Attachment I - Confined Space QASP and Matrix.doc

N0018920Q0086

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP) FOR

CONFINED SPACE SAFETY COURSE

N0018920Q0086

1. PURPOSE

This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is a Government developed and applied document used to make sure that systematic quality assurance methods are used in the administration of the Performance Based Service Contract (PBSC) standards included in this contract and in subsequent task orders issued thereunder. The intent is to ensure that the Contractor performs in accordance with performance metrics set forth in the contract documents, that the Government receives the quality of services called for in the contract and that the Government only pays for the acceptable level of services received.

2. AUTHORITY

Authority for issuance of this QASP is provided under FAR 52.212-4(a), Inspection/Acceptance; which provides for inspections and acceptance of the articles, services, and documentation called for in the contract to be accomplished by the Contracting Officer or his duly authorized representative.

3. SCOPE

The Contractor, and not the Government, is responsible for management and quality control actions necessary to meet the quality standards set forth by the contract. The QASP is put in place to provide Government oversight of the Contractor’s quality control efforts to assure that they are timely, effective and are delivering the results specified in the contract or task order. The QASP is not a part of the contract nor is it intended to duplicate the Contractor’s Management Plan.

4. GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

The following definitions for Government resources are applicable to this plan:

Procuring Contract Officer (PCO) - A person duly appointed with the authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the Government.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) - An individual designated in writing by the PCO to act as his authorized representative to assist in administering a contract. The source and authority for a COR is the PCO. COR limitations are contained in the written letter of appointment.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contractor, and not the Government, is responsible for management and quality control actions necessary to meet quality standards set forth by the contract. The QASP is put in place to provide Government surveillance oversight of the Contractor’s quality control efforts to assure that they are timely, effective and are delivering the results specified in the contract. The QASP is not a part of the contract nor is it intended to duplicate the Contractor’s Management Plan.

Procuring Contract Officer (PCO) – The PCO ensures performance of all necessary actions for effective contracting compliance with the terms of the contract and safeguards the interests of the United States in the contractual relationship. It is the PCO that assures the contractor receives impartial, fair and equitable treatment under the contract. The PCO is ultimately responsible for the final determination of the adequacy of the contractor’s performance.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) – The COR is responsible for technical administration of the project and assures proper Government surveillance of the contractor’s performance. The COR is not empowered to make any contractual commitments or to authorize any contractual changes on the Government’s behalf. Any changes that the contractor deems may affect contract, price, terms, or conditions shall be referred to the Contracting Officer for action.

5. METHODS OF QA SURVEILLANCE

The below listed methods of surveillance shall be used in the administration of this QASP Matrix which describes the methods of surveillance that may be used to monitor the services and deliverables to be provided under the contract.

Customer Feedback – Customer feedback may be obtained either from the results of students’ critique, COR/CS assessments, or the results of formal customer satisfaction surveys. The contractor shall prepare a written report to the COR in any instances of disciplinary matters in accordance with Performance Work Statement (PWS) Section 4.14. The COR shall maintain a summary log and copies of all formally received critiques, in a documentation file.

Periodic Audits – The COR will conduct periodic audits of the class to ensure adherence with the Performance Work Statement (PWS), to ensure the accuracy of the information presented by the instructor, and to ensure the professionalism and competency of the instructor. Audits may be performed by the COR, the course supervisor, or a designated representative, and may include the following elements:

· Confined Space Safety Course curriculum

· Instructor availability and qualifications

· Quality of curriculum delivery

· Timeliness of instructor replacement

· Timeliness of curriculum revisions

· Timeliness and accuracy of other direct cost approval requests

Routine Inspection - The COR will inspect the documentation that is received from the instructor after every convening of the course. The COR will also monitor that the contractor is in compliance with all terms of the contract, including the following submittals:

· Accuracy and completeness of invoices

· Timeliness and accuracy of Course Completion Report

7. IDENTIFIED QA SURVEILLANCE ITEMS

The PBSC items that have been identified for surveillance are also identified in the PWS. The contractor’s implementation of the clause at FAR 52.222-50, combating Trafficking in Persons, will be a surveillance item. Non-compliance with the trafficking in persons requirements will be brought to the immediate attention of the contracting officer (See DFARS PGI 222.1703).

8. DOCUMENTATION

The COR shall maintain a complete QA file. The file shall contain copies of all reports, evaluations, recommendations, and any actions related to the Government’s performance of the QA function. All such records will be retained for the life of this contract. The COR shall forward these records to the PCO at termination or completion of the contract.

9.0 ANALYSIS OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

The analysis of contractor performance shall be conducted at the end of each month and serves to provide a summary of the contractor’s performance to the PCO and the contractor. Overall performance is important in determining whether to increase, decrease or maintain the current level of surveillance and/or whether to initiate corrective action to bring the Contractor’s work up to the standards of the specification.

CONFINED SPACE SAFETY COURSE QASP MATRIX

N0018920Q0086

FAR 52.212-4 Applies to All

Final – 40 days after contract award

100%

All materials submitted on time.

Final copy submitted without rework due to errors.

Contractor shall have 30 days to revise the draft course curriculum.

After Government acceptance of the course curriculum, revisions to Confined Space Safety Course (due to new notices, instructions, suggestions, etc.) will be made by the contractor on a mutually agreed upon schedule.

All instructors fully qualified, available and capable of performing contract requirements as specified in the PWS.

If contractor fails to provide fully qualified instructors it will have three (3) days to propose new instructors or rectify the deficiency that renders the proposed instructor as unqualified. Lack of qualified instructors when needed will be documented on a Contractor Discrepancy Report (CDR).

All proferred instructors Government will make two requests for qualifications. If the contractor fails to send qualifications, Government will reject any affected contract instructor(s) proposed for course instruction or may suspend contract instructors from instructor duties if that instructor is currently providing services. In the event an instructor is suspended from instructor duties, contractor must provide a qualified replacement IAW the PWS.

If more than 3 negative comments received COR will discuss the nature of the comments with the Contract Manager. If comments are directed at the contract instructors, the contractor will refer to its Quality Assurance Plan to address and correct the specific issues.

If the comments are directed at the course curriculum, the COR and Contract Manager will determine a mutually agreed upon approach to revise the course material. Changes to the curriculum must be approved by the Government.

Contractor will revise report until acceptable quality standard is achieved. Failure to submit an acceptable Course Completion Report will be documents on a Contractor Discrepancy Report (CDR).

Instructor replaced within 24 hours of Contract Manager notification 100% of the time.

Course may be cancelled. Failure to replace an instructor within 24 hours will be documented on a Contractor Discrepancy Report (CDR).

No more than 2 substantiated complaints against the same instructor.

Contractor shall have three (3) days, as specified in PWS Sections 7 and 8 to address complaints and propose corrective actions to the COR and Contracting Officer.

Valid complaints against contract instructors may result in rejection if the same instructor is proposed to provide services in the future.

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