Management, Organization, and Business Improvement Services
(MOBIS)

Contract No. GS-10F-0076M from 12/3/06 to 12/2/11

	SIN 874-1. Consulting
	SIN 874-2. Facilitation
	SIN 874-7. Project Management and Integration

GSA's Management, Organization, and Business Improvement Services (MOBIS) Schedule multiple-award contracts provide federal agencies with a rapid-response mechanism to access management services. After careful review, GSA has prequalified firms that have demonstrated the capabilities to undertake specific areas of work-Special Item Numbers (SINs). Established prices for products and services, set at pre-approved rates, greatly streamline the procurement process.

Illustrated below are the types of work under each SIN for which IRG has proven capability. In addition to these examples, IRG can provide other or more specific services under these SINs for either domestic or international programs. Please contact Cynthia Pflugh at cpflugh@irgltd.com.

About IRG

IRG is an international professional services firm that helps governments, the private sector, communities, and households manage critical resources to build a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous world. Since its inception in 1978, IRG has completed over 750 contracts in 137 countries, delivering high-quality, cost-effective services that promote positive economic growth, institutional and social change, and intelligent use of resources-human, physical, environmental, and financial.

IRG's international development staff includes world-renowned specialists who have pioneered many of the analytical techniques used in their fields. IRG's ability to provide management, economic, and technical advice is further enhanced by the diversity, cross-cultural experience, foreign language skills, and management capabilities of staff based in the Washington, DC headquarters, corporate and representational offices in India, Indonesia, Peru and the Philippines, and 20 project dedicated offices around the world.

IRG's Capabilities under MOBIS

Consulting (SIN 874-1)

Organizations routinely face complex challenges that require well-trained and dedicated staff, in-depth study of the issues, and up-to-date information. IRG helps decision-makers gain an understanding of evolving social, economic, and environmental forces with expert advice on how to achieve financial and operational goals.

Improvements in Management and Institutional Capacity

Our staff provide vital assistance to clients as they work to improve management practices and institutional capabilities. Proven knowledge and techniques help IRG cut costs, improve productivity, and maximize the benefits of programs, assistance, and partnerships. IRG has improved policy planning for energy administrations, implemented action plans for natural resource agencies, upgraded facilities and trained staff of forestry institutions, established computer-aided planning and scheduling for environmental authorities, and applied state-of-the-art analytical tools to economic development programs. To help clients meet international environmental management system standards, IRG uses a unique approach to ISO 14001 implementation, combining the expertise of internationally recognized experts with state-of-the-art, computer-based performance benchmarking and result management systems.

Information and Analytical Tools

IRG's groundbreaking proprietary software provides managers with reliable information and concise, real-time analyses. The BenchMetrix® performance-rating software package, which operates as a stand-alone system or as an integrated component of IRG's ISO 14001 methodology, supplies critical information that allows users to monitor system performance and reach targets and objectives. IRG also supports MARKAL, a family of bottom-up energy system models that provide policymakers and planners with extensive detail on technologies that produce and consume energy and the interplay between economics and energy use.

Technical Analyses of Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resource Issues

IRG develops strategies that help clients make the best use of scarce natural resources while protecting the environment. We analyze and design policy. We scrutinize government budgets to determine the optimal allocation for natural resources. We conduct national income accounting audits based on changes in the value of natural resource stocks. And we use state-of-the-art methods to review and analyze the causes of global climate change.

Projects in Energy, the Environment, and Disaster Relief and Reconstruction

IRG helps organizations plan, prepare, and respond to critical situations and build sustainable institutional capacity for long-term management. Our extensive experience includes improving energy efficiency, raising capital, implementing tax reform, analyzing energy markets and privatization options, developing import strategies, introducing new technologies, designing management training projects, and initiating pollution prevention plans. IRG staff has also spent years working in humanitarian relief and disaster mitigation and preparedness while developing a unique training methodology that gives agencies and local participants management tools and systems that help to minimize suffering.

Strategies for Knowledge Management

IRG provides support in organizational change and knowledge sharing in a way that uniquely integrates the needs of clients with the best in knowledge management practices. We emphasize the organizational and human sides of knowledge sharing and content management, and have developed a range of tools and approaches to assist in change management while meeting specific organizational objectives.

Facilitation (SIN 874-2)

Conferences, workshops, and other events are vital to progress and communication. IRG provides the full spectrum of customized educational services — extensive planning, expert operation, thorough follow-up — whether the client is a host or contributor.

IRG plans events of all types for a wide range of participants. Responding to the client's needs with specialized management and technical assistance, IRG helps prepare welcoming and closing presentations, fields technical questions from the floor, and documents and analyzes information required for the event.

IRG carefully tailors its educational programs to meet client needs, incorporating situation-specific improvements based on cutting-edge technologies. IRG's educational initiatives have focused on development of greenhouse gas policy, economics of climate change mitigation, renewable energy production, rural electrification technology, landfill emission mitigation, and sugar mill cogeneration. Our efforts in process development always include education — giving clients the in-house tools, maturity, and expertise they can use to implement and maintain change after our involvement is completed.

Each person can make a valuable contribution to the decision-making process, helping to clarify needs and plans, make priorities, and build consensus for a course of action. With that in mind, IRG facilitators focus group dynamics to ensure that every participant takes part and has a sense of ownership in the process of successfully attaining the desired change — a critical element in effective management.

Training (SIN 874-4)

Training is essential for clients to learn how to use the tools and technology their projects require. IRG uses training to improve the knowledge and skills of managers in energy, environment, natural resources, and disaster relief and reconstruction.

Environment and Natural Resources

IRG continually transfers the lessons learned in one project to training courses for others. These courses teach capacity building through information use, management techniques and performance improvement, environmental impact assessments, public-sector financial analysis and auditing, and analytical systems for project planning and execution. With the Employee ISO 14001 Education Program, IRG employs a unique approach to improving environmental management systems, and our institutional development offerings provide professionals with financial, economic, policy, and information-based tools that help them optimize their efforts, make informed decisions, and streamline operations.

Energy

IRG organizes and executes courses that address planning needs for energy conservation, modeling, and future demand. Other training initiatives address accounting, energy efficiency, tariff and pricing policies, investment, economic analysis, and development of energy information tools.

Disaster Relief and Reconstruction

IRG identifies training needs, develops and tests new courses, conducts regional and sub-regional development workshops, and provides overall administrative support and program management. Working closely with regional disaster managers and practitioners to assess each country's training capacity, we develop country instructors and establish national training programs that help countries achieve self-sufficiency in responding to all phases of the disaster cycle.

ISO 14001 Pre-Implementation Employee Awareness (4 hours)
No. of participants: 10-50+

Lays the groundwork for successful environmental management system (EMS) implementation. Employees learn why the EMS is being implemented and what role they will play in creating and using the system.

Topics include: Reasons for implementing an EMS, employee responsibilities during implementation, explanation of the organization's new environmental policy and its implications for all employees.

ISO 14001 Post-Implementation Employee Awareness (4 hours)
No. of participants: 10-50+

Builds on knowledge acquired in the Pre-Implementation Employee Awareness course and participation in EMS development. Employees with initial training in EMS development must continue to be involved in the process of setting EMS objectives and targets.

Topics include: Evaluating status of EMS implementation, reemphasizing importance of awareness for EMS success, reviewing environmental dimensions of work-related activities, discussing emergency response procedures, examining goal of registration.

ISO 14001 Implementation Team Training (2 days)
No. of participants: 10-30+

Comprehensive implementation course. With the EMS coordinator, the implementation team is the principal force behind ISO 14001.

Topics include: System integration concepts, the importance of employee involvement and management leadership, interplay of EMS and regulatory regimes, resource and timeframe considerations, ISO 14001 requirements, preparation for audits.

Internal EMS Auditing (2 days)
No. of participants: 10-30+

Prepares internal staff to be EMS auditors. Teaches ISO 14001 requirements and analyzes non-conformance, system, and root causes.

Topics include: Analysis of ISO 14001 elements as system components, compliance auditing vs. system auditing, root-cause analysis, preparation for internal EMS audit, audit protocols, discipline.

ISO 14001 Management Overview (4 hours)
No. of participants: 1-50+

An EMS promotes efficiency gains in resource use, instills stronger management practices, reduces environmental risks, and raises a company's public profile. This course discusses the costs and benefits of an EMS for executives and managers.

Topics include: Associated benefits and costs of EMS implementation, issues beyond compliance with the EMS mode, long-term strategies for corporate environmental management.

Project Management and Integration (SIN 874-7)

Every project presents its own challenges. Effective project management and successful integration are the keys to meeting those challenges head-on, regardless of the scope of the project. IRG has the experience to provide streamlined, innovative project management and integration. IRG has a strong and well-respected ability in program management and integration as evidenced by the successful completion of over 750 contracts over the past 29 years. By virtue of this experience, IRG has the tools to train your organization to successfully manage and integrate a wide range of projects.

Program Oversight

Effective program oversight requires comprehensive performance monitoring of the entire program. IRG has the methods and tools that combine to produce successful program oversight. We focus on the establishment of norms and standards to gauge program success, which are crucial for a well-run project. Our team also knows how and when to provide training to employees, which increases productivity and effectiveness among the team. Having common goals and standards, and being thoroughly cross-trained allows our team to function as a smoothly working unit, focused on the success of your program. Painstaking development of clear lines of communication among the participants enhances all aspects of the project, and ensures that performance is continuously monitored to provide the means to prevent any problems.

Institutional Development

An institution that is actively involved in the program management process has focused on the development of cost-effective, workable solutions to staffing, information provision, and collaboration with others to further its goals. Our staff is well-versed in policy making and procedural planning, as well as opening lines of communication between various agencies concerned with the success of your program. We will show you how to develop a methodology that works for your institution, and how to gain support on every level, from local community-based organizations to national groups and government.

Grants Management

One of the key building blocks for a growing organization is grants management. An organization must be effective in both writing and managing grants in order to keep the granting agency involved in the project and enthused about its outcome. Effective grants management is concerned with fiscal responsibility of the organization and effective reporting of expenditures related to the grant, which enhance the outcome of the project. An effective, well-run grants program also provides solid reporting of the results gained through use of the grant. IRG has the experience necessary to gather data essential to this reporting process, and the knowledge to translate that data to laymen's terms. Our team will share with yours their years of experience in the grant process, both in the financial management of funds received, and in the production of well-written progress reports and information to share with the granting agency.

Commodity Procurement

Often, an agency or organization in a developing region has difficulty securing those things it needs to function. In IRG's years of experience working in underdeveloped regions, we have learned many methods of securing necessary material and personnel to complete contracts. Our team will assist yours in learning which methods are effective, and how to keep your organization fully staffed and supplied, even under trying circumstances.