ML19274C631
| ML19274C631 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/04/2019 |
| From: | Aaron Armstrong, Kerri Kavanagh NRC/NRR/DIRS/IQVB |
| To: | Chris Miller Division of Inspection and Regional Support |
| Armstrong A | |
| References | |
| Download: ML19274C631 (4) | |
Text
October 4, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO: Chris G. Miller, Director Division of Inspection and Regional Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM Kerri A. Kavanagh, Branch Chief /RA/
Quality Assurance Vendor Inspection Branch Division of Inspection and Regional Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
TRIP REPORT BY THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF OF THE ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE JOINT UTILITY TASK GROUP PROCURMENT FORUM On August 12-16, 2019, Jeffery Jacobson and Aaron Armstrong of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Inspection and Regional Support, attended the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Joint Utility Task Group Procurement Forum in Clearwater, Florida. The procurement forum provides open communication for EPRI members and their suppliers to discuss issues related to procurement engineering. The purpose of the staffs participation was to inform industry stakeholders on current regulatory guidance and trends in inspection findings with potential impact on procurement issues. The trip report of the staffs participation and observations is enclosed.
CONTACT: Jeffery Jacobson Aaron Armstrong NRR/DIRS (301) 415-2977 NRR/DIRS (301) 415-8396
ML19274C631 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DIRS/QVIB NRR/DIRS/QVIB NAME AArmstrong KKavanagh DATE 10/1/2019 10/4/2019 ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE JOINT UTILITY TASK GROUP PROCURMENT FORUM TRIP REPORT Subject This trip report documents the participation and observations made by members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) Office of New Reactors (NRO), Division of Construction Inspection and Operational Programs (DCIP), during the Joint Utility Task Group (JUTG) Procurement Forum held on August 12-16, 2019 in Clearwater, Florida.
Background/Purpose The JUTG, sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), was formed in 1989.
The purpose of the JUTG is to provide open communication amongst utilities and suppliers to discuss issues related to procurement engineering. The JUTG is comprised of procurement engineering, quality assurance, and management personnel from various utilities and equivalent positions from suppliers.
The purpose of the NRC staffs participation at this forum was to inform industry stakeholders on current regulatory guidance and trends in inspection findings with potential impact on procurement issues. Additionally, the NRC staff identifies and addresses issues of concern that need clarification regarding regulatory compliance for implementation of procurement processes.
Discussion Topics discussed during the forum included procurement engineering concepts, knowledge management transfer, reverse engineering, procurement oversight of sub-suppliers, commercial-grade item dedication requirements and issues, industry development of 10 CFR 50.69 risk informed procurement program activities, and compliance with changes to American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). Additionally, there were presentations provided by licensees and major suppliers of the nuclear industry.
Topics presented included: potential counterfeit suspect and fraudulent items in the supply chain, development of reverse engineering programs and owner repair/replacement program issues in the industry. All the questions and clarifications that were raised during the presentations are not new to the staff.
The NRC staff provided a regulatory update which included trends in fourth quarter vendor inspection findings, with a focus on current dedication issues associated with circuit interrupting current rating. The NRC staff also presented on the new revision Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0617 and a discussion on the inclusion of Safety Conscious Work Environment guidance for vendor inspectors. During the NRC regulatory update, the NRC staff summarized and discussed the fiscal year 2019 NRC vendor inspection findings to date. The staff also discussed topics on supplier oversight issues. There were several questions related to the procurement of RISC 3 items under 10 CFR Part 21 and the RISC 3 alternative treatments controls of 10 CFR 50.69. The staff is defining the gap that needs to be addressed based on the questions received on this topic at different venues. There were several clarification requests associated with supplier oversight and issues associated with inadequate oversight of suppliers (domestic &
international) and with suppliers not adequately imposing the requirements of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 21 to their sub-suppliers in the procurement documents.
Enclosure
The slides from the staffs presentation are publically available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) via accession number ML19211D169.
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