NASA Procedures and Guidelines
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NPR 7120.11 Eff. Date: November 01, 2011 Cancellation Date: August 03, 2021	NASA Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) Implementation
| TOC | Preface | Chapter1 | Chapter2 | Chapter3 | Chapter4 | AppendixA | AppendixB | AppendixC | AppendixD | AppendixE | ALL |

Chapter 2. Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) Roles and Responsibilities

2.1 The CHMO is the HMTA as authorized by NPD 1000.0, NASA Governance and Strategic Management and NPD 8900.5, NASA Health and Medical Policy for Human Space Exploration. The CHMO shall be responsible for:

a. Providing overall leadership of the HMTA process for human space flight programs/projects, R&T programs/projects (as appropriate), and NASA-unique occupational health requirements described in paragraph 1.4.3 of this NPR.

b. Establishing and maintaining unique NASA health, medical, and human performance policy, procedural requirements, and technical standards.

c. Ensuring effective implementation of the HMTA process (including documentation, HMTA points of contact, compliance verification, and resolution of HMTA dissenting opinions) throughout the Agency.

d. Appointing a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at designated Centers, who shall be a NASA civil service physician.

e. Developing, with Center Directors, Center HMTA Implementation/Awareness Plans for each Center.

f. Developing HMTA awareness training modules for use by engineering and SMA personnel at NASA Centers.

g. Certifying, through established Agency processes, that programs and projects comply with Agency health and medical requirements prior to human space flight missions.

h. Designating an OCHMO HMTA point of contact (POC) for resolution of non-human space flight issues.

i. Hearing dissenting opinions resulting from HMTA decisions when they cannot be resolved at lower levels.

2.2 The Chief Engineer, through agreement with the CHMO (Appendices C and D), is responsible for supporting HMTA implementation through the utilization of engineering personnel as HMTA awareness and communication links at each Center, as described in this NPR. The OCE will assist the OCHMO in implementing HMTA awareness training at NASA Centers. Compliance verification of HMTA implementation across the Agency will be assessed through OCHMO participation in the OCE Requirements Compliance Survey process.

2.3 The Chief, SMA, through agreement with the CHMO (Appendices C and D), is responsible for supporting HMTA implementation through the utilization of SMA personnel as HMTA awareness and communication links at each Center, as described in this NPR. The OSMA will assist the OCHMO in implementing HMTA awareness training at NASA Centers.

2.4 NASA Center Directors shall be responsible for:

a. Concurring with the CHMO appointment of a Center CMO, where assigned, to exercise HMTA for specified activities conducted at that Center.

b. Developing with the CMO (if applicable) and the OCHMO a Center HMTA Implementation/Awareness Plan.

c. Ensuring that necessary resources are provided to effectively implement HMTA at the Center.

d. Providing assurance that NASA programs and projects resident at the Center are in compliance with established health and medical policy, procedural requirements, and technical standards through the processes specified in the Center's HMTA Implementation/Awareness Plan.

2.5 The CMO at the designated Center shall be responsible for:

a. Exercising HMTA at the Center as described in this NPR and the Center's HMTA Implementation/Awareness Plan.

b. Establishing interfaces with the Program/Project Engineering and SMA Technical Authorities as the HMTA awareness and communication links, as described in Appendix C of this NPR.

c. Establishing interfaces with assigned POCs from the JSC CMO and the HQ OCHMO for identification and resolution of HMTA issues.

d. Ensuring that proposed changes to, and waivers of, health and medical policy, procedural requirements, and technical standards are submitted to and acted on by the appropriate level of HMTA.

e. Ensuring that dissenting opinions for health and medical policy, procedural requirements, and technical standards are acted on by the appropriate level of HMTA.

f. Developing with the OCHMO a Center HMTA Implementation/Awareness Plan and obtaining the Center Director's concurrence.

g. Providing recommendations for improvements to health and medical technical standards and requirements.

2.6 At Centers other than JSC, program/project engineering and SMA TAs shall be responsible for:

a. Implementing HMTA awareness within the assigned program/project at the Center, as described in this NPR and the Center's HMTA Implementation/Awareness Plan.

b. Implementing communication flow paths within the program/project team for engineering and SMA personnel to identify potential HMTA issues.

c. Implementing interfaces and communication flow paths with the appropriate level of HMTA (CMO, JSC POC, or OCHMO POC) for identification and resolution of potential HMTA issues.

d. Ensuring that appropriate program/project engineering and SMA personnel have received HMTA awareness training provided by the OCHMO.

e. In coordination with the appropriate HMTA contact, informing the program/project manager and Center management of potential HMTA issues.

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