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2.3.7.
MERC Advisory Board
The Advisory Board consisting of individuals who represent a cross-section of diverse constituents and
stakeholders, provides insight and recommendations on various MERC activities, and serves as peer-
reviewers of MERC applications and reports, on an as needed basis.
2.3.8.
Vendors
The responsibilities of vendors who choose to participate in testing may include any of the following. In
addition, these test-specific responsibilities will be defined in the QAPP:
•
review and provide comments on the draft Test Plans;
•
approve the final Test Plan prior to test initiation;
•
provide technology(ies) for evaluation during the test;
•
provide all equipment/supplies/reagents/consumables needed to operate their technology(ies) for
the duration of the test;
•
provide representative(s) to operate their technologies during testing and/or provide written
instructions and training for routine operation of technologies by MERC staff.
•
review and provide comments on the draft verification report and statement for their
technology(ies);
•
cover costs associated with the installation and testing of their technology that are above and
beyond MERC capabilities and resources (to be specified in individual agreements);
•
adhere to all MERC QMP, QAPP and Test Plan requirements.
2.4.
Technical Activities Supported by the MERC Quality System
This QMP applies to all BWTS testing performed by MERC. Specifically, it applies to:
•
technical activities including planning, testing, and reporting;
•
any MERC and MERC-affiliated staff, facilities, and other resources used during testing;
•
reference laboratories and collaborators that perform activities in support of testing for MERC.
2.5.
Management Assurances of Implementation
MERC is committed to ensuring that the quality system described in this QMP is implemented for its
BWTS testing. To ensure that staff understand and implement the quality system requirements:
•
all staff involved in ETV testing are required to read this QMP;
•
dedicated staff are identified to ensure consistent application of the quality system;
•
a QA Manager has been designated with the resources needed to ensure that the QMP is
communicated, implementation verified, and that MERC management is apprised of issues
requiring corrective action.
2.6.
Independence of the QA Manager
The MERC QA Manager is a contracted position, reports directly to the MERC Director, and functions
independently of direct BWTS test implementation and data generation responsibilities. The QA Manager
has authority to go directly to the MERC Director and find resolution to critical QA problems and