Attachment_0010_-_Contract_Quality_Requirements.docx

ALTERNATIVES TO LOT ACCEPTANCE SAMPLING –

INCLUDING STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC)

(a) Offerors are encouraged to propose a defect prevention strategy in lieu of lot acceptance inspection and testing requirements cited in the technical data package. The Government recognizes that industry has developed numerous prevention based strategies which result in reduced process variation and promote continuous process improvement initiatives. Use of alternatives to lot acceptance sampling can provide offerors the latitude of implementing prevention based programs that are suitable to their particular mode of operation. Offerors are encouraged to submit their alternative proposals prior to award. Although the Government will entertain post award requests, there is no guarantee such requests will be accepted.

(b) Requests to use alternatives to lot acceptance sampling shall be provided to the Contracting Officer for review and approval or disapproval. Such requests shall include:

(1) Identification of the specific inspections and tests to be reduced or eliminated.

(2) A description of your prevention based program. This should include such topics as a training program and the performance of audits.

(3) A description of the tools used to monitor and control the specific processes being evaluated. This should include such topics as criteria for determining out of control conditions and procedures to be used when an out of control condition is detected.

(4) The results of a process performance study, and if available, the results of a process capability study.

(5) For SPC data to be used as an alternative to lot acceptance sampling, the following conditions shall be met:

(i) The process is in a state of statistical control using SPC control chart methods.

(ii) Variable data: for Critical characteristics a CPK =/> 2.00 (or equivalent capability) is achieved; for Major characteristics a CPK =/> 1.33 (or equivalent capability) is achieved.

(iii) Attribute data: for Critical Characteristics a process average of 100% of the product conforming to the specification; for Major Characteristics a process average of 99.9937% of the product conforming to the specification.

(c) Proposals offered after award. The Contracting Officer is responsible for accepting or rejecting the alternate lot acceptance procedure submitted by the contractor. The contractor may submit an alternate lot acceptance procedure at any time during the performance of this contract. The Contracting Officer is responsible for accepting or rejecting the alternate procedure within 30 days of receipt. If the Government needs more time to evaluate the alternate procedure, the Contracting Officer shall notify the contractor in writing, giving the reasons and the anticipated decision date. The contractor may withdraw its proposal at any time prior to its incorporation by contract modification. Because offerors may withdraw their proposal at any time, the Contracting Officer's failure to timely accept or reject the proposal shall not constitute grounds for claim against the Government. Any proposed and accepted procedure must be incorporated by contract modification. If the alternate procedure is not accepted, the Contracting Officer shall provide the contractor with written notification, explaining the reasons for rejection.

(d) Any equitable adjustment resulting from approval of an alternate lot acceptance procedure described in paragraph (c) above will be handled in accordance with the Changes clause of this contract.

(e) Until notification is received, the contractor is required to perform under this contract in accordance with the requirements herein, including lot acceptance inspection and testing.

REWORK AND REPAIR OF NONCONFORMING MATERIAL

a. Rework and Repair are defined as follows:

(1) Rework - The reprocessing of nonconforming material to make it conform completely to the drawings, specifications or contract requirements.

(2) Repair - The reprocessing of nonconforming material in accordance with approved written procedures and operations to reduce, but not completely eliminate, the nonconformance. The purpose of repair is to bring nonconforming material into a usable condition. Repair is distinguished from rework in that the item after repair still does not completely conform to all of the applicable drawings, specifications or contract requirements.

b. Rework procedures along with the associated inspection procedures shall be documented by the Contractor and submitted to the Government Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) for review prior to implementation. Rework procedures are subject to the QAR's disapproval.

c. Repair procedures shall be documented by the Contractor and submitted on a Request for Variance, DD Form 1694, to the Contracting Officer for review and written approval prior to implementation.

d. Whenever the Contractor submits a repair or rework procedure for Government review, the submission shall also include a description of the cause for the nonconformances and a description of the action taken or to be taken to prevent recurrence.

e. The rework or repair procedure shall also contain a provision for reinspection which will take precedence over the Technical Data Package requirements and shall in addition, provide the Government assurance that the reworked or repaired items have met reprocessing requirements.

FIRST ARTICLE TEST (GOVERNMENT TESTING)

a. The first article shall be examined and tested in accordance with contract requirements, the item specification(s), Quality Assurance Provisions (QAPs) and all drawings listed in the Technical Data Package.

b. The first article shall be delivered by the Contractor Free on Board (FOB) destination except when transportation protective service or transportation security is required by other provision of this contract. If such is the case, the first article shall be delivered FOB origin and shipped on Government Bill of Lading.

c. The first article shall be representative of items to be manufactured using the same processes and procedures as contract production. All parts and materials, including packaging and packing, shall be obtained from the same source of supply as will be used during regular production. All components, subassemblies, and assemblies in the first article sample shall have been produced by the Contractor (including subcontractors) using the technical data package provided by the Government.

d. Prior to delivery, each of the first article assemblies, subassemblies, and components shall be inspected by the Contractor for all contract, drawing, QAP and specification requirements except for any environmental or destructive tests indicated here:

The Contractor shall provide to the Contracting Officer at least 15 calendar days advance notice of the schedule date for final inspection of the first article. Those inspections which are of a destructive nature shall be performed upon additional sample parts selected from the same lot(s) or batch(es) from which the first article was selected. Results of contractor inspections (including supplier's and vendor's inspection records when applicable) shall be verified by the Government Quality Assurance Representative (QAR). One copy of the contractor's inspection report with evidence of the QAR's verification shall be forwarded with the first article; two copies shall be provided to the Contracting Officer. Upon delivery to the Government, the first article may be subjected to inspection for all contract, drawing, specification, and QAP requirements.

e. Notwithstanding the provisions for waiver of first article, an additional first article sample or portion thereof, may be ordered by the Contracting Officer in writing when (i) a major change is made to the technical data, (ii) whenever there is a lapse in production for a period in excess of 90 days, or (iii) whenever a change occurs in the place of performance, manufacturing process, material used, drawing, specification or source supply. When conditions (i), (ii), or (iii) above occurs, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer so that a determination can be made concerning the need for an additional first article sample or portion thereof, and instructions provided concerning the submission, inspection and notification of results. Costs of the additional first article testing resulting from any of the causes listed herein that were instituted by the contractor and not due to changes directed by the Government shall be borne by the Contractor.

f. Rejected first articles or portions thereof not destroyed during inspection and testing will be held at the government first article test site for a period of 30 days following the date of notification of rejection, pending receipt of instructions from the Contractor for the disposition of the rejected material. The Contractor agrees that failure to furnish such instructions within said 30 day period shall constitute abandonment of said material by the Contractor and shall confer upon the Government the right to destroy or otherwise dispose of the rejected items at the discretion of the Government without liability to the Contractor by reason of such destruction or disposition.

FIRST ARTICLE TEST (CONTRACTOR TESTING)

a. The first article shall be examined and tested in accordance with contract requirements, the item specification(s), Quality Assurance Provisions (QAPs) and all drawings listed in the Technical Data Package.

b. The first article shall be representative of items to be manufactured using the same processes and procedures and at the same facility as contract production. All parts and materials, including packaging and packing, shall be obtained from the same source of supply as will be used during regular production. All components, subassemblies, and assemblies in the first article sample shall have been produced by the Contractor (including subcontractors) using the technical data package applicable to this procurement.

c. The first article shall be inspected and tested by the contractor for all requirements of the drawing(s), the QAPs, and specification(s) referenced thereon, except for:

(1) Inspections and tests contained in material specifications provided that the required inspection and tests have been performed previously and certificates of conformance are submitted with the First Article Test Report.

(2) Inspections and tests for Military Standard (MS) components and parts provided that inspection and tests have been performed previously and certifications for the components and parts are submitted with the First Article Test Report.

(3) Corrosion resistance tests over 10 days in length provided that a test specimen or sample representing the same process has successfully passed the same test within 30 days prior to processing the first article, and results of the tests are submitted with the First Article Test Report.

(4) Life cycle tests over 10 days in length provided that the same or similar items manufactured using the same processes have successfully passed the same test within 1 year prior to processing the first article and results of the tests are submitted with the First Article Test Report.

(5) Onetime qualification tests, which are defined as a one-time on the drawing(s), provided that the same or similar item manufactured using the same processes has successfully passed the tests, and results of the test are on file at the contractor's facility and certifications are submitted with the First Article Test Report.

d. Those inspections which are of a destructive nature shall be performed upon additional sample parts selected from the same lot(s) or batch(es) from which the first article was selected.

e. A First Article Test Report shall be compiled by the contractor documenting the results of all inspections and tests (including supplier's and vendor's inspection records and certifications, when applicable). The First Article Test Report shall include actual inspection and test results to include all measurements, recorded test data, and certifications (if applicable) keyed to each drawing, specification and QAP requirement and identified by each individual QAP characteristic, drawing/specification characteristic and unlisted characteristic. Evidence of the QAR's verification will be provided. One copy of the First Article Test Report will be copy furnished to the government.

f. Notwithstanding the provisions for waiver of first article, an additional first article sample or portion thereof, may be ordered by the Contracting Officer in writing when (i) a major change is made to the technical data, (ii) whenever there is a lapse in production for a period in excess of 90 days, or (iii) whenever a change occurs in place of performance, manufacturing process, material used, drawing, specification or source of supply. When conditions (i), (ii), or (iii) above occurs, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer so that a determination can be made concerning the need for the additional first article sample or portion thereof, and instructions provided concerning the submission, inspection, and notification of results. Costs of the additional first article testing resulting from any of the causes listed herein that were instituted by the contractor and not due to changes directed by the Government shall be borne by the Contractor.