Description: Utilities often rely on contract operators, consulting engineers, and other technical consultants to support compliance, operations, and infrastructure planning. While these partnerships can provide valuable expertise, they also require clear roles, strong communication, and effective oversight to ensure projects stay on track and systems remain compliant.

In this training, instructors will explore practical strategies for building productive working relationships with contract operators, engineers, and other consultants. Participants will learn how to define responsibilities, develop effective contracts and scopes of work, and maintain oversight of outsourced services while protecting their utility’s operational and regulatory interests.

Through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will gain tools to strengthen accountability, improve communication, and ensure that contracted services support long-term system sustainability.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and Differentiate Key Roles: Describe the roles, responsibilities, and limits of authority for contract operators and consulting engineers. During the training, participants will determine when to outsource versus hire in-house based on compliance, cost, and operational criteria.
• Develop and Manage Effective Contracts: Create clear scopes of work and procurement paths consistent with 2 CFR 200 and state regulations, while implementing communication and reporting structures that ensure data transparency, performance monitoring, and accountability.
• Strengthen Oversight and Leverage Resources: Recognize and mitigate common pitfalls such as scope creep, data lock-in, and role confusion through contract language and oversight tools. The utility should leverage available no-cost technical assistance resources to support PERs, funding applications, and project readiness.

Instructors: 

• Andy Kricun, Principal, Moonshot Missions
• Wendy Montalbano, Senior Utility Advisor, Moonshot Missions
• Chance Coe, Senior Utility Advisor, Moonshot Missions
• Nathan Coey, Principal, Moonshot Missions
• Anniestacia Denton, Utility Advisor, Moonshot Missions
• Sarah Neiderer, Senior Program Manager, Moonshot Missions

Certificates: We will provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

Who Should Attend: