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The NELAC Institute Strategic Plan

The NELAC Institute Strategic Plan. Chartering a New Direction 2007 – 2012 November 9, 2007. Mission Vision Organizational Profile & History. Lessons from History. Short-term financial stability Strong stakeholder support for the work Dedicated volunteers Progress toward a new standard

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The NELAC Institute Strategic Plan

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  1. The NELAC InstituteStrategic Plan Chartering a New Direction 2007 – 2012 November 9, 2007

  2. Mission • Vision • Organizational Profile & History

  3. Lessons from History • Short-term financial stability • Strong stakeholder support for the work • Dedicated volunteers • Progress toward a new standard • Well established expert committees • ANSI accreditation • Policies on standards & committee operations • Successful meetings

  4. Recurring Themes - Instability • True national accreditation not achieved • TNI standards and EPA programs are not harmonized • Adequate financial support is difficult • Potential conflicts of interest • Special interest groups may try to impede progress • No established program for AB recognition & no standards beyond NELAC 2003 standard • Perception that NELAC 2003 standard is too onerous • No well-defined business plan

  5. Core Strategies • Establish & maintain a national program for accreditation of environmental labs & other organizations directly involved in generation of environmental monitoring data. • Increase participation. • Provide conferences that are beneficial to the environmental community & enhance TNI’s reputation. • Establish infrastructure to ensure future success.

  6. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 1Who /What / When 1.1 Establish effective national program for lab accreditation – NELAP Board • Adopt & implement the national PT Program developed by the PT Bd / January 2008 • Implement credible & efficient AB recognition / February 2008 Adopt & implement policies & procedures for lab accreditation / December 2008 • Adopt & implement approach for state participation without becoming recognized AB / January 2010 • Adopt TNI Standards within 2 yrs of approval by membership / August 2010 • Adopt & implement approach for effective accreditation of different types of labs / January 2012

  7. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 1Who /What / When 1.2 PT Board shall establish & maintain a national PT program that contains: • Fields of Proficiency Testing (i.e., analytes, concentrations, matrices & acceptance limits) appropriate for scope of environmental monitoring performed in the US. • All organizations providing PT samples to labs are recognized to do so. • Implement policies & procedures necessary for national PT program / December 2007 • Establish PT oversight to ensure competent PT providers / December 2007 • Ensure fields of PT testing are appropriate for intended use / December 2007 • Establish & implement process to evaluate effectiveness of PT oversight & fields of Proficiency Testing / January 2008

  8. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 1Who / What / When 1.3 Develop policies, procedures & tools to assist with the implementation of a national program – LASC • Develop procedures to be used by the NELAP Bd in implementing program / August 2008 • Implement a national database of accredited labs / January 2009 1.4 Finalize all accreditation standards that are currently under development – CSD Bd • Finalize & implement all accreditation standards for Field Activities, Accreditation Bodies & On-site Assessment / August 2007 • Finalize Standards for Proficiency Testing & Quality Systems / August 2008

  9. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 1Who / What / When 1.5 Expand the program into non-traditional areas of environmental data collection – CSD Bd • Identify an approach for accreditation of field sampling & measurement organizations / December 2008 • Establish a process to allow TNI to approach to accreditation to be expanded into other areas such as taxonomy, ambient water quality monitoring or emission testing / August 2009

  10. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 2Who / What / When 2.1 Develop an effective system for states to participate in a national program without having to become Accreditation Bodies / LASC • Develop an affiliate/associate program for states / January 2009 2.2 Develop materials to provide assistance to states & labs to make it easier for them to participate / TAC • Develop tools to assist labs & states / Continuing • Conduct regional conferences & workshops / Continuing

  11. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 2Who / What / When 2.3 Promote the benefits of accreditation to states & labs, advocate for stronger support of accreditation from data users, & persuade data users to make accreditation mandatory / Advocacy Committee • Establish a Speaker’s Bureau & develop plan for promoting lab accreditation at national & regional meetings / January 2008 • Develop a plan for federal agencies to require all environmental monitoring data from their contract labs be generated by NELAC-accredited labs / January 2009

  12. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 2Who / What / When 2.4 Develop new accreditation standards that meet the needs of states & data users, while removing burdensome requirement for labs that are not essential for data quality / CSD Bd & Advocacy Committee • Meet with EPA program offices (e.g., Air, Solid Waste, Wastewater) & other federal agencies, state agencies & data users to understand their needs & work to ensure the TNI program meets the needs of all / Continuing • Meet with trade associations representing labs to understand their perspectives & work to ensure the TNI program addresses their concerns / Continuing • Harmonize the TNI accreditation standards with the EPA drinking water program / August 2010 • Modify/improve TNI standards so they are acceptable for use by all states / August 2010 • Modify/improve TNI standards so they meet needs of data users / August 2010 • Develop an approach to the standard that recognizes the differences in labs & the scope/complexity of the work they do for obtaining program accreditation & eliminates requirements that are not essential for data quality / August 2010

  13. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 3Who / What / When 3.1 Hold a semi-annual Forum on Laboratory Accreditation / Conference Planning Committee • Improve processes for conference management / Continuing • Expand participation in the Forum / Continuing 3.2 Co-sponsor the National Environmental Monitoring Conference / Conference Planning Committee • Improve processes for conference management / Continuing • Seek additional funding opportunities / Continuing • Expand participation in NEMC / Continuing • Improve the technical aspects of NEMC / Continuing 3.3 Conduct other regional conferences & workshops • Explore opportunities for conducting regional workshops / Continuing

  14. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 4Who / What / When 4.1 Attract & retain qualified paid and volunteer staff for all services & activities /TNI Board of Directors • Increase level of activity for Exec Dir to full time / Date undetermined • Add one staff person (contractor) to assist with AB evaluation / December 2007 • Develop long-term plan to take on those functions currently supported by EPA assistance agreements / Date undetermined • Improve the system for encouraging volunteer work on committees / Ongoing • Ensure a pool of volunteers is available for committees / Ongoing • Evaluate the Executive Director’s performance on an annual basis / Date undetermined

  15. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 4Who / What / When 4.2 Increase the operational & management efficiency & effectiveness of TNI – TNI Board of Directors • Increase the effectiveness of TNI / Ongoing • Maintain fiscally prudent operations / Ongoing • Produce timely, accurate financial reports / Date to be determined • Improve the functionality & appearance of TNI website / Date to be determined • Provide routine communications/information to TNI members / Date to be determined • Establish a Policy Committee to ensure policies have been implemented for all key activities / Date to be determined • Establish an ongoing evaluation process for all programs / Date to be determined

  16. Goals & Objectives for Strategy 4Who / What / When 4.3 Acquire stable, long-term financial resources to support TNI programs & their growth / TNI Board of Directors • Explore external funding options / Ongoing • Develop internal sources of funding / Ongoing • Develop a budget for the operation of TNI programs & a plan for cost recovery / Date to be determined • Maintain an awareness of potential funding opportunities & respond to such opportunities as they arise / Ongoing 4.4 Develop & maintain an effective Board of Directors • Ensure the Board of Directors is representative of all stakeholders / Ongoing • Increase the capability of the Board / Date to be determined

  17. What Happens Next? • TNI Board, Program & Committee Chairs will meet on Friday to continue the strategic planning process & develop an annual Operating Plan • As can be seen from the previous year’s progress, the process of improvement is continuous • The success of TNI depends upon the work of all members • Sign up for a committee and become involved • The opportunity is there for each of us to mold national policy in the important area of national environmental laboratory accreditation!!

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