ML21236A214
| ML21236A214 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/02/2021 |
| From: | Kerri Kavanagh NRC/NRR/DRO/IQVB |
| To: | Chris Miller NRC/NRR/DRO |
| Armstrong A | |
| References | |
| Download: ML21236A214 (4) | |
Text
MEMORANDUM TO:
Christopher G. Miller, Director Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM Kerri A. Kavanagh, Branch Chief Quality Assurance Vendor Inspection Branch Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Signed by Kavanagh, Kerri on 09/02/21
SUBJECT:
TRIP REPORT BY THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF OF THE ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE JOINT UTILITY TASK GROUP PROCURMENT VIRTUAL FORUM On August 17-19, 2021, Paul Prescott, and Aaron Armstrong of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Reactor Oversight, attended the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Joint Utility Task Group Procurement Virtual Forum. 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: Paul Prescott Aaron Armstrong NRR/DIRS (301) 415-3026 NRR/DIRS (301) 415-8396 September 2, 2021
ML21236A214 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DRO/IQVB NRR/DRO/IQVB NAME AArmstrong KKavanagh DATE 8/23/2021 9/2/2021
TRIP REPORT BY THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF OF THE ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE JOINT UTILITY TASK GROUP VIRTUAL PROCUREMENT FORUM Subject This trip report documents the participation and observations made by members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR),
Division of Reactor Oversight (DRO), during the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Joint Utility Task Group (JUTG) Virtual Procurement Forum held on August 17-19, 2021.
Background/Purpose The JUTG, sponsored by 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 of regulatory interest discussed during the forum included procurement engineering concepts, reverse engineering, procurement oversight of sub-suppliers, commercial-grade dedication methodologies, additive manufacturing, parts obsolescence issues and industry development of 10 CFR 50.69 risk informed procurement activities. These were presentations provided by licensees, EPRI representatives and major suppliers to the nuclear industry. All the questions and clarifications that were raised during the presentations were not new to the NRC staff.
The NRC staff provided an update which included trends in inspection findings, with a focus on control of special processes and implementation of the corrective actions program. The NRC staff also discussed issues noted during an inspection with the implementation of Information Notice (IN) 86-21, Recognition of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Accreditation Program for N Stamp Holders, and the associated two supplements regarding auditing of vendors supplying American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (B&PVC) that are also safety-related. Lastly, the NRC staff also presented on the significant changes in the NRCs revised safety evaluation (SE) for implementing the Nuclear Energy Institutes (NEIs)14-05A, Guidelines for the Use of Accreditation in Lieu of Commercial Grade Surveys for Procurement of Laboratory Calibration and Test Services, Revision 1. The NRC staff also discussed the SE endorsing the use of EPRIs Technical Report 3002019436, Remote Assessment Techniques: Planning and Conducting Audits and Surveys Using Remote Techniques During Exigent Conditions, for use of remote audit techniques during exigent conditions. There were several questions related to the procurement of items produced using 3D additive manufacturing and the agencys position on the topic. The NRC staff offered to Enclosure
provide the current agency position as part of its update at the next JUTG meeting. The slides from the staffs presentation are publically available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) via accession number ML21231A298.
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