Purpose - std7501990010

DOE-STD-7501-99

1.3

Scope

1.3.1

Purpose

The Department of Energy expects all individuals performing DOE work to make decisions and

execute their work based on the best available information. Managers at all levels of the agency

and throughout the contractor community are expected to ensure that decision making is founded

on the best professional and industrial practices currently available. All professional, technical and

craft personnel are expected to plan and execute their work based on best available practices.

Through their work experiences all personnel are expected to identify opportunities for improvement

and best practices and share these with their local and professional colleagues, the broader DOE

community, and other federal agencies and contractors. The purpose of lessons learned is to

share and use knowledge derived from experience to: 1) promote the recurrence of desirable

outcomes, or 2) preclude the recurrence of undesirable outcomes. This technical standard is

designed to facilitate the sharing of information across the DOE complex -- among operations and

area offices, field and headquarters elements, and Federal contractor and subcontractor entities.

The standard establishes broad management expectations for developing, sharing and using

lessons learned and a framework to facilitate implementing these expectations.

Applicability

1.3.2

This technical standard defines the expectations and framework for identifying, sharing and using

lessons learned. When selected for use, this technical standard applies to all DOE Headquarters

and field organizations, management and operating contractors, and laboratories (hereafter

referred to collectively as "DOE organizations").

DOE expects each DOE element and each contractor to tailor lessons learned activities based on

the work and organizational complexity at each local level. DOE expects that the programmatic

aspects of identifying, sharing, and using lessons learned will be developed to support each local

ISMS description and the specific work of the organization(s). Requirements in the Department of

Energy Acquisition Regulations (DEAR 48 CFR 970.5204-2) for ISM Feedback and Improvement

functions are the governing requirements for contractor lessons learned programs. Also the

DEAR, 48 CFR 970.5204-2 (d) and (e), requires DOE and contractor actions to continuously