NASA Procedures and Guidelines
This Document is Obsolete and Is No Longer Used. Check the NODIS Library to access the current version: http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov
NPR 8735.2B Eff. Date: August 12, 2013 Cancellation Date:	Management of Government Quality Assurance Functions for NASA Contracts
| TOC | Preface | Chapter1 | Chapter2 | Chapter3 | Chapter4 | Chapter5 | Chapter6 | Chapter7 | Chapter8 | AppendixA | AppedixB | AppendixC | ALL |

Chapter 3. Program/Project Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (PQASP)

3.1 Overview

This chapter provides requirements for development of PQASPs for critical and complex acquisition items as defined in paragraph 2.1.1 of this NPR. The purpose of PQASPs is to identify, in a single unified document, all contractor work operations requiring Government surveillance and the specific method(s) for providing surveillance.

Note: FAR Subpart 46.4 requires the development of contract-specific quality assurance surveillance plans for high- dollar and/or critical Federal acquisitions. Contract-specific quality assurance surveillance plans may be embedded in PQASPs, serve as stand-alone documents, or, for circumstances where the program/project has a single contractor, be equivalent to the PQASP.

3.2 PQASP Preparation and Content

3.2.1 Program/project managers and/or the assigned NASA SMA Lead shall prepare PQASPs that (Requirement):

a. Describe the activities, metrics, control mechanisms, and organizations that will be conducting quality assurance functions for the program/project.

b. Are contained in a consolidated and integrated document (i.e., not divided among various/separate documents). The PQASP may be a part of a larger program/project safety and mission assurance plan or may be a stand-alone document.

c. Incorporate applicable requirements from FAR Part 46 (e.g., contract-specific quality assurance surveillance plan), NFS Part 1846, NPD 8730.5, Chapter 2 of this NPR, and other related documents (e.g., Program/Project Plan, Risk Management Plan, contract, GMIP schedule). The PQASP may cite reference procedures and plans for the performance of specific surveillance actions (e.g., inspections, tests).

d. Are initially prepared in conjunction with the Statement of Work and periodically adjusted thereafter based on identification of new/changing risk factors and associated mitigation actions (e.g., GMIPs) as the program/project progresses through pre-award activities, Request for Proposal responses, and post-award activities. Risk factor considerations are provided in Appendix C of this NPR.

3.2.2 PQASP authors shall include the following in the PQASP (Requirement):

3.2.2.1 Introduction. Identify the program/project under surveillance; summarize the program/project objectives; and summarize the contents of the applicable contract(s).

3.2.2.2 Objectives. Identify the specific outcomes of quality assurance actions in terms that are quantifiable and measurable.

3.2.2.3 Reference Documents. Identify documents related to performance of quality assurance functions (e.g., NASA Directives, the Program/Project Plan, the Risk Management Plan, program/project requirements documents, the contract, invoked quality system requirements).

3.2.2.4 Surveillance Functions. Identify the quality assurance surveillance functions to be performed for the program/project in accordance with Chapter 2 of this NPR and the following:

a. Document Review. Identify the quality system procedures to be reviewed and the schedule for document review.

b. Product Assurance.

(1) Identify specific product examinations to be performed including whether these actions are to be performed on a one-for-one, continuing, random, and/or periodic basis.

(2) Identify specific processes to be witnessed including whether these actions are to be performed on a one-for-one, continuing, random, and/or periodic basis.

(3) Identify contractor records to be reviewed including whether the records are to be verified on a one-for-one, continuing, random, and/or periodic basis.

(4) Where sampling is called out, identify specific statistically based sampling plans for product examination, process witnessing, and record review.

(5) List all required GMIPs including product examinations, process witnessing, and record review actions.

(6) Provide a schedule for review of contractor planning documents to ensure that all required GMIPs are correctly incorporated.

(7) Describe the methodology for product assurance monitoring based on changing risk factors including the addition/deletion of temporary GMIPs.

(8) Describe the methodology for validating accomplishment of GMIPs and other mandatory surveillance actions.

c. Quality System Evaluation.

(1) Identify the specific quality system elements to be reviewed.

(2) Develop an audit plan identifying the attributes to be audited. SAE AS9101, Quality Management Systems Audit Requirements for Aviation, Space and Defense Organizations, provides attributes for contractors working to SAE AS9100 quality systems.

(3) Provide a schedule for performance of quality system audits.

d. Quality Data Analysis.

(1) Identify the sources of contractor quality data.

(2) Identify contractor performance metrics to be tracked.

(3) Identify the format and periodicity for reporting contractor performance metrics.

e. Nonconformance Reporting and Corrective Action. Identify the tools, methodology, and format for:

(1) Documentation of nonconformances.

(2) Tracking of nonconformance resolution.

(3) Approval of contractor corrective action responses.

(4) Government follow-up to ensure contractor implementation of effective corrective measures.

f. Final Acceptance. Identify the tools and methods for:

(1) Conduct of final inspection including identification of inspection attributes.

(2) Validation that there are no outstanding corrective actions affecting acceptability of product.

(3) Validation that there are no outstanding or unauthorized engineering departures impacting acceptability of product.

(4) Validation that all GMIPs and other mandatory surveillance actions have been accomplished, including item-by-item accountability for each safety-critical GMIP.

3.2.2.5 Government Metrics. Identify the metrics to be used to assess and report accomplishment of Government quality assurance functions as prescribed in the PQASP and how these metrics will be used to adjust quality assurance activities.

3.2.2.6 Surveillance Organization. Identify the organizational entities of the program/project that will be performing surveillance (i.e., NASA, the delegated agency, and/or quality assurance support contractors), their assigned responsibilities, and their authority to act.

3.2.2.7 Quality Assurance Resources. Identify the personnel, funding, and material resources to be applied to the program/project quality assurance effort.

DISTRIBUTION:
NODIS