Readiness to Proceed Memorandum.

DOE-STD-3006-95

If a team member feels that aspects of his/her opinions have not been adequately represented, that

member should file a report of differing opinion. This report should be attached to the ORR Final

Report, identified as an appendix, for review by the approving authority.

5.9.4 Readiness to Proceed Memorandum. The Readiness to Proceed Memorandum is the

formal communication from the responsible contractor to DOE that the facility has been brought to a

state of readiness to start operations. The memorandum is a prerequisite to the DOE ORR. The

Operations Office will use the contents of the Readiness to Proceed Memorandum, coupled with its

own routine management understanding of the status of the facility, as a basis for the

recommendation or decision to commence the DOE ORR.

5.9.4.1 Timing of the Readiness to Proceed Memorandum. The Readiness to Proceed

Memorandum should not be submitted until all actions required for startup or restart have been

completed, with the exception of a manageable list of open prestart items that have a well defined

plan and schedule for closure.

The principle that management is responsible for bringing the facility to a condition of readiness to

start operations and that the ORR verifies that readiness must not be disregarded. If there are an

excessive number of open items at the time the Readiness to Proceed Memorandum is submitted to

DOE the initial conclusion is that the responsible contractor's management and ORR processes were

not successful.

The following discussion concerning the acceptability of the open prestart items at the time the

Readiness to Proceed Memorandum is provided:

a. Each open item prerequisite to commencing facility operations must be identified as a part of the

Readiness to Proceed Memorandum.

b. The number of open items must be small. In determining how many open items is acceptable,

one principle should be that every area to be evaluated by the DOE ORR must be sufficiently

complete to permit evaluation. For example, a single finding or multiple findings that in aggregate

mean that some key program has not yet been developed and put in place would not be acceptable