What is the connection between the Technical Qualification Program and the Federal Technical Capability Program?

Who has oversight responsibility for the Federal Technical Capability Program?

Who is responsible for the implementation of the Federal Technical Capability Program at ORO?

For more information refer to:
DOE P 426.1, Federal Technical Capability Policy for Defense Nuclear Facilities

DOE O 426.1, Federal Technical Capability

What is the Federal Technical Capability Program?

The Department of Energy is committed to developing and maintaining a technically competent workforce to accomplish its missions in a safe and efficient manner.  The Federal Technical Capability Program (FTCP) provides for the recruitment, deployment, development, and retention of Federal personnel with the demonstrated technical capability to safely accomplish the Department's mission and responsibilities. 

The principles of the FTCP are the following:

• As stated in the Department's Integrated Safety Management Guiding Principles:   Federal  personnel possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to discharge their safety responsibilities;
• Line managers are accountable and have the responsibility, authority, and flexibility to achieve and maintain technical excellence
• Supporting organizations (personnel, training, contracts, finance, etc.) recognize line managers as customers and effectively support them in achieving and maintaining technical capabilities.
• An integrated corporate approach is required to assure that necessary technical capabilities and resources are available to meet the overall needs of the Department's defense nuclear facility missions.

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What is the connection between the Technical Qualification Program and the Federal Technical Capability Program?

The Technical Qualification Program became a part of DOE’s Federal Technical Capability Program (FTCP) upon implementation of the FTCP in FY99. The objective of the FTCP is to recruit, deploy, develop, and retain Federal personnel with necessary technical capabilities to safely accomplish the Department’s missions and responsibilities.   (See DOE P 426.1 for more information.)

In support of this objective, the ORO Technical Qualification Program establishes a process to objectively determine that individuals whose positions require them to provide assistance, guidance, direction, oversight, or evaluation of contractor activities that could impact the safe operation of nuclear facilities or high-, medium-, or low-hazard facilities possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform their assigned duties and responsibilities.

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Who has oversight responsibility for the Federal Technical Capability Program?

The Federal Technical Capability Program Panel is responsible for overseeing the overall implementation of the Federal Technical Capability Program. Headquarters and field elements are responsible for implementing specific activities within the program.

The Panel consists of senior line managers who have been designated as Agents to represent Headquarters and Field Offices across the DOE Complex. The Panel reports to the Deputy Secretary and is responsible for overseeing and resolving issues affecting the Department’s FTCP. This includes:

• Overseeing the Senior Technical Safety Manager (STSM) Program
• Conducting periodic assessments of the effectiveness of the Federal Technical Capability Program using internal and independent experts
• Providing recommendations to senior Departmental officials regarding DOE technical capability
• Upon the recent closure of DNFSB Recommendation 93-3, implementing the DOE Technical Qualification Program (TQP).

Larry C. Kelly is the ORO agent on the DOE FTCP Panel.

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Who is responsible for the implementation of the Federal Technical Capability Program at ORO?

To ensure full compliance with the requirements and objectives of the Federal Technical Capability Program, ORO established its own FTCP Panel. The ORO FTCP Panel, consists of a core group of senior technical safety managers and oversees all TQP implementation activities at ORO. The following managers currently serve as members of the ORO FTCP Panel in accordance with the provisions of its charter:

Deputy Manager, M-2
J.T. Howell, Acting Assistant Manager for Nuclear Fuel Supply, NS-50
Larry C. Kelly, Assistant Manager for Environment, Safety and Health, SE-30
Johnny O. Moore, Assistant Manager for Science, SC-10
John R. Eschenberg, Assistant Manager for Environmental Management, EM-90
Pauline L. Douglas, Assistant Manager for Security and Emergency Management, OS-20
John C. Shewairy, Assistant Manager for Administration
Butch Brant, Team Leader, Human Capital Assessment Group, AD-443

Larry C. Kelly serves as the Chair of the ORO Panel. 
Butch Brant serves as an ex-officio member of the panel and provides support to the Panel.

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