Meeting Facilitation and Coaching Services for the USDA Forest Service (Quarterly)

BACKGROUND

The Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages and protects 154 national forests and 20 grasslands in 43 states and Puerto Rico. Management in the agency is decentralized, with more than 28,000 permanent employees, 60 members of the Senior Executive Service, and the largest wildland firefighting force in the nation spread across nine Regions, six Research Stations, and the Northeastern Area Office for State and Private Forestry.

The National Leadership Council of the Forest Service oversees the implementation of the agency’s mission, delivery of services, and the overall management of the Forest Service. This collective body is comprised of the Chief, Associate Chief, Chief of Staff, Deputy Chiefs, Associate Deputy Chiefs, Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Union President, and the Director of Communications. The Council leads the workforce, working together to identify strategic approaches to achieving national priorities, strategic goals, and mission objectives in context with social, environmental, and political trends. Specifically, the Council ensures that the agency’s work is prioritized, framed, sequenced, and executed effectively. They work with senior-most leadership to set expectations and ensure commitment, appropriate budgeting, and compelling communication.

To conduct their business, the National Leadership Council meets four times each fiscal year, with special conference calls for more urgent or timely action. These meetings are used to find agreement on strategic actions, to establish roles and responsibilities, to integrate agency work to support broader USDA direction, and to implement the priorities of the agency. The Chief works with the Council team to advance efforts that achieve strategic, long-term objectives, while addressing pressing and time-sensitive needs.

Meeting Facilitation and Coaching Services for the USDA Forest Service

ProSidian is seeking a qualified contractor to provide facilitation and coaching services for its quarterly meetings. Each quarterly meeting will take place over a period of no more than three days and focus on setting priorities for managing the agency; determining decision-making procedures for strategic goals; setting expectations for integrating work to transcend units; and establishing meeting and operational norms.
The contractor will be responsible for guiding discussion and agreements in the session. They will also assist with the development of agendas, preparatory materials, and post-meeting documentation. The Council must use its time efficiently, and a facilitator is needed to help focus dialogue and take appropriate action within the limited timeframe of the meeting.

Broadly, the National Leadership Council meeting objectives include:

 Enhance Council effectiveness by increasing team efficiency and their ability to address difficult or controversial agency matters;