The ombudsman hears and helps resolve complaints from outside organizations regarding the policies and actions of the Laboratory with respect to technology partnerships, including cooperative research and development agreements, patents, and technology licensing. A senior official of the Laboratory who is not involved in day-to-day technology partnerships, the ombudsman promotes the use of collaborative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation, to facilitate the speedy and low-cost resolution of complaints and disputes when appropriate.

The ombudsman submits quarterly reports on the number and nature of complaints and disputes, including an assessment of their resolution, while protecting confidential and sensitive information, to the Secretary of Energy, the Director of the Office of Dispute Resolution of the Department of Energy, and the employees of NETL responsible for the operation of the technology partnership program.

All communications with the ombudsman are confidential and cannot be disclosed unless permission is obtained from the individual who contacted the ombudsman. Exceptions to this confidentiality are cases of illegal activity or information that, if not disclosed, may pose an immediate physical hazard to human life.

The NETL Technology Partnership Ombudsman is:
Ralph Carabetta
(412) 386-5729