the table. Our processes are flexible to allow for
adjustments or changes within the group or the environment in which
the group is working. We maintain contact with each participant before
and after meetings to check status of concerns, issues and interests
as well as progress on assignments. Moreover, we encourage participants
to use interest-based approaches to thinking. These techniques have
proven extremely effective in prior facilitations.
Under this SIN, EI offers all facilitation services
including:
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Resolving Disputes
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Defining and Refining the Agenda
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Recording Discussion Content and Focusing Decision-making
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Convening and Leading Large and Small Group
Briefings and Discussions
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Preparing Draft and Final Reports for Dissemination
874-8 - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Services
The use of the court system to resolve disputes
becomes more time-consuming, expensive and stressful each year. Alternative
dispute resolution (ADR) can often be employed to avoid litigation
and its corresponding headaches while still achieving useful results.
A variety of government and industry organizations have identified
ADR as an efficient, practical means of achieving settlements.ADR
techniques are numerous and some are not appropriate in a particular
situation. The federal government hopes its MOBIS efforts increase
customer satisfaction and enhance the public’s confidence in
the government. ADR attempts to bring the same improvements to resolving
disputes and can save agencies time and money by avoiding litigation.
However, ADR is only useful if all key stakeholders are led through
the process by an experienced guide and the stakeholders are brought
to some form of agreement. These are areas in which EI excels. Members
of EI’s team have been providing alternative dispute resolution
(ADR) services for many years. Our team includes lawyers who understand
the advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques of ADR,
having used them for a variety of clients. Our experts understand
how to utilize the various ADR techniques both to avoid as well as
resolve disputes. EI’s experts have completed numerous training
courses in ADR techniques including ADR training from the American
Bar Association and basic and advanced mediation training courses
from JAMS, Northern California Mediation Association, Sonoma State
University Extended Education and CONCUR. Our expertise in providing
clients with ADR services is demonstrated by our track record of success.
We have successfully used ADR techniques to bring groups to agreement
on a variety of contentious issues including permit disputes, determination
of “fair share” settlements, restoration planning, natural
resource injury determination and endangered species issues.
Under this SIN, EI offers the following services:
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Labor Rates
For a complete breakdown of EI’s rates, please
contact Pamela Bridgen at 206-525-3362 or
exec@envintl.com.
