Risk-Based Resident Federal Oversight of Safeguards Program at Y-12 National Security Complex

The Federal Enhanced (Risk-Based) Oversight Model implemented at the Y-12 National Security Complex has transitioned local federal oversight from an intuitive process to a documented, formal, and risk based process for focusing federal oversight resources. The model considers several measures of past performance, both a contractor and a federal oversight index, effectiveness/maturity of the Contractor Assurance System (CAS), CAS performance metrics, and potential consequence of programmatic failure and impact on various interests (e.g., environment, safety & health, mission, cost, and safeguards & security). The evaluation results in risk ranking of all functional areas as the basis for development of the federal oversight plans (Master Assessment Schedules) for each functional area. The paper discusses types and frequency of assessments, mechanics of risk determination and ranking process, and additional positive attributes of resident federal enhanced oversight including flexibility and operational awareness.