Table D - Exhibit # 7 - Quality Assurance and Quality Control.pdf

Table D – Exhibit # 7 - Quality Assurance And Quality Control 1

PROCUREMENT OF SWITCH POINTS & STOCK RAILS

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL

PART 1: GENERAL

1.01 DESCRIPTION:

A. This Section specifies the general Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) requirements for the following:

1. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Plan

2. Calibration and Certification

3. Inspection and Tests

4. Handling and Storage

5. Testing

6. Test Reports

7. Certificates of Compliance

B. Related Work Specified Elsewhere:

1. Summary Of Work

2. Submittals

3. Special Trackwork Components

1.02 QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL PLAN:

A. Develop and maintain a quality assurance/quality control plan for regulating the methods, procedures, and processes for the design and manufacture of restraining rail concrete ties to ensure compliance with the standards of quality required by these Purchase Order documents.

B. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the issuance of the Notice to Proceed, the

Contractor shall submit a detailed QA/QC Plan to the Administration for approval.

The detailed plan shall cover all work to be performed under the Contract and define the following:

1. The Contractors on-site organization chart including a quality control organization showing the proposed QC Plan Manager and staff.

2. Authority, duties and responsibilities of quality control personnel. A copy of the letter of direction to the Contractor’s representative and QC staff, which defines their duties, responsibilities, and delegated authorities, shall be provided to the Administration.

3. Operational procedures for accomplishing and reviewing work, supervision, inspection, tests, certifications, documentation of QA/QC activities, including those of subcontractors for all on-site and off-site work under the contract.

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4. Inspection and test records shall include, but not limited to, the factual evidence that tests have been made, the applicable type and number of tests, the dates and results of the tests, nature and number of observations made, the number and type of deficiencies found and proposed corrective actions to be taken. All records shall provide identification and signature of the individual in charge of the inspection, test, or other QA/QC activity.

These records shall be certified by the QA/QC Manager and include, as a minimum, the results of:

a. Inspection results, observations, conclusions and recommendations.

b. Testing with reference to set-up conditions, observations and concerns.

c. Fabrication procedures and controls.

d. Identity of the Personnel present and their certification.

e. Discrepant material details (including disposition records).

5. Inspection to be performed by the QC Staff for all definable items of work during following phases.

a. Preparatory inspections shall be performed prior to beginning of each item of work and shall include a review of specified requirements and QA/QC Plan test and inspection schedule mentioned above.

b. Initial inspections shall be performed as soon as a representative portion of the work has been accomplished. Initial inspections shall verify compliance with specified requirements, establish acceptable levels of quality and workmanship, review quality control testing and confirm that defective, damaged or unapproved materials are not incorporated into the work.

c. Follow-up inspections shall be performed regularly by QC Staff to assure continued compliance with the Purchase Order requirements and established levels of quality and workmanship.

6. The QA/QC Plan shall provide well-defined procedures and forms to include, but not limited to the following:

a. Identifying and evaluating quality-related problems.

b. Recommending solutions to quality-related problems and verifying that those problems are resolved.

c. Controlling further fabrication, delivery, or installation of nonconforming or deficient item(s) until disposition instructions have been obtained.

d. Conducting quality inspections, surveillance and compliance audits of subcontractors, suppliers/manufacturers on a scheduled basis.

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e. Maintaining quality control reports, approved shop drawings and submittals, as-built drawings, changes to the drawings and specifications.

7. The QA/QC Plan shall also provide written procedures to include, but not be limited to:

a. Control of subcontractors, manufacturers /suppliers.

b. Production and process quality control.

c. Discrepant and nonconforming material control.

d. Functional testing.

e. Calibration and/or certification of Measuring and Test equipment.

f. Shipping and receiving inspection of materials.

8. Approval of the Contractor’s QA/QC Plan shall not relieve the Contractor of its responsibility to comply with the Purchase Order requirements. The

QA/QC Plan shall be revised or updated as directed by the Administration.

No additional cost or time extensions will be allowed for the Contractor’s re-submission of rejected QA/QC Plans or for revising or updating of the

QA/QC Plan during the course of the contract, as directed by the

Administration.

1.03 CALIBRATION AND CERTIFICATION:

A. The QA/QC Plan shall include the procedures to provide and maintain gauges;

measuring devices and test equipment necessary to assure that the article conforms to Purchase Order requirements. These devices shall be calibrated in accordance with national standards and certifications. Calibration certificates shall be maintained current and submitted to the Administration. Any equipment exceeding its required re-calibration date or that becomes damaged or otherwise unreliable, shall be isolated, tagged or marked to prevent its use without written permission of the Administration.

1.04 INSPECTION AND TESTS:

A. The QA/QC Plan shall include methods for ensuring that all required inspections and tests are performed and that the status of each work product, material item’s inspections/tests is known. Identify nonconforming work product and material items by physical segregation and status indicators such as tags, markings, serialization, stamps, and/or inspection records. The identification system used shall ensure that only those work items that have passed inspection shall be used, shipped, or installed. The nonconforming work product and material items shall be removed from the project site and storage areas as soon as possible.

B. Work products, materials and/or equipment manufactured or assembled under this

Contract shall be accepted for use or released for shipment, as appropriate, when the following conditions(s) have been met.

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1. After release by the Administration and/or certification by the Contractor that the work product or material item is complete and in compliance with the Specifications.

2. Upon request for acceptance or a release for shipment submitted by the

Contractor and supported by a satisfactory inspection report or certification of compliance accompanied by certified copies of test data.

The certificate of compliance shall clearly identify the work product or material item covered by the certificate and shall also contain the test date and the name and address of the organization performing the require tests, as applicable.

C. Supplies, services, materials, and products procured from suppliers and subcontractors shall conform to the Purchase Order requirements and the approved

QA/QC Plan. Inspect all supplies, materials, services, and products upon receipt.

1.05 HANDLING AND STORAGE:

A. The QA/QC Plan shall ensure that proper instructions are provided and followed for handling, storage, preservation, packaging, and shipping to protect the quality of products and to prevent damage, loss, deterioration, degradation, or substitution of products. The Contractor shall provide for any necessary protection against deterioration or damage to products in storage and handling.

1.06 TESTING:

A. The quality control testing is the testing of specific work product or materials during placement, as specified in the various sections of the specifications to ensure compliance with the Purchase Order Documents. The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for control testing at the expense of the Contractor and shall be performed by a certified independent testing laboratory that has been approved by the Administration.

B. The Contractor shall submit the name, address, and qualifications together with the scope of proposed services of the proposed testing firm or individual to the

Administration for approval at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled commencement of any work involving such testing. Should the Contractor desire to use more than one firm for control testing, the required information shall be submitted for each proposed firm as specified herein.

C. The Contractor shall be responsible for furnishing all accessories, tools necessary to prepare and preserve the test samples as prescribed and delivering them to the approved testing laboratory.

D. The Contractor shall perform all quality control testing and furnish all equipment, instruments, qualified personnel and facilities necessary to perform all tests required by the Purchase Order. All tests performed, and test results for each day shall be recorded in a daily report. These records shall remain complete and available to the Administration at all times during the performance of the work and for a three-year period thereafter. Test records shall indicate the reference test, Table D – Exhibit # 7 - Quality Assurance And Quality Control 5 nature and number of observations made, and the number and type of deficiencies found.

1.07 TEST REPORTS:

A. Within five days after completion of testing performed by or for the Contractor, submit an electronic copy of certified test results to the Administration. Indicate the name and address of the organization performing the test, and the date of the tests.

1.08 CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE:

A. The Contractor may use certificates of compliance for certain materials and products in lieu of the specified sampling and testing procedures. Submit any certificate required for demonstrating proof of compliance of materials with specification requirements in duplicate with each lot of material delivered to the

Administration. The lot so certified shall be clearly identified by the certificate.

Certificates shall be signed by an authorized representative of the producer or manufacturer and state that the material complies in all respects with the Purchase

Order requirements.

B. Materials used on the basis of a certificate of compliance may be sampled and tested at any time. The fact that material is used on the basis of a certificate of compliance shall not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for incorporating material in the work which conforms to the requirements of the Purchase Order and any such material not conforming to such requirements will be subject to rejection, whether in place or not.

C. The Administration reserves the right to refuse to permit the use of certain materials / supplies on the basis of a certificate of compliance.

END OF SECTION