The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Training Center (NTC) presented a series of broadcasts on how to improve the contracting process for planning and NEPA documents as part of the Planning/NEPA Forum series. These forums cover current and important planning- or NEPA- related topics. Previous topics include: connected actions; purpose and need; administrative record; and cooperating agencies. Subtitles: Initiating Planning and NEPA Contracts, originally broadcast January 31, 2013, length: 90 minutes. Managing Planning and NEPA Contracts, originally broadcast February 28, 2013, length: 90 minutes Closing Out Planning and NEPA Contracts, broadcast date March 28, 2013, length: 120 minutes During the Contract Initiation broadcast, an expert panel talked about what contracting is, when and why to consider contracting a planning or NEPA project; reviewed guidance; discussed ways to improve writing statements of work, requests for proposals, and memoranda of understanding; and how to evaluate proposals. During the contract management broadcast, the panel talked about how to improve the contracting process, including managing communication, managing the day-to-day mechanics, and managing the scope or statement of work. On the contract close-out broadcast, we talked about how to modify, fund, and successfully complete a contract. This includes the contractor's role in compiling the administrative record and responding to legal challenges. Questions from the audience were answered at the end of each broadcast. Target Audience: This broadcast is primarily for BLM employees who are involved in initiating, managing, or closing-out contracts for planning and NEPA documents. Expert Panel: · Chris Carlton, BLM Planning & Environmental Coordinator, Wyoming State Office · Molly Cobbs, BLM Planning & Environmental Coordinator, Anchorage District Office · Cindy Kleinholz, BLM Contracting Officer, National Operations Center · Cathy Humphrey (host), BLM Training Coordinator, National Training Center Click here to view Contract Initiation Click here to view Contract Management Click here to view Contract Close-out