Quality assurance for grantees

• Use the Quality Assurance Project Plan template for writing your QAPP. The template includes information and instructions.
• The QAPP Review Checklist provides a list of all the required elements for the plan.
• QAPPs for NEP grantees (PDF presentation) provides an overview of the purpose and process of writing a QAPP. It may be helpful for other types of grants.
• Examples of Quality Assurance Project Plans links to well-written QAPPs for completed projects. Each contains the required QAPP elements, though some may not reflect the current template format.
• Guidelines for Preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Studies is a downloadable publication that provides detailed guidance on preparing a QAPP. It includes a glossary of key quality assurance terminology.

Standard procedures for field sampling and analysis

Grantees are required to use standard operating procedures, or SOPs, for any field sampling and field analytical activities they undertake.

• Our main Quality assurance page offers access to all of our published SOPs.

Laboratory accreditation

Any data submitted to us or funded by us must be performed by an accredited lab using an accredited method.

• Our laboratory accreditation website provides more information about laboratory accreditation.

National Estuary Program grantee considerations

Everyone who receives funding for a project from the U.S. EPA’s National Estuary Program (NEP) through any Washington state agency will need to work with Ecology's NEP Quality Coordinator to fulfill quality assurance requirements.

As soon as a final agreement or contract statement of work is in place, contact the NEP Quality Coordinator to determine whether a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) is required.

You cannot begin work on your project until you either have an approved QAPP or confirmation from the NEP Quality Coordinator that a QAPP is not required.

The QAPP process for NEP grantees is described in a printable and accessible flowchart (PDF file) that shows the process from the time a project manager sends the NEP quality coordinator a scope of work until the project work begins. 

In general, a QAPP is required if your project will:

• Generate new environmental information.
• Analyze existing environmental information.
• Model environmental conditions.

The earlier in your project you begin the QAPP process, the easier it will be.

Please reach out to the NEP Quality Coordinator early in your process to discuss whether your project requires a QAPP. Contact information is at the bottom of this page.