VIZO Technical Services logo VIZO Technical Services, LLCTechnical writing and editing for federal, engineering, and environmental programs

Handbooks, procedures, policies, and technical reports for NOAA and federal programs

VIZO Technical Services is a woman-owned, fully remote firm that writes and edits technical documents for federal agencies and their prime contractors across engineering, environmental, and policy work. The work is done by the principal, who holds a B.S. in engineering technology (electrical and electronics) and a master’s degree in urban planning and environmental policy.

Download capability statement (PDF) Email Darlene Collins
1.

Services

Senior-level writing, editing, and documentation for federal agencies and their prime contractors.

Handbook, plan, and report publication

Substantive and structural editing, formatting, and publication-ready production to agency or series standards, such as Federal Meteorological Handbook format, with multi-reviewer comment resolution.

NOAA policy and Administrative Order editing

Editing and formatting of NOAA Administrative Orders, companion policy guides, and scientific integrity policies to NOAA Directives System format, including SME interviews and citation checks.

Engineering documentation and technical publications

Manuals and procedures that explain instrumentation, engineering systems, and process operations, including operating SOPs, maintenance manuals, PLC and control system summaries, and process flow diagrams developed from P&IDs.

Environmental review and NEPA documentation

Categorical exclusion documentation and checklists; drafting, technical review, and editing of Environmental Assessments and EISs; and Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ASTM E1527-21, E1903-19) performed by an Environmental Professional as defined in 40 CFR 312.10, with each finding traced to its source data.

Environmental compliance, permitting, and reporting

Stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) and stormwater management plans; SPCC plans prepared for Professional Engineer certification; permit applications and renewals; discharge monitoring and Tier II reports; emissions and GHG calculations; spill and incident reports; and compliance inspection documentation.

Program documentation and document control

Standard operating procedures, FOIA and records management procedures, statement of work development, grant applications and program reports, version-controlled templates, status reporting, and proposal technical editing.

2.

Selected experience

Work performed by the principal, Darlene Collins, as a subcontractor and staff professional.

About the principal

Darlene Collins, Founder & Principal. Technical writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience producing federal policy, engineering, and environmental documents. She has edited NOAA SOPs, policies, and Administrative Orders for publication, including Orders on scientific integrity and on research and development in NOAA; structured a SCADA modernization master design for a two-plant municipal wastewater system; and performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for the Port of New Orleans. She holds a B.S. in Engineering Technology (Electrical and Electronics) from McNeese State University and a Master of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy from Texas Southern University.

NOAA directivesDepartment of Commerce / NOAA, as a subcontractor

Edited more than 10 NOAA SOPs, policies, and Administrative Orders for publication in NOAA Directives System format. Interviewed subject matter experts, verified citations against Commerce and NOAA directives, and kept terms consistent across each Order and its companion guide. Publicly posted Orders include:

  • NAO 216-115B Research and Development in NOAA
  • NAO 216-107A NOAA Policy on Cooperative Institutes
  • NAO 202-735D-2 Scientific Integrity
  • NAO 217-112 Facilities Management Manual
  • NAO 202-715B Alternative Dispute Resolution Program Policy
  • NAO 201-116B Policy for Naming NOAA Ships
Federal strategic planningDHS Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, as a subcontractor

Consolidated input from multiple offices into one close-out narrative per strategy for the FLETC Strategic Plan, FY 2016–2018, and delivered the final sections one day ahead of the target date.

Engineering documentationSCADA, process operations, and field systems
  • Structured and wrote a SCADA modernization master design for a two-plant municipal wastewater system: 8 chapters, 16 figures, and 15 tables, consolidating input from 5+ engineers.
  • Developed and QA/QC’d a 150-page operations training manual covering 10+ process units, converting P&IDs into procedures and process flow diagrams.
  • Wrote equipment repair procedures, transmitter calibration SOPs, and valve isolation procedures for continuous emissions monitoring systems.
Environmental review and complianceMarine port environmental program
  • Performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and conducted Phase II assessments with contractor field and laboratory support; verified findings, sampling locations, and results in consultant-prepared EAs and EISs before acceptance.
  • Prepared permit applications and regulatory reports, including wastewater permit applications, discharge monitoring reports, Tier II reports, and the annual MS4 stormwater report; prepared SPCC plans and reviewed SWPPPs.
  • Completed regulatory applicability reviews for 50+ tenant operations across nine sites (Title V, NSPS, NESHAP, SPCC, MS4, GHG) and reviewed air and water permits for 20+ tenants.
  • Investigated spills and releases, wrote incident reports, and coordinated notifications to the NRC, Louisiana State Police, and LDEQ; wrote compliance monitoring and spill response procedures.
  • Calculated GHG emissions and fuel savings for grant program reporting, and set emissions-reduction targets for the port’s Green Marine environmental certification.

Experience listed here was gained before VIZO was formed. Engineering samples are sanitized; work samples are available on request.

3.

Approach

What agencies and prime contractors can expect when VIZO joins a project.

How the work is delivered

  • The principal does the work herself, from milestone edits to final quality assurance.
  • Technical, scientific, and regulatory content is handled in one pass, so engineers and policy staff review drafts that are already technically sound.
  • Every review cycle runs through a comment-resolution matrix, so each comment is traceable from the reviewer to the final text.
  • Technical judgment stays with your subject matter experts; VIZO makes their content clear, consistent, and publication-ready.

Standards and tools

  • GPO Style Manual and Federal Plain Language Guidelines
  • NOAA Directives System format (NAO 200-1)
  • Section 508 accessibility: tagged PDFs with heading structure, table headers, and alt text
  • NEPA as amended (2023) and agency NEPA procedures; CWA, CAA, RCRA, and CERCLA
  • ASTM E1527-21 and E1903-19; 40 CFR 112 (SPCC)
  • Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Visio, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Adobe InDesign

How a project runs

  1. Kickoff. Confirm scope, standards (style guide and directive format), reviewers, and schedule.
  2. Source review. Gather drafts, citations, and subject matter expert input.
  3. Draft and edit. Write or edit to the required format, with queries logged for reviewers.
  4. Comment resolution. Trace every reviewer comment through a comment matrix.
  5. Final QA and delivery. Proofread, check citations and links, produce tagged PDFs, and deliver on the agreed date.

Engagement options

  • Scope: a single-document edit, full drafting, or ongoing surge capacity
  • Location: remote, with on-site work by arrangement
  • Schedule: set at kickoff, with draft, review, and final milestones tied to your deadlines

Willing to complete a Public Trust background investigation.

4.

NAICS and PSC codes

NAICSDescription
541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (primary)
541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting
541330Engineering Services: engineering documentation and technical publications
541620Environmental Consulting Services
541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting
561410Document Preparation Services
PSCDescription
R425Engineering and Technical Support
R406Policy Review and Development
R408Program Management and Support
R499Other Professional Services
R699Administrative Support, Other
R707Contract, Procurement, and Acquisition Support
B510Environmental Assessments
5.

Contact

For direct tasks, teaming, or subcontracting, or to request work samples matched to a specific requirement.

Location
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Works remotely nationwide, with hours that overlap Eastern through Pacific time; on-site travel by arrangement
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