Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
September 20, 1990
Information Notice No. 90-60: AVAILABILITY OF FAILURE DATA IN THE
GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRY DATA EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is intended to provide information relative to the
availability of data on engineering, metrology, material problem (failure
experience), and reliability/maintainability through the Government-Industry
Data Exchange Program (GIDEP). It is expected that recipients will review
the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions,
as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this information notice
do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written
response is required.
Background:
During the past several years, the nuclear industry has uncovered an
increasing number of instances where counterfeit, fraudulent, and
substandard parts have been supplied for use in nuclear power plant systems.
The NRC has informed the nuclear industry of instances through information
notices and bulletins. In addition, the NRC staff has been meeting with
other government agencies to determine the extent of the problem with
fraudulent and substandard parts and to exchange information that may be
relevant to the nuclear and other industries. Several government agencies
have indicated that the GIDEP system is a primary mechanism within their
agencies and respective industries for disseminating information regarding
problem parts and suppliers. The NRC became a member of the GIDEP system in
the fall of 1989. Since then, all bulletins and information notices have
been included in the GIDEP database for use by other government agencies and
industries.
Discussion:
The GIDEP system is a government-sponsored program designed to facilitate
the exchange of data between government and industry relating to the design,
production, and operation of equipment and associated research. The system
is intended to reduce or eliminate expenditures of time and money by making
broader use of existing knowledge. The system is a forum to exchange
information on
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September 20, 1990
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problems; to provide data on the testing, approval, and reliability of
products; and to provide procedures and reports on products and processes.
GIDEP maintains and operates four data interchanges (engineering, metrology,
material problems, and reliability/maintainability). Of primary interest to
the nuclear industry is the material problem data interchange which contains
objective failure experience information on significant problems that may
affect other GIDEP participants. Failure experience information is
continually being collected on parts, components, materials, safety and
health hazards, and test instrumentation. The information is included in
data sheets distributed as ALERTS, SAFETY-ALERTS, PROBLEM ADVISORIES, AGENCY
ACTION NOTICES, and DIMINISHING MANUFACTURING SOURCES that provide the
participants with rapid identification of actual and possible problems with
parts, components, material, manufacturing processes, test equipment, and
safety conditions. The NRC has been placing information notices and
bulletins into the GIDEP material problem data interchange as Agency Action
Notices.
Participation in the GIDEP system is voluntary. Each participant must be
willing to actively exchange data appropriate to the system and to evaluate
its effectiveness to his or her organization. More information regarding
participation in the program may be obtained from:
Mr. James C. Richards, Program Director
GIDEP Operations Center
Corona, California 91720-5000
(714) 736-4677
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact: Walter Haass, NRR
(301) 492-3219
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
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