EnDyna provides comprehensive scientific program support to federal agencies to institute more effective and efficient pragmatic approaches to challenging and emerging problems. Our science-based approach is guided by four general areas: Scientific Peer Reviews, Communications and Outreach, Scientific Research and Analysis, and Training.
EnDyna oversees the planning, implementation, and summarization of scientific and technical external peer review panels. The services provided include: identification and vetting of independent technical experts; coordination and oversight of all expert schedules and contractual agreements; distribution and management of all peer review materials and expert deliverables; planning, supervision; and, compilation, summarization, and reporting of peer reviewer comments and government response to comments.
From strategic communications planning, digital strategies, content marketing, event, and social media support, EnDyna helps make scientific government agencies’ processes more open, effective, and efficient. EnDyna provides planning, logistical, on-site, and post-event support for local, national, international, and virtual scientific conferences, meetings, peer review panels, working groups, lectures, and trade shows on a variety of scientific and technical topics. Services include:
EnDyna provides training solutions that adhere to the highest levels of quality, cost effectiveness, and compatibility with current industry standards. Implementing sound instructional systems development (ISD) principles, EnDyna collaborates with its clients to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) comprehensive training programs that ensure the transfer of requisite skills and knowledge to the learner.
In addition, EnDyna remains at the forefront of relevant training standards, including the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee (AICC), IMS Global, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Ariadne interoperability standards. We work in all media, including instructor-led (ILT), performance support, web/computer-based training (CBT), video, mobile, and synchronous and asynchronous learning environments. Our proven methodology is immediately leveraged by our clients to meet their requirements.
US Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Peer Review Facilitation and Management Services: BSEE works to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve resources offshore through vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement. Under this 5-year BPA, EnDyna facilitates and manages the peer reviews of highly influential scientific assessments. EnDyna provides a comprehensive peer review process (including hypothesis development, modeling, data collection and analysis, and conclusions) that evaluates research information and associated documents planned for dissemination by BSEE.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Center for Environmental Economics (NCEE), Technical Support for Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Benefits Assessment: Under this contract EnDyna provided NCEE with assistance in: literature and document review; document preparation; peer review; data acquisition and data base management; logistical support for conferences and meetings; outreach support; and training development services. EnDyna coordinated concurrent sessions, exhibits, and related events for the 2008 and 2009 Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) National Training Workshop. These workshops focused on the CARE competitive grants program, which offered innovative ways for communities to organize and reduce pollution in their local environments. EnDyna provided full-service conference support for the 2008 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Pesticides. Attendees included government representatives and pesticide experts from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Peer Review and Program Support for the Transportation and Climate Division (TCD) of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ): As a sub, EnDyna conducts peer reviews on economic or other technical analyses, economic or other technical models, and economic or other technical articles for OTAQ. These services include coordination of the peer review process and selecting appropriate peer reviewers in accordance with US EPA’s “Peer Review Handbook, 3rd (or later) Edition.” The peer review are conducted by qualified individuals (or organization) who are independent of those who performed the work, but are collectively equivalent in technical expertise (i.e., peers) to those who performed the original work. EnDyna ensures that activities are technically adequate, competently performed, properly documented, and satisfy established technical and quality requirements.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Program Support: As a sub, EnDyna provides technical support to several National Response Team (NRT) committees, primarily the NRT’s interagency Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Subcommittee Chemical Workgroup, Biological Workgroup, and Radiological Workgroup. EnDyna supports weekly/monthly teleconference meetings for these NRT workgroups to develop Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) on WMD. EnDyna’s responsibilities include summarizing workgroup discussions and action items; coordinating WMD Subcommittee Workgroup and inter/intra-agency communications; tracking completion of workgroup action items; developing QRGs for distribution by NRT as publicly available documents; and assisting in management of WMD Subcommittee sections for NRT’s web-based portal. EnDyna also supports the process of updating QRGs periodically as new data/information becomes available to ensure that FOSCs and state and local responders have the most up-to-date information for effective emergency responses.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Peer Review of the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Research Fellowship Applications: As a sub, EnDyna coordinated independent, external peer reviews for the evaluation of EPA/ORD STAR Fellowship applications relevant to 1) Green Engineering/Building/Chemical Products and Processes/Materials Development and 2) Green Energy/ Natural Resources Production and Use. Reviewers were not only charged with the evaluation of each application for scientific and technical merit, but also the feasibility and soundness of the proposed research methodology. In response to the Request for Application, they also assessed the applicant on his or her potential for success in an environmental graduate study program. EnDyna a) identified and selected external EPA peer reviewers – including scientists, engineers, social scientists, and economists – accomplished in their respective disciplines and proficient in the technical research topics they reviewed; b) determined and documented any Conflict of Interests (COI); c) processed and reviewed individual peer review evaluations for quality control; d) coordinated and supported peer reviewer in face-to-face meetings; e) summarized and reported final results of peer review meeting discussions; and f) conducted follow-up peer reviews of applications identified as requiring further analysis. For this effort, EnDyna managed travel and provided travel reimbursement and honoraria to all reviewers. EnDyna implemented a process to identify and select the best-qualified peer reviewers and provided logistics and other support for reviewers.
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Conference, Administrative, and Travel Services Contract III (NIHCATS III): EnDyna was awarded a Prime position on the NIHCATS III. Services to be performed under this contract include: Travel Support, Meeting and Conference Support, Documentation Support, Administrative Support, Website Design, Development, and Maintenance/Internet Support. Through all awarded task orders, EnDyna has been providing the following services: logistical meeting support; domestic and international travel; support for press conferences, including media recruitment, materials development, and logistical support; logistical support for ongoing webinars and conference calls; researching and writing communications materials for the public, such as factsheets, news articles, program materials, and science education materials; writing, editing, and producing a variety of publications, such as strategic plans, congressional reports, articles for web publication, newsletters, and meeting proceedings and summaries, for both print and Web publication; developing websites for online registration, abstract submission, and meeting information and dissemination; developing informational and interactive websites for educational information dissemination and data gathering; designing online databases for NIH researcher tools; designing and maintaining databases for inventory storage, conference attendee tracking, contact information, and mailing list maintenance; coordinating domestic and international travel and lodging for speakers and presenters; designing and preparing meeting materials, including promotional and registration brochures, journal advertisements, program books and workshop binders, name badges and tent cards, meeting signage, invitational letters, and post-meeting thank-you letters; webcasting and satellite broadcasting of meetings and press conferences; technical assistance in the form of consultant writers, program analysts, researchers, site visits for monitoring laboratory facilities, and meeting facilitators; warehousing and fulfillment of publication requests; and, video production for scientific information and dissemination.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of the Administrator (OA), Logistical and Administrative Support for the Science Advisory Board (SAB): EnDyna holds a prime contract to deliver administrative and logistics support, as well as comprehensive event management services for the EPA SAB, which included travel itineraries/travel authorizations, pre-meeting logistics, and on-site support. We provided comprehensive conference support for meetings of various established and ad-hoc boards that focus on science and technology regulatory policies and respond to emerging scientific queries. EnDyna’s staff works closely with the project officer to coordinate and manage the following tasks: negotiating hotel/meeting space and room blocks; arranging for meals and refreshments; registration; securing AV equipment; and printing meeting materials including name badges, name tents, agendas, event signs, and numerous other items. Later in the process, EnDyna supported the designated Federal officer who provides final copies of meeting literature and keeps EnDyna staff informed of any changes in Board member attendance, event timing, and expected needs. EnDyna also maintained close communication with hotel/facility staff to manage emerging issues, and to ensure that SAB meetings run smoothly. These events occurred over two-to-four days, and often required EnDyna staff to travel to event locations to provide on-site support. EnDyna successfully managed all post-event requirements including compilation of forms and handouts for further use; mailing information packages to members; and all other post-meeting needs.
US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Public Affairs and Meeting Support Services for the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC): On-site at Ft. Detrick, Maryland, EnDyna’s public affairs, communications, and design personnel assist with the development, organization, dissemination and information management of various materials for the TATRC lab, to include multimedia, print, social media, web design and maintenance, and meeting and event support. This includes Assisting in the organization and dissemination of information and research results to all relevant media platforms; Developing and coordinating events, conferences, agendas and briefing templates; Coordinating VIP visits; Coordinating with USAMRMC Command PAO on command wide events; Coordinating with USAMRMC Command PAO clearance for briefings and articles/publications; Coordinating Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with USAMRMC Command PAO; Coordinating newsletters, presentations, publications and events with staff; Generating original content, based on TATRC projects, announcements, interest and share via TATRC social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) to present a coherent, militarily relevant and consistent message as required; and, Scrutinizing TATRC Lab's social media sites for inappropriate comments and observance of Operational Security (OPSEC) rules.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), Scientific Meeting Support for the Science Advisory Panel: For our five-year prime contract, EnDyna provides green meeting and conference logistics and administrative support to FACA meetings. Example meeting topics include: Common Effects Assessment Methodology developed in the Office of Pesticide Programs and Office of Water; Methods for Efficacy Testing of Bed Bug Pesticide Products; Scientific Issues Concerning Health Effects of Chlorpyrifos; Problem Formulation for the Reassessment of Ecological Risks from the Use of Atrazine. Under this contract, we have also facilitated peer review meetings for scientific methodologies or documents. For example, recently, Dr. Siddhanti facilitated the nanotechnology risk assessment working group and associated peer reviewed report in June 2013.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Revision to the PAG Manual, Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents: For ten years, EnDyna has supported EPA in revising RPD’s Protective Action Guides (PAG) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents (PAG Manual), originally issued in 1992. The work scope included updating the draft with regard to format (tables, chapters, appendices, table of contents); adding URLs and links to all references wherever possible and ensuring that all internal links were fully functional, adhering to the Council of Biology Editors Style Guide; changing all units from customary to SI with customary in parentheses; improving readability; ensuring consistency of style, terminology and grammar; inserting language on the inter-relationship among chapters; consolidating and analyzing peer review comments to address potential conflicts and inconsistencies; and preparing camera-ready copies for posting to the EPA-ORIA website. The work scope broadened to include development of new material, cataloguing of past reference material, and a major change in the draft version that involved returning to the 1992 version (for which there was no electronic copy) and rebuilding a new draft. EnDyna restored the 1992 document into an editable electronic format and released a draft for initial interagency review in the fall of 2006. EnDyna then compiled and categorized over 2,200 administrative, substantive, and critical comments from federal, state, and local constituencies, and worked with EPA to reach resolutions. In April 2009, EnDyna released a second draft for interagency “showstoppers only” review. In this final phase of the document update, once the public comments are received. EnDyna used CommentWorks for accommodating large number of public comment response. Most recently, EnDyna reviewed the March 2103 Interim Draft manual and developed a memo, which was reviewed by the interagency workgroup and approved by this workgroup along with RPD, with recommendations to improve the organization and readability. EnDyna also developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), which provide an overview of key information to help officials understand the different phases of a radiological incident and how to implement the recommended types of protective actions under emergency conditions, to help state and local officials become familiar with the use of the interim draft. Working closely with RPD, we implemented EnDyna’s recommendations, addressed both interagency comments and internal EPA review comments on the draft manual, and supported RPD in addressing comments from the EPA’s Office of Policy review and subsequent OMB review, through the publication of this EPA guidance document.
US Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary, Event Planner, Graphic Design and Communications Support for Work-Life Office of Special Programs: EnDyna supports the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary, with both on-site and off-site support to plan, arrange and coordinate events in support of the Departmental Work-life and Special Programs Office, whose mission is to disseminate administrative, scientific, and technical information to the 55,000 employees across the DOT. On-site at the DOT headquarters in Washington, DC, EnDyna events all stages of planning and outreach for multiple events throughout the year. This support includes: coordinating customer input to set goals and objectives; providing guidance, ideas, and advice for upcoming events; participating in all planning calls and meetings; creating (Section 508 compliant) marketing and communications materials related to the events; coordinating site selection, room setup, and audiovisual equipment; planning and developing agendas, invitations, mailings, thank you notes, and other special arrangements; arranging travel and lodging for sponsored guests and other participants; and, developing outreach and communications products (posters, flyers, press releases, website banners, proceedings documents, name tags, table tents, event packets, signage, etc.).
US Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (DOT/FMCSA), National Training Center (NTC) Program Management: The DOT/FMCSA National Training Center (NTC) provides high quality motor carrier safety and law enforcement training to assist in improving safety, saving lives, and preventing serious injury. EnDyna provided: development of new and revised training courses; business process improvements; creation of new standard operating procedures (SOPs); technical and logistical support for training delivery and facilitation; and instructor support (training, recertification, and evaluation). Instruction was provided online and in traditional classroom settings using a variety of multimedia tools, including but not limited to: webinars, websites and training videos. Annually for DOT, EnDyna developed an average of 240 hours of instructor-led-training (ILT), 120 hours of web-based-training (WBT), 50 hours of synchronous webinars, 80 hours of leadership coaching, and delivered classroom training to more than 13,500 students. EnDyna remediated over three hundred hours of classroom and web-based training to become Section 508-compliant. FMCSA’s websites were remediated on an ongoing basis. Additionally, FMCSA’s technical manuals and job aids, which included Word, Excel, PDF, Adobe files were also remediated to be 508-compliant.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Programs (OEP), Support for Training Program Evaluation: EnDyna supports OEP in efforts to enhance the efficacy and efficiency of OEP’s strategic approach to its business areas and processes. As part of this work, EnDyna provided support for training program evaluation activities for the Extramural Staff Training Office (ESTO), which promotes trainings intended for NIH Extramural Scientist Staff, who administer grants and contracts. EnDyna evaluated whether NIH extramural staff are receiving necessary competencies and skills from OEP trainings, how relevant/beneficial OEP trainings are for extramural staff, what managers/supervisors believe are the training needs for their extramural staff, and whether extramural staff believe that OEP training increases staff productivity.
Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC), Risk Assessment Tools Review, Adaptive Risk Assessment Modeling System™ (ARAMS) and Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA): EnDyna facilitated a training event for the SADA and ARAMS™ tool to increase awareness of the availability of this and other risk assessment tools. The Risk Assessment Resources Team prepared a white paper that presented findings of the review and identified recommendations for improvement of the ARAMS™ tool. SADA is free software that incorporates tools from environmental assessment fields into an effective problem-solving environment.
US Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Defense Civilian Personnel Service (DCPAS), Executive Leadership and Development Program (ELDP): EnDyna supported ELDP, an annual 10-month leadership program for mid-level civilians and is aligned with the DoD Civilian Leader Development Model, which focuses on achieving five learning objectives: Know Yourself, Express Yourself, Build Teams, Manage Organizations, and Understanding the Department of Defense. Starting with a 10-day classroom session called, “Core Curriculum Training,” EnDyna provided participants with an experiential approach to a number of critical leadership development learning activities, on-demand executive coaching, as well as immersion into the culture and mission of the warfighter. Throughout the ten-month program year, cohorts were also taken on “Field Deployments” to CONUS and OCONUS DoD installations for various immersive activities alongside the warfighter.
US Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Defense Civilian Personnel Service (DCPAS), Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program (DCELP): EnDyna supported DCELP, an annual emerging leader program that is aligned with the DoD Civilian Leader Development Model and supports the development of a talent pipeline and focuses on achieving five terminal learning objectives: Know Self, Express Self, Build Teams, Lead People, and Understanding the Department of Defense. EnDyna developed and facilitated four, one-week experiential-based classroom seminars to over 200 emerging leaders per year. In addition to providing fully customized training sessions, EnDyna prepared read-ahead materials, agendas, and place cards; developed instructor and participant guides; coordinated guest speaker engagements; and, arranged group and individual coaching and peer mentoring sessions.