Display Related Directives to this directive.

U.S. Department of Energy ORDER
DOE O 252.1
Washington, D.C.

Approved: 11-19-99
Sunset Review: 11-19-01

SUBJECT: TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM

1. OBJECTIVES. The Technical Standards Program (TSP) promotes the use of voluntary
consensus standards by the Department of Energy (DOE), provides DOE with the means to
develop needed technical standards, and manages overall technical standards information,
activities, issues, and interactions. This Order uses the term "technical standards" in a manner
consistent with the definitions for technical standards contained in Public Law 104-113 (PL 104-
113), the "National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995," and Office of
Management and Budget Circular No. A-119 (OMB A-119), Federal Participation in the
Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment
Activities. DOE Technical Standards cover performance-based or design-specific technical
specifications and related management systems practices, and span classification of components;
delineation of procedures; specification of materials, products, performance, design, or
operations; and definitions of terms or measurements of quality and quantity in describing
materials, products, systems, services, or practices. The technical standards documents defined
and managed by the TSP include DOE Standards, Handbooks, Specifications, and Technical
Standards Lists, as outlined in DOE G 252.1-1, TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM
GUIDE, and the Technical Standards Program Procedures (TSPPs). The objectives of this
Order include the following:

a. Provide the means for DOE to implement the technical standards-related policy and
requirements mandated for Federal agencies by PL104-113 and OMB A-119.

b. Establish the TSP as DOE's management system for conducting its internal technical
standards activities, consistent with the Directives System (i.e., DOE P 450.2A, DOE O
251.1A, DOE M-251.1-1A), the Department Standards Program, the Integrated Safety
Management System (i.e., DOE P 450.4, DOE O 450.4-1), and commitments made in
response to Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 91-1, "Strengthen
Nuclear Safety Standards Program."

c. Establish the formal and structured processes and procedures of the TSP as the means for
initiating, screening, developing, coordinating, approving, and maintaining DOE Technical
Standards, and for bringing unauthorized documents under the scrutiny of the Directives
System to facilitate either their formal incorporation into the Directives System or the TSP,
or their removal from circulation as DOE-sponsored documents.

d. Provide DOE interface with the Interagency Committee on Standards Policy, other Federal
agencies, and national and international standards development organizations on broad
technical standards issues and activities.

e. Encourage and support the participation of DOE individuals and organizations in DOE
topical committees and national and international standards development organizations
involved in the development of voluntary consensus standards important to DOE interests,
functions, and missions.

f. Promote the use of voluntary consensus standards within DOE and provide a recognized
and efficient path for the transfer of new and emerging technologies to and from DOE and
the U.S. private sector.

2. CANCELLATION. DOE 1300.2A, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TECHNICAL
STANDARDS PROGRAM, dated 5-19-92.

3. APPLICABILITY.

a. DOE Elements. All DOE Elements engaged in technical standards activities on behalf of
DOE or engaged in the planning, development, coordination, approval, issuance, revision,
cancellation, conversion, or periodic review of DOE technical standards are to follow this
Order, except as stated in paragraph c.

b. Contractors. The Contractor Requirements Document (CRD), Attachment 1, sets forth
requirements for management and operating, management and integration, and other
contractors whose scope of work includes (1) assisting DOE with developing, processing,
and reviewing DOE technical standards and (2) working with standards development
organizations in support of DOE missions and functions. Compliance with the CRD is
required to the extent set forth in a contract.

c. Exclusions. Activities conducted under the authority of the Director, Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program, as described in Public Law 98-525, are exempt from this Order.

4. REQUIREMENTS.

a. Each DOE organization will select, use, and adhere to appropriate voluntary consensus
standards (VCSs), consistent with PL 104-113 and OMB A-119 (i.e., use suitable existing
VCSs in lieu of developing new DOE Technical Standards), when choosing technical
standards to support assigned DOE missions and functions, including the design,
construction, testing, modification, operation, decommissioning, decontamination, and
remediation of DOE's facilities and activities.
b. DOE organizations must use the TSP established by this Order (as explained in the DOE
Technical Standards Program Procedures and DOE G 252.1-1, TECHNICAL
STANDARDS PROGRAM GUIDE) to develop DOE Technical Standards when they are
needed to support DOE-wide technical and programmatic needs and when (1) suitable
VCSs do not exist; (2) existing VCSs do not suffice or are not appropriate for the intended
application; or (3) a new VCS cannot be readily developed through a standards
development organization (SDO).

c. Elements with technical or programmatic interest in, or elements that will be affected by, the
content of DOE Technical Standards must have the opportunity to participate in
development and review processes for those technical standards.

d. DOE must designate a Department Standards Executive (representing the Secretary of
Energy), in accordance with OMB A-119, to coordinate its overall technical standards
activities and its participation in interagency technical standards policy development under
the TSP.

e. Each DOE organization involved in DOE Technical Standards activities will designate a
Technical Standards Manager (TSM) to serve as the organization's point-of-contact for
technical standards activities, provide coordination with the TSP, and conduct and report
such activities in accordance with the program established under this Order.

f. Each DOE organization must report participation in VCS activities conducted in support of
DOE missions and functions through the designated TSM and the TSP (use Form DOE F
1300.2; see Attachments, pages A-3/A-4).

5. RESPONSIBILITIES.

a. Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health.

(1) Manages DOE compliance with the technical standards requirements of public law (PL
104-113) and Federal policy (OMB A-119) on behalf of the Secretary of Energy
through the TSP described in this Order.

(2) Designates a DOE TSP Manager and establishes the programs, requirements, and
guidance necessary to effectively and efficiently manage, coordinate, and report
technical standards activities conducted on behalf of DOE and ensures the
participation of interested DOE elements.

(3) Designates a TSM to serve as the organization's point of contact for technical
standards activities and coordinates with the TSP by participating in the TSM
Committee (TSMC).
(4) Recommends to the Secretary of Energy a Department Standards Executive in
accordance with OMB A-119 to represent DOE on the Interagency Committee on
Standards Policy and coordinates implementation of the policies and requirements of
OMB A-119 and PL 104-113 within DOE.

b. Cognizant Secretarial Officers, Senior Program Officials, and Field Office Managers whose
organizations are involved in technical standards activities in support of DOE.

(1) Manage their organization's participation in the DOE TSP.

(2) Designate a TSM to serve as the organization's point of contact for technical standards
activities and coordinate with the TSP by participating in the TSMC.

(3) Ensure that technical standards identified or developed by their elements for DOE-
wide use are products of the TSP or recognized standards development organizations.

(4) Preferentially use appropriate voluntary consensus standards in lieu of developing
internal DOE Technical Standards to support DOE missions and functions.

c. Department Standards Executive.

(1) Coordinates overall DOE technical standards activities.

(2) Coordinates DOE participation in interagency technical standards policy development.

d. Technical Standards Program Manager

(1) Serves as the overall manager of day-to-day operations and program planning and
development activities of the TSP.

(2) Manages overall implementation of the technical standards requirements of PL 104-
113 and OMB A-119 through the TSP.

(3) Coordinates overall DOE Technical Standards development and reviews activities
conducted by TSMs in accordance with the DOE TSPPs.

(4) Conducts routine meetings with the DOE TSMC to help develop and implement
DOE's TSPPs and identify TSP needs and issues.

e. Technical Standards Managers.

(1) Serve as organization point-of-contact for technical standards activities.

(2) Coordinate organization participation in the TSP in accordance with the TSPPs.

(3) Participate with the TSMC in cooperation with the DOE TSP Manager

(4) Conduct and report technical standards activities in accordance with the requirements
of this Order.

(5) Support implementation of PL 104-113 and OMB A-119 within DOE.

6. REFERENCES.

a. PL 104-113, National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, dated
3/7/96.

b. OMB Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary
Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities, dated 2-10-98.

c. DOE O 251.1A, DIRECTIVES SYSTEM, dated 1/30/98.

d. DOE M 251.1-1A, DIRECTIVES SYSTEM MANUAL, dated 1/30/98.

e. DOE P 450.2A, IDENTIFYING, IMPLEMENTING AND COMPLYING WITH
ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS, dated 5/15/96.

f. DOE P 251.1, DIRECTIVES SYSTEM, dated 3/19/96.

g. Technical Standards Program Procedures (TSPPs), dated 6-1-98, or latest revision.

h. DOE G 252.1-1, TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM GUIDE, original.

i. "Response to DNFSB Letter of March 7, 1991, Recommendations of DNFSB
Regarding Standards Development," White to Conway, dated May 13, 1991, regarding
Recommendation 91-1.

j. DOE P 450.4, SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM POLICY, dated 10/15/96.

k. DOE G 450.4-1A, INTEGRATED SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM GUIDE, dated
5/27/99.

l. DOE F 1300.2 (07-94), Record of Non-Government Standards Activity.

7. CONTACT. Office of Nuclear Safety Policy and Standards (EH-31), 301-903-2856.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY:

DAVID M. KLAUS
DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT
AND ADMINISTRATION

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT

TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM

In the performance of this contract, the contractor, when participating in the development of
Department of Energy (DOE) Technical Standards, conducting technical standards review activities,
and selecting technical standards for use to support assigned DOE missions and functions, must
accomplish the following:

1. Select, use, and adhere to appropriate voluntary consensus standards (VCSs), consistent with PL
104-113 and OMB A-119 (i.e., use suitable existing VCSs in lieu of developing new DOE
Technical Standards), when choosing technical standards to support assigned DOE missions and
functions, including the design, construction, testing, modification, operation, decommissioning,
decontamination, and remediation of DOE's facilities and activities.

2. Use the processes and procedures of the Technical Standards Program (TSP) [the TSP is
explained in the DOE Technical Standards Program Procedures (TSPPs) and described in
DOE G 252.1-1, TECHNICAL STANDARDS PROGRAM GUIDE] established by DOE O
252.1 for developing DOE Technical Standards when (1) suitable VCSs do not exist to meet the
DOE-wide need; (2) existing VCSs do not suffice or are not appropriate for the intended
application, or (3) a new VCS cannot readily be developed through a standards development
organization (SDO).

3. Participate as necessary in development and review processes for those technical standards
where the contractor elements have technical or programmatic interests or will be affected by the
content of DOE Technical Standards under development, using the DOE TSPPs and DOE G
252.1-1, as referenced above.

4. Designate and provide support for a Technical Standards Manager (TSM) to serve as the
organization's point-of-contact for technical standards activities, to provide coordination with the
TSP Manager and other TSMs through the TSM Committee (TSMC), to assist in implementing
the pertinent requirements of PL 104-113 and OMB A-119, and to conduct and report
designated activities in accordance with the TSP established under this Order.

5. Report participation in VCS activities conducted in support of DOE missions and functions
through the designated TSM and the TSP (use Form DOE F 1300.2, see Attachments, pages A-
3/A-4).
Note: DOE F 1300.2 is available only in .pdf format.