Government Sector Consulting

Carrying out an agency's mission requires constant innovation to become ever more effective and efficient. New programs and processes inevitably pose new challenges and unknown risks.  

Exponent engineers and scientists thrive on solving formidable issues. Whether it's fixing vibration in a turbine or innovating a new way to find explosives in combat, we get to the right answers by applying smart science and creative solutions. 

We conduct quality assessments of proposed systems, evaluating technologies and human processes to ensure they can meet your requirements, by creating custom teams from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, process design, thermal sciences, fluid dynamics, materials corrosion, data sciences, and dozens of other disciplines. 

Process improvement for government and public agencies relies on a true understanding of current performance. Our data sciences team can create the clarity and understanding needed to go forward confidently, including addressing issues such as: 

• Analysis of what to measure and how  

• Advanced data modeling to provide key insights and decision support  

• Database management and integrations with third-party data sources  

• Design of real-time dashboards and custom reports to enable clear communications  

• Organization, cleaning, and alignment of data across multiple sources  

• Strategic agreement on the business challenges that need to be solved 

 We've helped federal agencies use their data in new ways to generate insights ranging from whether to use cutting-edge technologies to how well printing presses are operating. We not only conduct specific studies but also create data platforms and dashboards to empower agencies to continue gaining new intelligence from their data. 

In military operations, the key to gaining an advantage is to capitalize on opportunity. You need solid information, creative thinking, and smart execution to be the first to adapt to a change in situation.

Exponent's work for the U.S. military demonstrates that our multidisciplinary teams are up to any challenge. Across numerous engagements, we have collaborated with the U.S. military to:  

• Conduct unique extreme testing with new gear prior to deployment, reducing the risk of equipment failure on the battlefield 

• Design and build robots to find hidden explosive devices and explore caves 

• Equip trucks with ground-penetrating radar to detect IEDs in the dirt, before their front wheels drive over them 

• Improve battlefield situational awareness with innovative use of cellular phones and other communications equipment 

• Speed improvements to war-fighter gear with a pilot program for a "Rapid Equipping Force" 

For most government programs, operational security is of paramount concern. Infiltrated buildings or systems can have grave consequences for national security and public safety.  

From badge designs to retina scanners, we've helped agencies harden their defenses against intrusion. We've even developed specialized testing protocols to simulate the most aggressive infiltration attempts, including electric shocks, physical damage, hacking, or counterfeiting credentials.  

Our experts sit on the standards committee that writes the requirements for identity management, giving us a unique vantage point to assist you with your most pressing challenges. 

Excellence in government-run or third-party contracted manufacturing operations requires a deep understanding of how to translate processes and products into long-term solutions — not just short-term fixes. Exponent engineers and scientists use data-driven approaches based on sound scientific principles to help manufacturers:

• Assess their quality systems to understand opportunities for improvement
• Conduct troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• Institute procedures and frameworks that position organizations for enduring high-quality results
• Solve stubborn problems and implement permanent corrective actions

From program design to regulatory approval to safety in the market, Exponent can help your organization or agency gain access to the specialized knowledge needed to avoid issues. 

Our regulatory experts, chemists, toxicologists, ecotoxicologists, and environmental and exposure assessment professionals can help you navigate any applicable review process and stay aligned with regulations including those from states and local regulatory agencies, as well as the EPA, FDA, OSHA, and other U.S. federal and international regulatory bodies. Additionally, our human factors experts can help you create clear, understandable labeling and warnings to reduce risk. 

Government entities are in the spotlight when it comes to managing the environmental impact of their operations.

Our multidisciplinary scientific and engineering teams provide clear understanding of how your activities may affect the air, soil, and water near your facilities and through your products and processes.

Our regulatory experts, chemists, toxicologists, ecotoxicologists, and environmental engineers and scientists can also help you navigate the regulatory review process and stay aligned with federal, state, and local regulations.

We can also help you evaluate the impact of climate change on your operations, now and in the future. How will the needs of the people you serve change? How will regulations evolve? How can your operations use less energy and prepare for weather extremes? How will the availability of natural resources affect your supply chain?

For tough challenges related to everything from industrial printing presses to plastic badge laminators, we offer clear scientific guidance to minimize the effects of your programs and operations on human health.

Our specialists in toxicology, mechanistic biology, radiation, and epidemiology have conducted detailed studies on the health impacts of hundreds of products, including inks, paints, and plastics. We've also assessed urgent and novel program proposals, (such as irradiating U.S. mail to kill pathogens) by focusing on real-world situations and studies that account for demographics, exposure dosages, and use situations to create a true picture of potential effects.

We also conduct work with U.S. federal and state health agencies — as well as entities in the UK, EU, and Asia — to assess the efficacy and safety of medical implants and other devices. Our experts in public health, epidemiology, environmental health, pharmacology, and other disciplines provide custom research and consulting to match your needs.

Exponent can help you find and fix potential areas of risk before you encounter issues. Our experience across all types of operational activities gives us unique insights into sources of potential risk and the smartest ways to address them.

Our assessments encompass the broad picture, helping you identify maintenance priorities for infrastructure, based on quantified risk. At a detailed level, our process safety engineers can look across your operations and assess the interaction of humans and machines to spot and fix potential trouble. We then develop actionable models, based on real numbers and grounded in science, to help you reduce the risk of incidents and fulfill your mission.

Exponent's 50+ years of experience across all manner of catastrophes enables us to provide detailed, actionable insights on why an incident happened — and what can be done to help prevent it from happening again.

As the world's experts at uncovering root causes and contributing factors, we've helped determine the causes of tragic plane crashes, investigated automotive defects, solved workplace accidents, and more.

We not only identify what went wrong but recommend corrective and preventive actions to help stop it from happening again.

When you need to understand the situation at hand, Exponent brings principled science to the task — telling you what you need to know, not what you want to hear.

Exponent scientists and engineers represent the science at dispute proceedings by bringing clarity, precision, and a keen ability for explaining complicated topics in understandable ways to judges and juries. We offer assistance across all phases of disputes, including pre-litigation, fact-finding, litigation expert testimony, and arbitration.