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how the supplier will verify conformance to MERC’s requirements, e.g., internal review of
technical activities vs. the QAPP requirements for QC samples.
The MERC Director has final approval over procurement of all items and services.
5.3.
Procurement of Items
Specific monitoring, sampling, and analytical equipment are procured only after quality requirements
have been discussed among MERC senior research personnel, and when appropriate, the MERC QA
Manager. The criteria for selection of the specific items are outlined prior to approval of the
procurement. If the items or services will be purchased through an ongoing Price Agreement, the UMD
Purchasing Division will issue an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the items. Depending on the procurement,
MERC personnel may participate in the technical evaluation of the responses to the ITB. After technical
and administrative review, the State Purchasing Division will issue a Price Agreement for the products
that were described in the ITB.
5.4.
Procurement of Services
The Program Coordinator ensures that quality control is incorporated within the specific scope of work
for each task assignment. Quality assurance for service contracts is based on contractor performance
measures which include, but are not limited to, the ability of the contractor to adhere to the contract terms
and conditions, and the ability of the contractor to complete the work in accordance with the approved
QAPP, Test Plan and/or other work plan.
5.5.
Responses to Solicitations
If any aspect of BWTS testing is contracted to another organization, such as an independent reference
laboratory, the proposal or qualifications submitted by that organization must be reviewed by the Program
Coordinator and MERC Director to ensure that the supplier has a documented quality system consistent
with this document and that it has the qualifications to perform the work defined in the QAPP. At a
minimum, the Program Coordinator should verify the following:
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documentation of the organization’s quality system in a current, detailed quality manual;
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SOPs or protocols exist for the critical aspects of testing (e.g., sample analysis);
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limits of detection and/or quantitation are defined for critical quantitative measurements;
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procedures for equipment and instrument calibration have defined frequencies and acceptance
criteria;
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QC samples are defined with frequencies and acceptance criteria;
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methods for independent data verification and validation are defined.
Where possible, compliance to the QAPP should be included as part of the purchasing agreement. Also,
laboratory and other services should meet registration or certification requirements applicable to the
BWTS test. The laboratory should be provided with pertinent sections of the QAPP or asked to provide
input to the analytical sections to ensure that the QAPP accurately reflects laboratory capabilities and
practices.