Guidance Documents

• The Department of Defense Quality Systems Manual (QSM) for Environmental Laboratories, Version 4.1 provides implementation guidance on the establishment and management of quality systems for environmental testing laboratories that intend to perform work for DoD. This manual is utilized by the DoD Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (DoD ELAP) to accredit laboratories. The QSM is based on the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conferences (NELAC) Quality System requirements, and is consistent with ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
  Frequently asked questions about Version 4.1 of the QSM .

• Method 8330B introduces several concepts that are new or are a change from 8330 and 8330A. The objectives of the "Guide for Implementing EPA SW-846 Method 8330B" are to highlight those steps that represent a change from historical sampling and analytical methodologies, to provide recommendations as to the appropriate use of the concepts presented in Method 8330B, and to provide recommended minimum method QC requirements for laboratories performing Method 8330B.

• Department of Defense Quality Systems Manual (QSM) for Environmental Laboratories, Version 3
  Frequently asked questions about Version 3 of the QSM.

• Detection and Quantitation Fact Sheet.

• Contained in the DoD Quality Systems Manual are laboratory control sample limits (LCS-CL). These LCS-CLs were developed in a study based on empirical data collected from commercial environmental laboratories. The objectives of the Laboratory Control Sample Control Limits Study were to develop LCS-CLs which must be used by laboratories doing work for DoD and to establish objective benchmarks for analytical method performance to assist in evaluating the suitability of alternative methods.  

• The Uniform Federal Policy for Implementing Environmental Quality Systems (UFP) provides requirements and guidelines to Federal agencies for documenting and implementing acceptable environmental quality systems. The policy was developed as a joint initiative by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  (U.S. EPA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure that:  environmental data are of known and documented quality and suitable for their intended uses, and environmental data collection and technology programs meet stated requirements. The policy can be used as guidance for developing new quality systems or evaluating the adequacy of existing quality systems.

• The Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans (UFP-QAPP) is a set of consensus documents prepared by the Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force (IDQTF) to  provide instructions for preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for any environmental data collection operation. On 11 April 2006 the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, Mr. Alex Beehler, issued a memorandum, requesting DoD components begin immediate implementation of the UFP-QAPP. The UFP-QAPP provides worksheets to assist in preparation of the QAPP and an electronic version of these worksheets has been created.

• The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security (DUSD (ES)) chartered the EDQW to develop environmental sampling and testing policy for DoD. The DoD Best Practices for Data Quality Oversight of Environmental Sampling and Testing Activities, Final Report, May 1999, serves as the general EDQW framework strategy for developing this policy. The report was concurred upon by all DoD Components, and provided to both the DoD Inspector General (IG) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO).

  Since national and international standards continue to evolve, EDQW must periodically adapt its strategy to meet changing requirements. To this end, the EDQW updates the Best Practices document on a two year cycle.   The most recent updates can be found in the November 2000 Implementation Status Report and the April 2002 Implementation Status Report.
   

• The Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual (OPNAVINST 5090.1C) discusses requirements, delineates responsibilities, and documents policy for the managing environmental and natural resource issues for all Navy ships and shore Activities. Chapter 29 of the Manual contains policy and guidance applicable to environmental sampling and testing for Navy shore facilities. Chapter 29 applies to all organizations, public and private, that perform environmental sampling and testing for the Navy.
  

• The Navy Environmental Compliance Sampling and Field Testing Procedures Manual (NAVSEAT0300-AZ-PRO-010, Revision 1), provides detailed instructions for specific sampling and testing activities.
  

• Naval Facilities Engineering Services Center (NFESC), which is under NAVFAC, is responsible for providing direction, policy guidance, and funding for QA/QC issues involving installation restoration. Towards this effort the NFESC has produced the Navy Installation Restoration Chemical Data Quality Manual (IR CDQM), containing requirements and guidance designed to ensure that Navy sample collection and laboratory analysis activities, involving installation restoration, generates data that meet project requirements, and are technically defensible and legally admissible.
  

• As ISO 17025 is integrated into the NELAC Quality Systems Standard, one of the new requirements for environmental laboratories is that they have and apply procedures for estimating the uncertainty of their measurements. When required, a statement of these uncertainties must be included in the analytical report. There are various approaches to estimating uncertainty with varying degrees of rigor and ease of application. Analytical Measurement Uncertainty Estimation For Environmental Sampling and Testing Data (DTIC # ADA396946), presents an approach for estimating analytical measurement uncertainty using existing data that are generated as part of routine laboratory quality control practices. Two tools available to help apply this approach to calculating uncertainty are a standard operating procedure and an excel spreadsheet.
   

• Department of Defense Policy and Guidelines for Acquisitions Involving Environmental Sampling or Testing  establishes procedures and responsibilities regarding the implementation of minimum quality systems performance standards through solicitations and contracts involving environmental sampling or testing. The policy provides flexible guidelines, so that Components can apply them in a common-sense and workable manner.  It incorporates the principle of a graded approach, i.e., quality systems will vary according to the objectives and requirements of specific organizations and programs, and the level of detail in quality systems documents will vary according to the type of work being performed and the intended uses of the data.  The policy was issued December 2007 by the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) and the Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy.

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