Safety Software Quality Assurance

Draft 3/31/2006

Suggested lines of inquiry and review approach

Performance Objective 1: Contractor Program Documentation:

While this performance objective is focused on the Contractor, there are instances where DOE may be the performer of the work. Where DOE is the performer the contractor requirements as stated herein apply to the DOE organization doing the work.

1.1 Safety Software Inventory:  An inventory of safety software is identified, documented, and maintained.

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1.2 Safety Software Graded Approach: Establish grading levels for safety software. Document those grading levels in the QAP. [Suggested rewrite] Grading levels for safety software are established and documented in the QAP.

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1.3 Safety Software Quality Assurance Consensus Standard: ASME NQA 1-2000, Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications, or other national or international consensus standards that provide an equivalent level of quality assurance requirements as ASME NQA 1 2000, are specified by the user and approved by DOE.

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Performance Objective 2: Contractor Program Implementation:

Work processes involving safety software must be developed and implemented using the DOE approved national or international consensus standards (as per the criteria in Section 1.3 above) and must include the following elements.

2.1 Facility Design Authority Involvement: Facility design authority is involved in the identification of software requirements specification, acquisition, design, development, verification and validation (including inspection and testing), configuration management, maintenance, and retirement.

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2.2  Select and Implement Work Activities:  Using DOE approved grading levels (as per the criteria in Section 1.2 above) and ASME NQA-1-2000, Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications, or other DOE approved national or international consensus standards that provide an equivalent level of quality assurance requirements as ASME NQA 1 2000, applicable SQA work activities are selected and implemented from the following list to ensure that safety software performs its intended functions.

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2.3 Software Project Management and Quality Planning: Software project management and quality planning depicts the organizational structure that supports the software life-cycle stages and deliverables, and influences and controls the quality of the software.

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2.4 Software Risk Management: Software risk management utilizes a proactive and disciplined approach to assess and control software risks.

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2.5 Software Configuration Management: Software configuration is defined, maintained, and controlled until the software is retired.

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2.6 Procurement and Supplier Management: Acquired safety software, either commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software or custom-developed for DOE, meets the appropriate level of QA based on risk, safety, facility life-cycle, complexity, and project quality requirements.

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2.7 Software Requirements Identification and Management: Safety software functions, requirements, and their bases are defined, documented and managed throughout the safety software life-cycle.

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2.8 Software Design and Implementation: The safety software design depicting the logical structure, information flow, logical processing steps, data structures and interfaces are defined and documented. The design is properly implemented in the safety software.

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2.9 Software Safety: The design of the safety software components is developed to ensure the software modules perform their intended safety function in a manner consistent with the implementation of the safety system.

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2.10 Verification and Validation (V&V): The V&V process and related documentation for software are defined and maintained to ensure, (1), the software correctly performs all its intended functions; (2), the software does not perform any adverse unintended function; and (3), the operation of the software addresses the original purpose, intent, and plan.

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2.11 Problem Reporting and Corrective Action: Methods for documenting software problem reporting, and corrective action for safety software errors and failures are established, maintained, and controlled.

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Review documents and interview facility staff for the problem reporting and notification process to determine whether-

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2.12 Training of Personnel in the Design, Development, Use, and Evaluation of Safety Software: Personnel are trained/qualified and capable of performing assigned work. Continuing training to personnel to maintain job proficiency is provided.

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Performance Objective 3: DOE Line Management Oversight Documentation:

Federal personnel have the technical competency to perform SQA responsibilities: Federal personnel with SQA responsibilities have technical competency to carry out their duties. Technical qualification requirements are specified in technical qualification standards. The process has been coordinated with the Federal Technical Capability Panel (FTCP) in accordance with the requirements of DOE M 426.1-1A, Federal Technical Capability Manual, dated May 18, 2004, and DOE STD-1172-2003, Safety Software Quality Assurance Functional Area Qualification Standard, dated December 2003.

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