Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
SSINS No.: 6835
Accession No.:
8005050064
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
June 10, 1980
Information Notice No. 80-26
To All Part 50 Licensees
EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR QA PROGRAMS
Description of Circumstances:
Appendix B to 10 CFR 50 requires that each applicant and licensee establish
and execute a Quality Assurance Program, and that each licensee "shall
require contractors or subcontractors to provide a quality assurance
program". Further Appendix B requires each applicant and licensee to
regularly review the status and adequacy of subcontractor programs.
The NRC is becoming increasingly concerned by continuing evidence that many
holders of construction permits and operating licenses are not properly
implementing these facets of their quality assurance programs. Examples of
this lack of effectiveness of contractor QA program implementation, and
inadequacy of licensee overview of contractor QA program implementation are
appearing in every facet of project activity. Instances have been observed
where architect-engineers have released documents for procurement with
inappropriate material specifications. Nuclear steam system suppliers have
overlooked erroneous assumptions in analysis of instrument system response
to design basis transients. Other cases have been observed where both AE's
and NSSS have not followed through on commitments to review vendor detailed
designs. Vendors' quality assurance programs have been found to contain
errors of both omission and commission.
A containment tendon installation contract was awarded to a specialty
contractor. During a licensee audit some three months after work started it
appeared that a contractor inspector was falsifying records by initialing
inspection points not actually observed. A subsequent investigation by the
licensee revealed that the contractor had required that QC inspections be
performed only on a random basis even though all records had QC signatures.
The signatures could mean that the activity was inspected or that record
signoffs by others were reviewed; or that the data were recorded by the QC
inspector. It is apparent that the licensee had not appropriately reviewed
the contractor's inspection program prior to the start of work.
In another instance, after completion and acceptance of a major structural
steel installation, the licensee found that significant rework would be
required to correct construction quality problems. NRC inspection at the
contractors fabrication facility disclosed that in addition to work for that
license, the contractor had contracts for "high density" fuel storage racks
from several operating licensees. None of the NRC licensees had inspected
the contractor's shop or examined his quality assurance programs.
Response to Information Notice No. 80-26 is not required. The NRC expects
appropriate action from all licensees and organizations engaged in nuclear
activities and actions will be examined in the ongoing NRC inspection
program.
