Mission and Functions

Office of Quality Management

Mission

The Office of Quality Management develops and interprets Government-wide policies and procedures and conducts training to ensure the accurate identification of information and documents that must be classified or controlled under statute or Executive order to protect the national security and Official Use Only information for the effective operation of the Government.

Functions

• Develops and interprets Government-wide policies and procedures to identify Restricted Data (RD), Formerly Restricted Data (FRD), and Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI). Develops and interprets DOE-wide (including the NNSA) policies and procedures, to identify National Security Information (NSI) and Official Use Only.
• Develops and conducts training for Classification Officers, Program Classification Officers, Headquarters Classification Representatives, Original Classifiers, Derivative Declassifiers, and DOE Headquarters Derivative Classifiers and UCNI Reviewing officials, and other-agency personnel.
• Develops and administers performance-based tests derived from current classification and control policy and guidance to each DOE Federal and contract Classification Officer, Program Classification Officer, Derivative Declassifier, and Headquarters Derivative Classifier and UCNI Reviewing Official.
• Certifies that each of the above officials has satisfactorily completed required training and passed all required performance-based tests prior to being appointed their respective authorities.
• Manages the training and appointment process for a network of Field Classification Officers and Headquarters Classification Representatives.
• Conducts on-site reviews of DOE (including NNSA) classification programs and submits annual DOE self-inspection report in accordance with E.O. 13526.
• Provides policy assistance to other Federal agencies, Congress, and foreign governments concerning the classification and declassification of DOE information.
• Manages an Outreach Program for other Agencies to ensure that each agency with access to RD or FRD meet requirements contained in 10 CFR Part 1045.
• Conducts quality assurance reviews of other agencies' document review programs conducted under EO 13526, section 3.3, as required in Public Law 105-261, section 3161, to ensure that they have processes in place using appropriately trained staff to minimize the likelihood of inadvertent declassification of documents containing RD or FRD.
• Submits annual reports to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and to the Assistant to the President on National Security Affairs, on the results of quality assurance reviews described above.
• Directs the appeal review of documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act or the mandatory declassification review provisions of Executive Order 13526 but denied because they contain classified or controlled information. Advises HSS on the recommended course of action.