5.3 Preparing for Commissioning and Operation

Well before nuclear facility construction nears completion, preparations for facility commissioning and operation need to begin. From a contracting perspective this requires the transfer of large numbers of documents, electronic data, and records to the eventual operating organization. These include information on the plant design, equipment specifications, spare parts, plant configuration data (location, make and model or installed parts), purchase orders, operating manuals, maintenance manuals, analysis programs and models, supplier data and completed audit information, warrantees to be transferred, and other key information. Such information needs to be available immediately upon system transfer to the operating organization. Experience has shown that lack of attention to such areas in the contracting stage can results in large costs and other difficulties for operating organizations. A plan and schedule related to such handovers should be part of every facility project. Specific deliverables and their required format are recommended to be part of each contract, with payment schedules tied to their successful delivery.

For new facilties, staff are required to be trained to perform procurement and contracting functions to support facility commissioning, operations and maintenance. Sources of spare parts, warehousing facilities, supplier auditing functions and related management system processes need to be in place.