The Benefits of Becoming a Member

By joining NGA, you will become part of a growing and innovative industry association.

Safety/PSMS

Safety is the gas industry's number one priority.

Learn more about our commitment to infusing Pipeline Safety Management Systems in everything we do.

Training & Qualification

Learn more about the Training and qualification programs currently being offered by the Northeast Gas Association (NGA)

About Us

The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) is a regional trade association that focuses on education and training, technology research and development, pipeline safety, energy reliability and affordability, and environmental initiatives in the Northeast U.S.

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Center of Excellence

Center of Excellence 
Request for Support Form

Welcome to the Northeast Gas Association's Center of Excellence.

Please find program background information, Service Provider details, and the request forms below.

Background

To facilitate on-going technical support, NGA has developed a Center of Excellence (COE) Service Program where individual members, as well as NGA Operating Committees, can seek technical support directly from a pool of consultants and subject matter experts (SME’s) on an as-needed basis managed by NGA.  

The primary goal of the COE is to enable connection of participating NGA member organization’s employees with SMEs.  Consultants will work within a contract, managed by NGA, to address company-specific technical support needs across a series of practice areas (learn more at the tab to the left). The COE can also provide support to the broader NGA Operating Committee structure. 

 How it Works

Making A Request

NGA contracts with several pre-screened Consultants with expertise in one or more subject areas. Members seeking support are connected by the NGA with our network of experienced, industry-proven consultants. Requests may be made to NGA through a committee or by an employee of a participating member organization through a Membership Service Level Agreement (MSLA). 

Build Plan Together

Based on a member or committee's needs, a COE consultant will be selected by the member company or committee members. The services will be provided by the consultant through a pre-negotiated time and material (T&M) contract which outlines key deliverables and expectations. 

Get The Support You Need

Through this Program, member company employees and NGA committees are empowered to obtain technical support from experienced, independent engineers, technicians, operations leaders, laboratory/investigative service providers, gas safety professionals and other subject-matter experts. Support that may include coaching to meet a company’s/committee’s most challenging projects. 

Scope of Work

The Scope of Work will include two service models, a Short Duration Technical Support Model, and a Long Duration Project Specific Support Model.  

Short Duration Technical Support 

The consultant shall provide technical support through a virtual meeting or phone consultation that shall be less than 60 minutes duration. The topic, question, and/or issue will be provided by the member company employee to the consultant prior to establishing the meeting.  

Long Duration Project Specific Support 

  • Initial Consultation Service 

The Consultant shall provide an initial consultation service at no fee to    

the requesting member. The purpose of the initial consultation is to provide the  

Consultant with a description of the request for support and to allow the  

requestor to respond to questions from the Consultant. 

  • Tailored Scope of Work (SOW) 

Based on the initial consultation, and prior to commencing work, the Consultant shall provide NGA with a project specific proposal which includes a Scope of Work (SOW), deliverables, timeline and cost breakdown. Additional details may be requested during the initial consultation. No work shall commence without written approval from NGA and its member company. The Consultant will work directly with the specific NGA Member to complete the scope of work in the approved timeline. NGA will work with both parties to ensure work proceeds as planned. 

Confidentiality

The Consultant acknowledges that while performing technical consulting services, access may be granted to information and materials including, but not limited to, program and process procedures, practices, Member specific work product recommendations, and other information related to the Scope of Work. All such information constitutes valuable, confidential, and proprietary information, know-how, and trade secrets, belonging to NGA and/or NGA’s Member(s) ("Proprietary Information").

 

In consideration of being made privy to such Proprietary Information, the Consultant agrees to hold the same in strict confidence, and not to disclose it, or otherwise make it available, to any person or third party, without the prior written consent of NGA and/or NGA’s Member(s). The Undersigned agrees that all such Proprietary Information shall be used only for the purpose of completing the SOW and shall not be reproduced, copied, in whole or in part.

Core Practice Areas

The COE will initially consist of Five (5) Core Practice Areas including: 

  1. Gas Distribution System Engineering & Operations
  2. Gas Transmission System Engineering & Operations
  3. Gas Processing Facility Engineering & Operations
  4. Pipeline Safety, Training, Qualification & Workforce Competency
  5. De-Carbonization, Emerging Fuels & Emissions Mitigation

These core practice areas span a variety of relevant technical subjects that have presented a wide variety of technical and operational challenges across membership. Core practice areas are composed of sub-practice areas that specifically frame the support areas of interest.  

Examples include distribution system piping design, pressure regulation & control, gas quality & interchangeability, emerging fuels system integration & interconnects, DIMP/TIMP system risk analysis & planning, methane emissions mitigation, advanced leak detection technologies, PSMS implementation, compressor station design to name a few. 

 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

SERVICE PROVIDERS BY  PRACTICE AREA

1. Gas Distribution System Engineering & Operations Service Providers

CHA Consulting Inc.

CHI Engineering – NV5 

EEI – Energy Experts International

GTI Energy 

The Blacksmith Group 

TRC 

Quality Integrated Services Inc. 

Bascom-Turner Instruments 

Beacon Energy Technical Services

CHI Engineering – NV5 

DDZ Consulting

PPM – Progressive Pipeline Management 

RCP Inc. 

Regula Tech 

2. Gas Transmission System Engineering & Operations Service Providers

CHA Consulting Inc. 

CHI Engineering – NV5 

EEI – Energy Experts International 

GTI Energy 

The Blacksmith Group 

TRC 

Quality Integrated Services Inc. 

Bascom-Turner Instruments 

Beacon Energy Technical Services

RCP Inc.

Regula Tech 

3. Gas Processing Facility Design, Engineering & Operations Service Providers

CHA Consulting Inc. 

CHI Engineering – NV5 

EEI – Energy Experts International 

GTI Energy 

The Blacksmith Group 

TRC

Quality Integrated Services Inc.

Beacon Energy Technical Services 

Regula Tech

4. Pipeline Safety, Training, Qualification & Workforce Competency Support Service Providers

CHA Consulting Inc. 

CHI Engineering – NV5 

EEI – Energy Experts International 

GTI Energy 

The Blacksmith Group 

TRC 

Quality Integrated Services Inc.

Bay Utilities Associates 

Beacon Energy Technical Services 

Culver Company 

DDZ Consulting 

Evergreen Compliance Systems 

PPM – Progressive Pipeline Management 

RCP Inc. 

Regula Tech

5. De-Carbonization, Emerging Fuels & Emissions Mitigation Technical Support Service Providers

CHA Consulting Inc. 

CHI Engineering – NV5 

EET – Energy Experts International 

GTI Energy 

The Blacksmith Group 

TRC

Quality Integrated Services Inc. 

Bascom-Turner Instruments 

Bay Utilities Associates 

DDZ Consulting 

PPM – Progressive Pipeline Management 

Regula Tech 

Questions about membership?

Contact the Center of Excellence Team at NGACOErequest@northeastgas.org

Got Questions?

Contact the Center of Excellence Team at NGACOErequest@northeastgas.org