SD-6 Provisions Governing QualificationThese provisions are issued as guidance for manufacturers and their authorized distributors who wish to submit products for qualification by the Department of Defense. A product may be qualified only when a governing federal or defense specification or non-government standard contains a requirement for qualification. Lists are not otherwise established for qualification.

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Provisions Governing Qua/ification SD-6

3.   The Qualifying Activity will notify the specification's Preparing Activity, the DSPO, the appropriate quality and procurement offices, the DepSOs, the other Government agencies, and the industry associations of the possible nonconformance (technical problem or specific violation) affecting field usage.

4.   The Qualifying Activity will initiate corrective action plans (as applicable) and when necessary, initiate removal of parts or manufacturers from the electronic QPL or QML.

5.   The Qualifying Activity will instruct manufacturers to prepare and coordinate issuance of a GIDEP ALERT or Problem Advisory. The Qualifying Activity should prepare and

issue the GIDEP ALERT or Problem Advisory when the manufacturer is reluctant or slow in doing so. The Qualifying Activity should use GIDEP actions or Agency notices to notify part users of the problem.

6.   The Qualifying Activity will have the manufacturer conduct a self audit to identify the problem areas and will have the manufacturer prepare a corrective action plan.

7.   The Qualifying Activity will gather independent testing information and prepare verification action.

Retention of Qualification

To retain qualification approval of products, one of the following actions is required:

1.   Certification by the manufacturer (See below).

2.   Periodic submission of new test data as required in the specification or requested by the

Qualifying Activity.

3.   Complete requalification testing, as may be required in the specification or by the

Qualifying Activity.

Manufacturer Certification of Qualification Status

Every two years, the Qualifying Activity will request that the manufacturer complete a DD Form

1718, "Certification of Qualified Products," or equivalent questionnaire, when the applicable

specification does not contain a retention of qualification requirement. The form asks whether:

1.   The listed product or products are still manufactured at the plants shown on the listing.

2.   The plants are still under the same management.

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