BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
INSTRUCTION 51-1201
10 FEBRUARY 2023
Law
NEGOTIATION AND DISPUTE
RESOLUTION PROGRAM
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing website at
www.e-Publishing.af.mil for download or ordering.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: SAF/GCR Certified by: SAF/GC
(Mr. Peter J. Beshar)
Supersedes: AFI 51-1201, 2 October 2018 Pages: 25
This Instruction implements Department of the Air Force Policy Directive 51-12, Negotiation and
Dispute Resolution. It establishes the Department of the Air Force Negotiation and Dispute
Resolution (NDR) Program and promulgates the Department of the Air Force (DAF) policy and
procedures required to address the use of alternative means of dispute resolution and conflict
management practices under the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (ADRA) and DoD
Instruction (DODI) 5145.05, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Conflict Management. It
assigns responsibility to Headquarters stakeholders to align resources to support ADR and conflict
management practices appropriate for their respective transactional areas. Material in the
appendices supports Major Commands (MAJCOMs), Field Commands (FLDCOMs), Direct
Reporting Units (DRUs), and Field Operating Agencies (FOAs) in fulfilling their responsibilities
for workplace dispute resolution. It also includes minimum qualifications and standards of
conduct for DAF mediators and other neutrals, the rules of confidentiality applicable to DAF ADR
proceedings, performance measurements and evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the NDR
Program in resolving workplace disputes, and best practices for the establishment of Command-
level workplace NDR programs. This instruction applies to Department of the Air Force civilian
employees and uniformed members of the United States Space Force, the Regular Air Force, the
Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard on federal active duty status under Title 10, U.S.
Code. This instruction does not apply to contractors, non-federalized ANG units in a military status
under Title 32 of the U.S.C., which are subject to Chief National Guard Bureau Instruction
(CNGBI) 0402.01, National Guard Alternative Dispute Resolution, or the Civil Air Patrol. This
instruction may be supplemented at any level, but all supplements must be routed to Deputy
General Counsel of the Air Force (Contractor Responsibility and Conflict Resolution (SAF/GCR))
