QASP
Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan
1. Objective. This Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) serves as the principal basis for assessing overall performance quality associated with Seaport-e contracted support services. This document will be used by the Government to assess the effectiveness of the Dependable Global Solutions’ (DGS) quality with respect to management and technical services provided. This QASP provides the methodology by which DGS’s performance will be monitored to determine compliance with established performance objectives and to establish performance benchmarks that ensure a quantifiable basis for measuring effectiveness. The plan is designed so that surveillance is limited to that which is necessary to verify the Contractor is performing management and technical services satisfactorily and relates directly to performance objectives of the performance objectives delineated in the PWS.
2. Government Surveillance. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will serve as the administering authority for this contract, and his authority will be limited to administering specific technical aspects of the contract and task orders. The COR will not provide direction that is outside the scope of responsibilities delineated under this contract and task orders and will defer any conditional interpretations to the Contracting Officer. The COR will:
- Maintain a detailed knowledge of the technical requirements of the contract;
- Document Contractor performance in accordance with the QASP;
- Identify and immediately forward notifications of deficient, or non-compliant performance to the Contracting Officer;
- Approve priorities of support, resources, and associated schedules.
3. Surveillance Methods. Surveillance of Contractor performance is the method used by the Government to determine whether the contractor is effectively and efficiently complying with all terms and conditions of the task order. In addition to statistical analysis, the functional expertise of the COR plays a critical role in adequately evaluating contractor performance. The below listed methods of surveillance shall be used in the administration of this QASP:
Demonstration – A qualification method that is carried out by operation and relies on observable functional operation. It does not require the use of instrumentation or special test equipment;
Analysis - A qualification method that is carried out by examining and assessing the application of techniques in order to determine if they are appropriate and sufficient. The quality of performance can be determined from government or contractor task-based or Management Information System (MIS) reports, contractor techniques and procedures, or from government observation of completed tasks. In some instances, reports may be available in the form of information on a contractor’s performance against contract requirements. Reports generally provide information regarding various characteristics of tasks and can, therefore, be used to determine acceptability of a contractor’s performance.
Inspections – A qualitative inspection can be accomplished through one of the following techniques:
- Random/Stratified Sampling: With random sampling, services are sampled to determine if the level of performance is acceptable. Random sampling works best when the number of instances of the services being performed is very large and a statistically valid sample can be obtained. Stratified sampling focuses on selected parts of total contractor output for sampling. Computer programs may be available to assist in establishing sampling procedures.
- Periodic Inspection, Judgmental Inspection or Planned Sampling: This method, sometimes called “planned sampling”, consists of the evaluation of tasks selected on other than a 100% or random basis.
4. Performance Requirements. The performance requirements set forth in this section correspond to the material content cited in the PWS and the evaluation factors. Corresponding ratings will be generated for each of the weighted performance areas and aggregated monthly. The COR will track performance using a moving average and reconcile performance with the Contractors Program Manager and Task Leads. This information will also be shared with the Contracting Officer and included in CPARs reports and any past performance assistance requests:
| Performance Characteristic / Wt. | RFP Relationship | Evaluation Rating[1] |
| Quality of Work Performed: .30 | Factor 1 – Technical Capability | Excellent / Exceeds: >.95
Acceptable / Meets: .80 – .94 Unacceptable: <.80 |
| Responsiveness / Planning: .30 | Factor 2 – Performance Execution & Management | Excellent / Exceeds: >.95
Acceptable / Meets: .80 – .94 Unacceptable: <.80 |
| Staffing: .15 | Factor 1 – Technical Capability Factor 2 – Performance Execution & Management | Excellent / Exceeds: >.95
Acceptable / Meets: .80 – .94 Unacceptable: <.80 |
| Management & Administration: .25 | Factor 1 – Technical Capability Factor 2 – Performance Execution & Management | Excellent / Exceeds: >.95
Acceptable / Meets: .80 – .94 Unacceptable: <.80 |
The criteria that will be used to accomplish the evaluation ratings is derived from the RFP and from the elements of performance determined to be most influential to performance as mutually agreed upon by the COR and Program Manager.
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SURVEY (PRS)
| Performance Characteristic | Target Standard | Measurement |
| Quality of Work Performed:
Use of resources to provide acceptable or better results through the following:
|
< 5% rejection rate of services completed under the performance provisions of the task order; and
<10% rejection rate of services. |
- Reconciled monthly by COR.
Consequence of Non-compliance - Contractor Consideration |
Responsiveness: Effective use of resources to meet ongoing requirements including:
|
Response provided to COR within 24-hrs., strategy provided to COR <48-hrs. from notification, including:
- WBS review; - Approach agreement; and - Availability of staff. |
- Reconciled monthly
by COR. Consequence of Non-compliance - Contractor Consideration |
Planning: Includes the effective use of the WBS as a principal management tool, assignment of staff to work priorities and tasks therein delineated, and effectively managed, including:
|
WBS stability and forecast use of labor resources to meet quality standards without increasing current performance scope (e.g., change orders <1%); and
<5% vacancy based upon scheduled departures (e.g., 30-days notice) for backfill of staff |
-Number of change
orders submitted to COR and PCO; -Reconciled monthly by COR. Consequence of Non-compliance - Contractor Consideration |
Staffing: Includes qualified staff to meet requirements:
|
Staff stability maintained at 90% of target WBS allocation;
New hires within 30-days of notification of vacancy; Subcontractor staffing pulls <10-days from notification of vacancy; and <14-days backfill for unscheduled staff departures. |
-Reconciled monthly
by COR. Consequence of Non-compliance – Extended periods of vacancy for staff, or consequential impacts to performance may warrant financial consideration - Termination |
| Management and Administration:
Includes the following measures of performance and compliance:
|
Aggregation of subordinated areas assessed using progressively more objective criteria – ratings considered:
Excellent – Exceeded performance expectations and abated, or immediately mitigated known problems; Acceptable – Met performance expectations and generally responded to problems in a satisfactory manner; and Unacceptable – Areas of inconsistent performance, prolific problems remain unresolved, and two (2), or more performance areas are noted as substandard. |
-Reconciled monthly
by COR. Consequence of Non-compliance – Irresponsible management with consequential impacts to performance may warrant financial consideration - Termination |
[1] Numerical values for the adjectival ratings are: >.95 – Excellent – Exceeds standard compliance; .80 – .94 standard compliance – Acceptable; and <.80 – unacceptable.