Service administrative arrangement - Workplan support project cycle TACIS nuclear safety - TACIS TAREG 03/99

The responsibility for implementation of the TACIS programmes - and the follow-on programmes of the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) - lies with a Directorate General of the European Commission. Over time this has changed from DGIA through SCR and then DG AIDCO (EuropeAid Cooperation Office). In carrying out this responsibility, the regulations covering the implementation of the instruments allow for Community financing to cover expenditure associated with various kinds of assistance for the preparation, follow up, monitoring, auditing and evaluation activities directly necessary for the implementation of the programmes and the achievement of their objectives. This may include, for example, studies, meetings, information, awareness-raising, training and publication activities and any other administrative or technical assistance that the Commission may require for the management of the programmes.

Due to its status as a DG of the European Commission, DG-JRC is able to provide DG-AIDCO with scientific and technical advice in support of programme implementation that is completely independent and free from any commercial interests. This support is complementary to various other support mechanisms such as the on-site Consultants at NPPs, the Regulatory Authorities Management Group (RAMG), OSA Peer Group and dedicated support Consultants contracted by the Commission, all of which together provide the elements that allow programme and project preparation to proceed in a quick and effective manner, project tendering and contracting to be carried out efficiently and successfully and problems arising during project implementation to be managed and solved effectively.

In the framework of the TACIS 1999 programme, the Commission decided to entrust DG JRC with the provision of further services for professional support to the implementation of the TACIS programmes. These services concerned the provision of expertise, know-how and other forms of technical assistance in support of the project cycle management of TACIS projects in the sector of nuclear safety.

The objective of this contract was the provision of technical support to DG AIDCO for the implementation of the TACIS Nuclear Safety programme, in terms of:

• support to the implementation of projects through Russian and Ukrainian visiting scientists, to be appointed by the JRC
• support in the computerised management of TACIS nuclear safety projects,
• maintaining a library of the final technical reports of projects.

This support involved the following activities:

• Support to AIDCO in nuclear safety projects in Russia and Ukraine

This involved the provision of technical and scientific support to AIDCO for the project cycle management of projects with Russian and Ukrainian beneficiaries. This support involved expertise and know-how especially in the fields of on-site assistance and design safety.
In order to optimise participation of the beneficiary and to catalyse the pace of project implementation, the JRC was requested to involve the direct participation of visiting scientists from Russia and the Ukraine in the work to support DG AIDCO.

These visiting scientists were to be fully integrated in the existing team in Petten (NL) which was providing technical support in the implementation of nuclear safety projects and would work under the quality assurance regime of the JRC/IE.

• Support to the implementation of the computerised management of TACIS nuclear safety projects

This involved the provision of support to the process of implementation of the computerised management of TACIS nuclear safety projects. The NUMASS system was one system to be considered if judged satisfactory both by AIDCO and JRC. Another system better adapted to the present needs, as presently assessed by AIDCO, was also possible. Authorised users should be given the possibility to up-date the information available in the system.

• Support to maintain the library of TACIS technical final reports of projects in JRC, Petten

JRC was also requested to update and maintain the technical archives of the TACIS Nuclear Safety programmes established under contract 25499. This involved the transfer of further batches of documents from AIDCO to JRC in Petten, followed by the registration, classification and archiving of these documents in the purpose-built store in Petten.

The contract was signed on 18 March 2002, initially for a period of 3 years. During this 3 year period it was extended by DG AIDCO and had a final duration of just over 4.5 years. It was completed on 30 September 2006.

The work was performed in accordance with the above objectives.

Two visiting scientists, one Russian and one Ukrainian, were recruited by the JRC. These scientists were chosen on scientific grounds as well as for their ability to facilitate and catalyse the implementation of nuclear safety projects in Russia and Ukraine, particularly in the areas of on-site assistance and design safety. They facilitated day-to-day communications between their national organisations and the EC while assisting in the JRC activities related to preparation of technical documentation for the tendering of TACIS projects.

The visiting scientists remained at JRC for two years, which was limited by JRC’s regulations. At the end of this period they were replaced by two other visiting scientists in the framework of a different contract with JRC.

During the first year of the contract JRC reviewed the capabilities of the NUMASS system and defined the functional requirements of an alternative computerised management system. However, AIDCO decided not to proceed with the development of this software and instead requested JRC to upgrade and improve the web portal for the dissemination of TACIS project results.

JRC also continued to register, classify and archive all the technical and project documents received from DG AIDCO during the period of the contract. However, this task is an ongoing activity as project documents are continuously received as projects are implemented.