scope:

PURPOSE

a. The Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996; Pub. Law 104-320, states that each agency shall adopt a policy that addresses the use of alternative means of dispute resolution and case management. The purpose of this Marshall Procedural Requirements (MPR) is to prescribe the procedures for Marshall Space Flight Center's (MSFC's) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program for the informal (pre-complaint) stage of the Equal Opportunity (EO) discrimination complaint process.

b. The MSFC EO ADR Program is a mediation process designed to resolve allegations of workplace discrimination through the facilitation of a neutral third party. It provides an impartial and independent forum for the parties to discuss the dispute and develop a realistic assessment of their own as well as the other party's position and alternatives. MSFC's EO ADR process is designed to ensure fairness for all parties, enforceability of agreements, and adherence to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) core principles as outlined in EEOC Management Directive (MD) 110. c. The overall objectives of the EO ADR Program are to promote open communication between disputing parties, reduce costs, and resolve allegation at the lowest possible organizational level at the earliest opportunity.

APPLICABILITY

a. This MPR applies to Center personnel, programs, projects, and activities, including contractors and resident agencies to the extent specified in their respective contracts or agreements. ("Contractors," for purposes of this paragraph, include contractors, grantees, Cooperative Agreement recipients, Space Act Agreement partners, or other agreement parties.")

b. This MPR applies to the Michoud Assembly Facility.

c. This MPR applies the following: all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms: "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission, "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but not required, "will" denotes expected outcome, and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.

d. This MPR applies the following: all document citations are assumed to be the latest version unless otherwise noted.