The Office of Dispute Resolution was created in 1995.  It is located in the Office of the General Counsel and provides assistance throughout the DOE complex and to its contractors about using various types of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to prevent and resolve all kinds of disputes without litigation.

The Director of the office offers training, provides system design support, and acts as a consultant for all types of dispute resolution, ranging from preventive techniques, such as partnering, differing professional opinion processes and ombuds, to mediation in many types of disputes, such as intellectual property, contracts, environmental, grants, equal employment opportunity (Title VII), and whistleblower complaints.

Several Departmental ADR programs include:

• Headquarters Mediation Program for Workplace Conflicts
• Environmental Disputes
• Field Office Programs for Workplace Disputes
• Contract Disputes
• Contractor Legal Management
• Technology Transfer Ombuds

Secretarial Memorandum