Readiness to Proceed Memorandum

DOE-STD-3006-2000

C Differing professional opinions;

C Non-judgmental general comments;

C Observations;

C Dissenting opinions, which should be documented, and attached to the report.

While the team should strive to reach a consensus concerning all aspects of the review, DOE recognizes

that professional judgement does not always allow complete agreement. In cases of disagreement, the

Team Leader must make the final decision concerning the disposition of the finding or concern.

However, discussion of all aspects of the finding should be provided in the report to allow the

authorization authority all relevant information on which to form an opinion.

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 uses 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. A similar, formal documentation of readiness should be used by the

contractor before start of the contractor ORR. A formal declaration of readiness to start the contractor

ORR should be prepared by contractor line management only when readiness to start operations has been

achieved and ORR prerequisites specified in the plan-of-action have been met.

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. There should be no unresolved issues in the path towards closure of these prestart items.

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