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The primary goal of the EPA Quality System (i.e. QA Program) is to ensure that its environmental data are of sufficient quantity and quality to support the data's intended use. The EPA Quality System is defined by EPA Order 5360.1 A2 (May 2000) (re-numbered as CIO-2105-P-01-0) and described in the EPA Quality Manual 5360.1 A1 (May 2000). The Quality System is modeled after the national standard ANSI/ASQ E4.
The EPA Quality System requires that each EPA Office, Region, and Research and Development Laboratory or Center develop and implement supporting Quality Systems. National Risk Management Research Laboratory's (NRMRL) approach for implementing EPA Quality System requirements is described in the NRMRL Quality Management Plan (QMP).
The purpose of this website is to provide QMP information to contractors, assistance recipients, other federal agencies, and grantees on elements of NRMRL's Quality System. This information may be needed to effectively meet QA requirements defined in contracts, cooperative agreements, IAGs, or grants.
This website provides an electronic version of the NRMRL Quality Management Plan (eQMP). The eQMP is provided online so that the most current version of NRMRL's QMP is easily accessible to all NRMRL employees. To use the eQMP, use the table of contents to jump immediately to your section of interest. Use the back button in the browser or the QMP link on the left to return to the table of contents.
Quality Management Plan
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Management and Organization1.1 NRMRL Mission Statement
1.2 NRMRL Organizational Policy on Quality Assurance
1.2.1 EPA Order 5360.1 A2, May 5 2000, Policy and Program
Requirements for the Mandatory
Agency-wide Quality System
1.2.2 Information Quality Guidelines
1.2.3 Laboratory Competency Policy
1.2.4 ORD Policies for Quality Assurance
1.3 QA Organization in NRMRL
1.4 QA Roles and Responsibilities
Chapter 2: Quality System and Description2.1 Graded Approach to Research Projects
2.2 Quality-Affecting Activities
2.3 Principal Components of the Quality System
2.3.1 NRMRL Quality Management Plan
2.3.2 Quality Assurance Annual Report and Work Plan (QAARWP)
2.3.3 Extramural Quality Management Plans
2.3.4 Systematic Planning
2.3.5 Assessments
2.3.6 Data Quality Assessments
2.3.7 QA Review of Research Products
2.3.8 Computer Tracking System
2.3.9 Training
Chapter 3: Personnel Qualifications and Training Chapter 4: Procurement of Items and Services (Extramural Actions)4.1 Scope and Application
4.2 Single-Project Effort
4.3 Multiple-Project Effort
4.4 Additional Requirements for Competitive Extramural Actions Exceeding $500,000
4.5 QA Responsibilities on IAGs and CRADAs
4.6 Evaluation of Quality Deliverables
Chapter 5: Documentation and Records Chapter 6: Computer Hardware and Software Chapter 7: Planning Chapter 8: Implementation of Work Processes Chapter 9: Assessment and Response9.1 Assessment Techniques and Practices
9.2 Types of Assessments
9.2.1 Self-Assessment of a Quality System
9.2.2 Independent Assessment of a Quality System
9.2.3 Technical Self-Assessment
9.2.4 Independent Technical Assessment
9.3 Assessor Capabilities and Authority
9.4 NRMRL-Wide Assessment and Response Procedures
9.4.1 Self-Assessment of NRMRL Quality System
9.4.2 Independent Assessment of the Application of the NRMRL
Quality System in a Division
9.4.3 Independent Technical Assessment
9.5 Division Assessment and Response Procedures
9.5.1 Self-Assessment of the Application of the NRMRL Quality System to a Division
9.5.2 Independent Technical Assessment
9.6 Stop Work Order
9.7 Assessment Reports and Corrective Action
Chapter 10: Quality Improvement Chapter 11: References List of FiguresThe following supplemental sections are provided on other pages:
If you have any suggestions for improvement to the NRMRL QA Program, please call Lauren Drees at (513) 569-7087, or email her at drees.lauren@epa.gov.