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Frequent Questions
EPA'S QUALITY SYSTEM
What are the goals of EPA's Quality System?, What are the benefits of EPA's Quality System?, What is the relationship between the EPA Quality System and EPA's Information Quality Guidelines?, What activities does the EPA Quality System cover?, Who is responsible for the EPA Quality System?, What are the roles and responsibilities of the Quality Staff?, What are the roles and responsibilities of an EPA Quality Assurance Manager and quality management support personnel?, What are the main components of the EPA Quality System?, How is a 'graded approach' applied to EPA's Quality System?, Is there a document that contains the above information?
GENERAL QUALITY SYSTEM QUESTIONS
What is a quality system?, Does a quality system ensure that data collected are 'good' data?, What is the difference between quality assurance and a quality system?, What is the difference between quality assurance and quality control?, What is the difference between a Quality Management Plan and a Quality Assurance Project Plan?, Which EPA documents do I use to implement and manage my quality system?, Must a Quality Management Plan be called a Quality Management Plan, and similarly, must a Quality Assurance Project Plan be called a Quality Assurance Project Plan?
EPA ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONNEL
What EPA organizations are covered by the EPA Quality System?, What Quality System specifications apply to my organization?, What EPA Quality System specifications apply to me?, Who is my Quality Assurance Manager?, Where can I get a copy of my Organization's Quality Management Plan?, Where can I find more information for EPA organizations?
NON-EPA ORGANIZATIONS
Since I receive funding from EPA, what EPA Quality System specifications apply to me?, What has EPA done to minimize the impact of its Quality System specifications on small businesses?, What are R-2 and R-5 and when do I use them?, Are there other documents besides R-2 and R-5 that are required?, Who do I contact if I have questions?, Where can I find more information for non-EPA Organizations?
RESOURCES AND HELP
What procedures and tools are available to help me implement the EPA Quality System?, What training does EPA provide?, Who do I contact at EPA if I have quality system-related questions?
SYSTEMATIC PLANNING
What is systematic planning?, Why systematically plan projects?, What are the elements of systematic planning?, Do I need to systematically plan my projects?, How do I systematically plan my projects?, What are some examples of systematic planning processes?, How do I document my systematic planning?
QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) PROJECT PLANS
What is a QA Project Plan?, Why do I have to write a QA Project Plan?, How do I develop a QA Project Plan?, Where are content specifications for QA Project Plans defined?, I have a Quality Management Plan, do I still need a QA Project Plan?, Who is responsible for implementing the QA Project Plan?, Whom do I contact if I have questions?, Where can I find more information on QA Project Plans?
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs)
What is a SOP?, How should a SOP be organized?, How much detail needs to be included in a SOP?, Who should write a SOP?, What is the benefit of having a SOP?, I am following a published method. Do I have to have a SOP?, Where can I find more information on SOPs?
QA ANNUAL REPORT AND WORK PLANS (QAARWPs)
Why should my organization prepare a QAARWP?, Does my organization need to submit a QAARWP?, Why must I submit a QAARWP to EPA Headquarters?, Does the Quality Staff compare the resources for my organization directly compared to other organizations?, When are the QAARWPs due?, Where do I send my QAARWP?, Can I submit my QAARWP electronically?, What information must be contained in a QAARWP?, Can my QAARWP contain information not required by EPA Manual CIO 2105-P-01-0?, Are there any planned changes to content?, Can I submit QAARWPs from sub-organizations and not summarize them for the primary organization?, What are the most frequent problems with QAARWPs?, Who must sign my organization's QAARWP?, Why does the QAARWP ask about activities instead of processes?, What are quality management activities as opposed to technical activities?, What should I do if I can't determine resources numbers?, Should quality-related activities from non-QA Staff be included in the QAARWP?, What does "assessments of a Quality System" include?, If I report changes to my organization's Quality Management Plan in the QAARWP, do I need to resubmit my Quality Management Plan for Agency approval?, Where can I get more information and answers to other questions about QAARWPs?
QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANS (QMPs)
What is a Quality Management Plan?, How do I develop a Quality Management Plan if my organization doesn't have a quality system?, What organizations are required to have a QMP?, Where are the specifications for QMPs established?, What documents will help me prepare my QMP?, Who reviews and approves QMPs?, How long does approval of a QMP last?, If my QMP is subject to Quality Staff review and approval, what do I submit?, If my QMP is subject to Quality Staff review and approval, is an "informal" review possible?, How long does it take for a QMP to be reviewed and approved by the Quality Staff?, What criteria does the Quality Staff use to review a QMP?, My EPA organization is developing its first QMP for Quality Staff review and approval - what assistance is available?, Will the Quality Staff notify me when my organization's QMP is going to expire?, When do I need to resubmit my QMP for Quality Staff approval?, Where can I find more information on QMPs?