Attachment J.1(D) Quality Assurance and Surveillance Plan (QASP).pdf

NASA Safety Center (NSC) Safety & Mission Assurance, Audits, Assessments and

Analysis (SA3) Services

Attachment J.1(D) Quality Assurance and Surveillance Plan (QASP)

80GRC022R0029- SA3 Services Attachment J.1 (D)

2.0 SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY

2.1 Insight

Insight is an assurance process that uses product performance requirements and performance metrics to ensure process capability and deliverable quality. Insight relies on gathering a minimum set of deliverables or process data points that provide adequate visibility into the integrity of the deliverable or process. The data may be acquired from contractor records or report deliverables, usually in a non-intrusive manner.

Insight as applied to this contract will result in lower levels of Government surveillance and allow the contractor to assume increased responsibility and accountability for the integrity of processes. The Government’s goal is to follow an insight-driven surveillance strategy. However, the Government reserves the right to use an oversight approach to monitor questionable areas or areas of poor contractor performance.

2.2 Oversight

Oversight is an assurance process that uses customer-imposed specification and process controls, such as performance specifications and mandatory inspections, to direct the development and production of the deliverable. Oversight is intrusive in that it requires gathering contractor deliverable or process data through on-site, in-series involvement in the process. Oversight entails very detailed monitoring of the process itself. Oversight is an in-line involvement in an activity, principally through inspection, with review and approval authority implicit to the degree necessary to assure that a process or deliverable’s key characteristics are stable and in control. Government inspection points will be determined primarily by Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) requirements for progress reviews or as otherwise specified.

3.0 RESOURCES

Surveillance activities will be implemented by using NASA personnel (Contracting Officer (CO), COR, Task Requester (TR), Project Chief Safety Officer (CSO), etc.) as required.

4.0 SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY AND APPROACH

4.1 Approach

The overall surveillance goal will be to obtain objective evidence and data that enables the Government to determine whether the contractor's program and processes are functioning as intended in accordance with the terms of the contract. The focus will be on compliance to government requirements rather than detection, i.e., emphasizing controlled processes, as opposed to relying solely upon inspection to identify problems.

Government surveillance personnel will have access to all areas in which the contract is being performed and will interface directly with their Contractor counterparts. Government surveillance will result in documented problems, concerns and issues, and take note of contractor accomplishments.

Performance metric data will be collected, where applicable, and will government surveyors will participate in contractor review meetings, as needed. Information gained from these formal and

80GRC022R0029- SA3 Services Attachment J.1 (D) informal exchanges of ideas and collection of data will be compiled and evaluated as a continuous measure of contract performance.

4.2 Methods of Surveillance

4.2.1 Management/Program Reviews/Audits

Regular reviews will be held with Contractor management to assess overall progress in meeting contract requirements. These meetings will be attended by appropriate Government and contractor personnel sufficient to effectively convey and communicate issues and concerns. Government audits will be conducted as needed by appropriate Government personnel. These audit results will be used as a Management Tool to assess overall contract compliance. These reviews/audits will normally take the form of:

• Technical Information meetings

• Documented problems, issues and concerns

• Customer Feedback and Surveys

• Monthly Technical Activity Report reviews

• Weekly Status Reports

• Defense Contracting Audit Agency (DCAA) Reports and Findings

• Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Reports

4.2.2 Customer Feedback

Customers will be asked to provide feedback both formally and informally to provide insight into overall performance. Results will be shared with the contactor. Contractor performance will be discussed periodically and as each task is completed.

5.0 SUMMARY

This Surveillance Plan describes the approach that the NSC, in coordination with GRC, intends to use to monitor the contract and assure that the Contractor performs in accordance with terms and conditions of the Contract. The goal is to balance the level of Government surveillance with the perceived impacts and risks of mission failure.

As experience is gained with the Contractor, the Government reserves the right to change this Surveillance Plan and the metrics used to evaluate Contractor performance. However, in cases where new surveillance metrics might influence incentive payments (if applicable) or deductions, changes will be negotiated with the Contractor.

Concurrences:

Lisa M. Hicks, Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

Raenala C. Brown, Contracting Officer (CO)