BPM005278 Exhibit A_QAPP QA Project Plan Review Checklist.pdf

January 2021

QA PROJECT PLAN REVIEW CHECKLIST

Offeror is not to provide QAPP in its Solicitation Proposal submission. This Exhibit is being provided for reference only.

The following QAPP requirement is stated in “Scope of Work section 3.2“.

As part of requirements in any Task Order awarded, depending on Task Order Requirements, Contractor may be required to submit the quality control measures they will have in place to ensure integrity of the data, by way of a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). The Contractor may submit their own QAPP, provided that it meets the requirements of EPA’s QA/G-5 Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans (2002) or ADEQ’s QAPP Review checklist provided to the Contractor for use upon contract award (Exhibit A - Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Review Checklist). Contractor must also have an individual quality system that complies fully with the American National Standard ANSI/ASQC E4-1994, Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs.

This checklist is based on the elements in EPA Requirements for QA Project Plans (QA/R-5) (EPA, 2001a). This checklist can be used to either write or review a QA Project Plan, especially those involving field sampling and laboratory analyses.

Project Title Approved:

Preparer ☐ Yes Date Submitted for Review ☐ Yes with Edits

Reviewer ☐ No, please review comments and set up Start Date of Review a meeting to discuss.

End Date of Review

General Comments:

Notes:

IA = included and acceptable IU = unacceptable, need to be augmented M = missing information needs to be provided NA = not applicable

Element

IA IU M NA

A1. Title and Approval Sheet

Contains project title ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Indicates revision number, if applicable ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Indicates organization’s name ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Date signature of organization’s project manager ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Dated signature of organization’s QA manager present

Other signatures, as needed ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

A2. Table of Contents

Lists QA Project Plan information sections ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Document version control and revisions page included ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

A3. Distribution List

Includes all individuals who are to receive a copy of the QA Project Plan and identifies their organization

A4. Project/Task Organization

Identifies key individuals involved in all major aspects of the project, including contractors

Discusses their responsibilities ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Project QA Manager position indicates independence from unit generating data

Identifies individual responsible for maintaining the official, approved QA Project Plan

Organizational chart shows lines of authority and reporting responsibilities

A5. Problem Definition/Background

States decision(s) to be made, actions to be taken, or outcomes expected from the information to be obtained

Clearly explains the reason (site background or historical context) for initiating this project

Identifies regulatory information, applicable criteria, action limits, etc. necessary to the project

A6. Project/Task Description

Summarizes work to be performed, for example, measurements to be made, data files to be obtained, etc., that support the project=s goals

Provides work schedule indicating critical project points, e.g., start and completion dates for activities such as sampling, analysis, data or file reviews, and assessments

Details geographical locations to be studied, including maps where possible

Discusses resource and time constraints, if applicable

A7. Quality Objectives and Criteria

Author used and attached DQO template to define objectives and criteria

Identifies performance/measurement criteria for all information to be collected and acceptance criteria for information obtained from previous studies, including project action limits and laboratory detection limits and range of anticipated concentrations of each parameter of interest

Discusses precision ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Addresses bias ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Discusses representativeness ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Identifies the need for completeness ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Describes the need for comparability ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Discusses desired method sensitivity ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

A8. Special Training/Certifications

Identifies any project personnel specialized training or certifications

Discusses how this training will be provided

Indicates personnel responsible for assuring these are satisfied

Identifies where this information is documented ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

A.9 Documentation and Records

Identifies report format and summarizes all data report package information

Lists all other project documents, records, and electronic files that will be produced

Identifies where project information should be kept and for how long

Discusses back up plans for records stored electronically

States how individuals identified in A3 will receive the most current copy of the approved QA Project Plan, identifying the individual responsible for this

B1. Sampling Process Design (Experimental Design)

Describes and justifies design strategy, indicating size of the area, volume, or time period to be represented by a sample

Details the type and total number of sample types/matrix or test runs/trials expected and needed

Indicates where samples should be taken, how sites will be identified/located

Discusses what to do if sampling sites become inaccessible

Identifies project activity schedules such as each sampling event, times samples should be sent to the laboratory, etc.

Specifies what information is critical and what is for informational purposes only

Identifies sources of variability and how this variability should be reconciled with project information

B2. Sampling Methods

Identifies all sampling SOPs by number, date, and regulatory citation, indicating sampling options or modifications to be taken

Indicates how each sample/matrix type should be collected

If in situ monitoring, indicates how instruments should be deployed and operated to avoid contamination and ensure maintenance of proper data

If continuous monitoring, indicates averaging time and how instruments should store and maintain raw data, or data averages

Indicates how samples are to be homogenized, composited, split, or filtered, if needed

Indicates what sample containers and sample volumes should be used

Identifies whether samples should be preserved and indicates methods that should be followed

Indicates whether sampling equipment and samplers should be cleaned and/or decontaminated, identifying how this should be done and by-products disposed of

Identifies any equipment and support facilities needed

Addresses actions to be taken when problems occur, identifying individual(s) responsible for corrective action and how this should be documented

B3. Sample Handling and Custody

States maximum holding times allowed from sample collection to extraction and/or analysis for each sample type and, for in-situ or continuous monitoring, the maximum time before retrieval of information

Identifies how samples or information should be physically handled, transported, and then received and held in the laboratory or office (including temperature upon receipt)

Indicates how sample or information handling and custody information should be documented, such as in field notebooks and forms, identifying individual responsible

Discusses system for identifying samples, for example, numbering system, sample tags and labels, and attaches forms to the plan

Identifies chain-of-custody procedures and includes form to track custody

B4. Analytical Methods

Identifies all analytical SOPs (field, laboratory and/or office) that should be followed by number, date, and regulatory citation, indicating options or modifications to be taken, such as sub-sampling and extraction procedures

Identifies equipment or instrumentation needed ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Specifies any specific method performance criteria ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Identifies procedures to follow when failures ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ occur, identifying individual responsible for corrective action and appropriate documentation

Identifies sample disposal procedures ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Specifies laboratory turnaround times needed ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Provides method validation information and SOPs for nonstandard methods

B5. Quality Control

For each type of sampling, analysis, or measurement technique, identifies QC activities which should be used, for example, blanks, spikes, duplicates, etc., and at what frequency

Details what should be done when control limits are exceeded, and how effectiveness of control actions will be determined and documented

Identifies procedures and formulas for calculating applicable QC statistics, for example, for precision, bias, outliers and missing data

B6. Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance

Identifies field and laboratory equipment needing periodic maintenance, and the schedule for this

Identifies testing criteria ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Notes availability and location of spare parts ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Indicates procedures in place for inspecting equipment before usage

Identifies individual(s) responsible for testing, inspection and maintenance

Indicates how deficiencies found should be resolved, re-inspections performed, and effectiveness of corrective action determined and

B7. Instrument/Equipment Calibration and Frequency

Identifies equipment, tools, and instruments that should be calibrated and the frequency for this calibration

Describes how calibrations should be performed and documented, indicating test criteria and standards or certified equipment

Identifies how deficiencies should be resolved and

B8. Inspection/Acceptance for Supplies and Consumables

Identifies critical supplies and consumables for field and laboratory, noting supply source, acceptance criteria, and procedures for tracking, storing and retrieving these materials

Identifies the individual(s) responsible for this ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

B9. Non-direct Measurements

Identifies data sources, for example, computer databases or literature files, or models that should be accessed and used

Describes the intended use of this information and the rationale for their selection, i.e., its relevance to project

Indicates the acceptance criteria for these data sources and/or models

Identifies key resources/support facilities needed ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Describes how limits to validity and operating conditions should be determined, for example, internal checks of the program and Beta testing

B10. Data Management

Describes data management scheme from field to final use and storage

Discusses standard record-keeping and tracking practices, and the document control system or cites other written documentation such as SOPs

Identifies data handling equipment/procedures that should be used to process, compile, analyze, and transmit data reliably and accurately

Identifies individual(s) responsible for this ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Describes the process for data archival and retrieval

Describes procedures to demonstrate acceptability of hardware and software configurations

Attaches checklists and forms that should be used ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

C1. Assessments and Response Actions

Lists the number, frequency, and type of assessment activities that should be conducted, with the approximate dates

Identifies individual(s) responsible for conducting assessments, indicating their authority to issue stop work orders, and any other possible participants in the assessment process

Describes how and to whom assessment information should be reported

Identifies how corrective actions should be addressed and by whom, and how they should be verified and documented

C2. Reports to Management

Identifies what project QA status reports are needed and how frequently

Identifies who should write these reports and who should receive this information

D1. Data Review, Verification, and Validation

Describes criteria that should be used for accepting, rejecting, or qualifying project data

D2. Verification and Validation Methods

Describes process for data verification and validation, providing SOPs and indicating what data validation software should be used, if any

Identifies who is responsible for verifying and validating different components of the project data/information, for example, chain-of-custody forms, receipt logs, calibration information, etc.

Identifies issue resolution process, and method and individual responsible for conveying these results to data users

Attaches checklists, forms, and calculations ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

D3. Reconciliation with User Requirements

Describes procedures to evaluate the uncertainty of the validated data

Describes how limitations on data use should be reported to the data users