QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

For

Design, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of Equipment

Advanced Operations Section, Code 8124

PR No: 81-0602-26 RFQ No: N00173-27-Q-0002

Attachment No: 02

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Performance Management Approach

1.3 Performance Management Strategy

2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 The Contracting Officer

2.2 The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

3 IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS/QUALITY LEVELS

4 METHODOLOGIES TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE

4.1 Surveillance Techniques

4.2 Customer Feedback [select, as appropriate OR input customized information]

4.3 Acceptable Quality Levels

5 QUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENTATION

5.1 Monitoring Forms -

6 ANALYSIS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE ASSESSMENT

6.1 Determining Performance

6.2 Reporting

6.3 Reviews and Resolution

Table 1: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY Attachment 1 - QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING FORM

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

(QASP)

1 INTRODUCTION

This quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP) is pursuant to the requirements listed in the performance work statement (PWS) entitled, Design, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance of Equipment for Advanced Operations Section, Code 8124. This plan sets forth the procedures and guidelines for U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Advanced Operations Section Research and Development (R&D) facilities will use in ensuring the required performance standards or services levels are achieved by the contractor. The NRL Advanced Operations Section, Code 8124, hosts two locations: one at the NRL Pomonkey Facility in La Plata MD and the other at an Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) location.

1.1 Purpose

1.1.1 The purpose of the QASP is to define the technical engineering services required to support the NRL Code 8124 at both its Pomonkey Facility in La Plata, MD and its Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) location. The requirements placed on both locations of NRL Code 8124 to execute new tasking and to increase the signal acquisition capability necessitate the frequent modification or addition of special research and development (R&D) equipment, as set forth in the PWS. Systematic methods will be used to monitor performance and to identify the required documentation and the resources to be employed. The QASP provides a means for evaluating whether the contractor is meeting the performance standards/quality levels identified in the PWS and the contractor’s quality control plan (QCP), and to ensure that the government pays only for the level of services received.

1.1.2 This QASP defines the roles and responsibilities of all members of the integrated project team (IPT), identifies the performance objectives, defines the methodologies used to monitor and evaluate the contractor’s performance, describes quality assurance documentation requirements, and describes the analysis of quality assurance monitoring results.

1.2 Performance Management Approach

1.2.1 The PWS structures the acquisition around “what” service or quality level is required, as opposed to “how” the contractor should perform the work (i.e., results, not compliance). This QASP will define the performance management approach taken by NRL Code 8124 to monitor and manage the contractor’s performance to ensure the expected outcomes or performance objectives communicated in the PWS are achieved. Performance management rests on developing a capability to review and analyze information generated through performance assessment. The ability to make decisions based on the analysis of performance data is the cornerstone of performance management; this analysis yields information that indicates whether expected outcomes for the project are being achieved by the contractor.

1.2.2 Performance management represents a significant shift from the more traditional quality assurance (QA) concepts in several ways. Performance management focuses on assessing whether outcomes are being achieved and to what extent. This approach migrates away from scrutiny of compliance with the processes and practices used to achieve the outcome. A performance-based approach enables the contractor to play a large role in how the work is performed, as long as the proposed processes are within the stated constraints. The only exceptions to process reviews are those required by law (federal, state, and local) and compelling business situations, such as safety and health. A “results” focus provides the contractor flexibility to continuously improve and innovate over the course of the contract as long as the critical outcomes expected are being achieved and/or the desired performance levels are being met.

1.3 Performance Management Strategy

1.3.1 The contractor is responsible for the quality of all work performed. The contractor measures that quality through the contractor’s own quality control (QC) program. QC is work output, not workers, and therefore includes all work performed under this contract regardless of whether the work is performed by contractor employees or by subcontractors. The contractor’s QCP will set forth the staffing and procedures for self-inspecting the quality, timeliness, responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and other performance requirements in the PWS. The contractor will develop and implement a performance management system with processes to assess and report its performance to the designated government representative. The contractor’s QCP will set forth the staffing and procedures for self-inspecting the quality, timeliness, responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and other performance requirements in the PWS. This QASP enables the government to take advantage of the contractor’s QC program.

1.3.2 The Government representative(s) will monitor performance and review performance reports furnished by the contractor to determine how the contractor is performing against communicated performance objectives. The contractor will be responsible for making required changes in processes and practices to ensure performance is managed effectively.

2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 The Contracting Officer

The contracting officer (CO) is responsible for monitoring contract compliance, contract administration, and cost control and for resolving any differences between the observations documented by the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representation (COR ),"administrative contracting officer (ACO)," "quality assurance representative (QAR),” and the contractor. The CO will designate the COR, as the government authority for performance management. The number of additional representatives serving as technical inspectors depends on the complexity of the services measured, as well as the contractor’s performance, and must be identified and designated by the CO.

2.2 The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The COR is designated in writing by the CO to act as his or her authorized representative to assist in administering a contract. COR limitations are contained in the written appointment letter. The COR is responsible for technical administration of the project and ensures 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 CO for action. The COR will have the responsibility for completing QA monitoring forms used to document the inspection and evaluation of the contractor’s work performance. Government surveillance may occur under the inspection of services clause for any service relating to the contract.

3 IDENTIFICATION OF REQUIRED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS/QUALITY

LEVELS

The required performance standards and/or quality levels are included in Table 1, “Performance Requirements Summary.” If the contractor meets or exceeds the required service or performance level, it will be paid the monthly amount agreed on in the contract. Failure to meet the required service or performance level will require a contractor provided performance improvement plan.

4 METHODOLOGIES TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE

4.1 Surveillance Techniques

The surveillance methods to be used by the COR to evaluate contractor performance are as identified below:

In an effort to minimize the performance management burden, simplified surveillance methods shall be used by the Government to evaluate contractor performance when appropriate. The primary methods of surveillance are 100%.

100% inspection of contract performance to provide hardware, development and technical support in addition to providing material, equipment, and continuous improvements to the existing systems.

4.2 Customer Feedback

The contractor is expected to establish and maintain professional communication between its employees and customers. The primary objective of this communication is customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is the most significant external indicator of the success and effectiveness of all services provided and can be measured through customer complaints.

Performance management drives the contractor to be customer focused through initially and internally addressing customer complaints and investigating the issues and/or problems but the customer always has the option to communicate complaints to the CO or COR, as opposed to the contractor.

Customer complaints, to be considered valid, must be in writing, clearly detailing the nature of the complaint, and be forwarded to the COR. The COR will accept those customer complaints and investigate using the Quality Assurance Monitoring Form, identified in Table 2.

Customer feedback from the results of formal customer satisfaction surveys.

4.3 Acceptable Quality Levels

The acceptable quality levels (AQLs) included in Table 1, Performance Requirements Summary Table, for contractor performance are structured to allow the contractor to manage how the work is performed. Levels of performance are keyed to the relative importance of the task to the overall mission performance.

5 QUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENTATION

5.1 Monitoring Forms -

The forms as identified below, when completed, will document the government’s assessment of the contractor’s performance to ensure that the required results are being achieved.

QA monitoring/evaluation form, found at Attachment 1.

5.1.1 The COR will retain a copy of all completed QA monitoring forms.

6 ANALYSIS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE ASSESSMENT

6.1 Determining Performance

6.1.1 Government will use the monitoring methods cited to determine whether the performance standards have been met. If the contractor has not met the minimum requirements the contract, upon COR request, shall create a corrective action plan, detailing how and by what date it intends to bring performance up to the required levels for COR review and approval.

6.2 Reporting

6.2.1 At the end of each period identified in Section 4.1, the COR will prepare a written report, summarizing the overall results of the quality assurance surveillance of the contractor’s performance. This written report, which addresses the contractor’s submitted reports and COR completed quality assurance monitoring forms, will become part of the QA documentation. It will enable the government to demonstrate whether the contractor is meeting the stated objectives and/or performance standards, including cost/technical/scheduling objectives. A copy of this report will be provided to the contractor.

6.3 Reviews and Resolution

6.3.1 The COR may require the contractor’s project manager, or a designated alternate, to meet with the COR and other government personnel as deemed necessary to discuss performance evaluation. If this need arises, the contractor shall meet with the COR, as often as required or per the contractor’s request. The agenda of the reviews may include:

Performance assessment and trend analysis;

Issues and concerns of both parties;

Projected outlook for upcoming months and progress against expected trends, including a corrective action plan analysis; and Recommendations for improved efficiency and/or effectiveness.

6.3.2 The COR and contractor shall jointly formulate tactical and long-term courses of action, as required. Decisions regarding changes to performance requirements will be clearly documented, but will not be official until a contract modification is executed by and at the convenience of the Contracting Officer.

Table 1: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Reference Objective/Performance Standard AQL Surveillance Method

PWS 2.1 Contractor shall perform section A through F.

100% Inspection and antenna performance check

PWS 2.2 Contractor shall perform section A through E.

PWS 2.3 Contractor shall perform section A through D.

PWS 2.4 Contractor shall perform section A through P.

RFP No: N00173-20-Q-EN01 Contract Attachment No: 03

QASP ATTACHMENT 1

QASP Equipment Technical Support Servcice

QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING FORM

SERVICE or STANDARD:

SURVEY PERIOD:

SURVEILLANCE METHOD (Check):

Random Sampling 100% Inspection Periodic Inspection Customer Complaint

LEVEL OF SURVEILLANCE (Check):

Monthly Quarterly As needed

PERCENTAGE OF ITEMS SAMPLED DURING SURVEY PERIOD: ______ %

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS:

Observed Service Provider Performance Measurement Rate: ______%

Service Provider’s Performance (Check): Meets Standards Does Not Meet Standards

Narrative of Performance During Survey Period:

PREPARED BY: ___________________________________ DATE: _________________