Risk Informed Reviews of Instrumental and Controls Systems
The objective of this work is to provide technical assistance to NRC staff in developing the technical basis for integrating risk insights into the regulatory framework for I&C systems and components.
This project will be divided in two stages to develop the technical basis for integrating risk insights into the regulatory framework for I&C systems and components. The first stage includes three major tasks: (1) assess the technical feasibility of risk-informed approaches and integrating risk insights into the regulatory review framework for I&C systems and components; (2) establish a risk-informed process that can be used to classify digital I&C systems and components with respect to risk insights and safety significance and to focus licensee and NRC resources on those I&C systems and components identified as being important to safety, taking into consideration the unique aspects of digital I&C systems (e.g., increased complexity, increased connectivity, different system architectures, combining of functions); and (3) establish potential methods and analytical tools for estimating failure frequencies of digital I&C systems and assessing and addressing uncertainties in these estimates. The second stage includes one major task, which is to develop recommendations for integrating risk insights into the digital I&C regulatory infrastructure, including license review approaches and inspection focus, in a manner that complements the NRC's deterministic approach and supports the NRC's traditional defense-in-depth philosophy. This will minimize regulatory uncertainty associated with the review of I&C upgrades for both operating reactors and new applications for future non-LWR designs.
The government reserves the right to make multiple awards from this solicitation.
April Bucher, Contract Specialist, Phone 3014150144, Email april.bucher@nrc.gov
