ML18345A002
| ML18345A002 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/15/2019 |
| From: | Ho Nieh Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Baker B NRC/OIG/AIGA |
| Cusumano V, NRR/DSS, 301-415-4011 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18239A42 | List: |
| References | |
| OEDO-18-00440 | |
| Download: ML18345A002 (5) | |
Text
January 15, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO: Dr. Brett M. Baker Assistant Inspector General for Audits Office of the Inspector General FROM: Ho K. Nieh, Director /RA by Brian McDermott for/
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
STATUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AUDIT OF THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS PROCESS FOR MODIFYING AND COMMUNICATING STANDARD TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (OIG-18-A-15)
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with a status update on the eight recommendations in OIG-18-A-15, Audit of NRCs Process for Modifying and Communicating Standard Technical Specifications, dated June 18, 2018 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML18169A142).
Enclosure:
Staff Response cc: Chairman Svinicki Commissioner Baran Commissioner Burns Commissioner Caputo Commissioner Wright SECY CONTACTS: Mirela Gavrilas, NRR/DSS (301) 415-3283 Victor G. Cusumano, NRR/DSS (301) 415-4011
Memo: ML18345A002; Pkg.: ML18239A427 NRR-106
- Concurred via e-mail OFFICE NRR/DSS/STSB/BC QTE* OGC* - NLO NRC/DORL/D*
NAME VCusumano JDougherty DRoth CErlanger (KBrock)
DATE 12/18/2018 12/13/2018 12/20/2018 1/3/2019 OFFICE OCFO/DC/C* OCIO/GEMSD/D* OCFO/CFO/D* OCIO/D*
NAME GPeterson (DDAbate) JMoses MWylie DNelson (SFlanders)
DATE 1/8/2019 1/8/2019 1/8/2019 1/7/2019 OFFICE NRR/DSS/D NRR/D NAME MGavrilas HNieh (BMcDermott for)
DATE 1/2/2019 1/15/2019 STAFF RESPONSE TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALS AUDIT OF THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS PROCESS FOR MODIFYING AND COMMUNICATING STANDARD TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OIG-18-A-15 In OIG-18-A-10, Audit of NRCs Process for Modifying and Communicating Standard Technical Specifications, the Office of the Inspector General provided eight recommendations to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff for improving the traveler review and adoption process. The Office of the Inspector Generals recommendations are given below, followed by the NRC staffs status update.
Recommendation 1 (Complete):
Establish Technical Specifications Branch knowledge management requirements relative to agency and office knowledge management policy.
NRC Staff Response and Status Update:
The staff held branch-specific training on knowledge management requirements during branch meetings in October 2018. The branch has assigned a backup project manager, who has taken on several projects as on-the-job training. Additionally, LIC-600, Standard Technical Specifications Change Traveler Review and Adoption Process (ADAMS Accession No. ML16082A125), the office instruction for processing Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF) travelers, was updated in 2018.
Recommendation 2 (Complete):
Implement Technical Specifications Branch knowledge management procedures.
NRC Staff Response and Status Update:
The branch-specific training plan was fully implemented in April 2018, and the Technical Specifications Branch staff received training during branch meetings in October 2018 to ensure staff members at all levels understand their role in knowledge management.
Recommendation 3 (Complete):
Finalize and implement the revised Traveler Review and Adoption Process (LIC-600).
NRC Staff Response The NRC issued LIC-600, Standard Technical Specifications Change Traveler Review and Adoption Process, on July 20, 2018.
Recommendation 4 (Complete):
Complete corrective action on open Master Data Management (MDM) Executive Steering Committee identified items that affect the Traveler modification process.
Enclosure
NRC Staff Response and Status Update:
The staff deployed the Cost Activity Code System (CACS)-Replacement Reactor Program System (RRPS) labor hour feeds on July 30, 2018.
Recommendation 5 (Complete):
Identify and communicate Technical Specifications Branch Traveler modification process user needs.
NRC Staff Response and Status Update:
The staff developed the system requirements for the RRPS modification process. The Technical Specifications Branch project manager worked with the staff in the Special Projects and Process Branch of the Division of Operating Reactor Licensing (DOLR) in NRR to develop and implement new templates in RRPS for traveler reviews. These new templates accurately reflect the milestones used in traveler review process.
Recommendation 6 (Complete):
Incorporate Technical Specifications Branch Traveler modification process user needs and terminology into work planning and relevant systems.
NRC Staff Response and Status Update:
The staff implemented the new system requirements developed to support the user needs related to the Technical Specifications Branch traveler modification process in the RRPS Licensing Module.
Recommendation 7 (Completed in Previous Reporting Period):
Recommendation 8 (Planned):
Implement quality assurance measures to address billing verification and oversight.
NRC Staff Response and Status Update:
The staff agrees with the recommendation. Corrective actions are in process.
A new Cost Activity Code (CAC) / Docket / Enterprise Project Identifier (EPID) coding structure for fee billable work and the new CACS for managing the CAC codes and staff assignments was implemented in FY2018. The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) has undertaken a project to improve the fees validation process. The objective is to implement a clearly defined validation process that is effective and efficient for all staff and management to follow. The validation process provides improved accountability and control over the data, provides a complete and timely validation and certification of all Part 170 hours0.00197 days <br />0.0472 hours <br />2.810847e-4 weeks <br />6.4685e-5 months <br /> and contract costs, and results in improved billing accuracy. The OCFO, Accounts Receivable Branch (ARB), is leading this effort with participation from program and regional office staff.
A key component of the fees standardization validation process is the identification of the EPID contact and the EPID contact supervisor who will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all labor and contract costs recorded to an EPID for a given docket or licensee:
- The OCFO is currently modifying the CACS to allow for the functions of creating and managing EPIDs. Like the previous approach to cost activity codes, the CACS will become the single authoritative source for managing EPIDs. As the management of EPIDs transitions to the CACS from the Enterprise Data Management System, the OCFO will establish controls over EPID setup to ensure the accuracy of the EPID contact and EPID contact supervisor.
- The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is modifying the Reactor Program System (RPS) to include the EPID contact and EPID contact supervisor as required fields when creating inspection and licensing EPIDs for interfacing into the CACS and the Human Resource Management System for labor reporting.
- Once the CACS and RPS have been modified and controls are in place for managing EPIDs, Accounts Receivable Branch staff will work with the program and regional office staff to finalize the new fees standardization validation process and provide training on the new process.
Target date for completion: June 30, 2019
Contact:
Jawanza Gibbs-Nicholson, OCFO (301) 415-5245