Quality assurance aspects of the major procurements for the large coil test facility

The Large Coil Test Facility (LCTF) project is comprised of the test stand, supporting cyrogenic systems, instrumentation, data acquisition, and utilities necessary for testing the large superconducting coils of the Large Coil Program (LCP). A significant portion of the facility hardware has been obtained through procurement actions with industrial suppliers. This paper addresses the project's experience in formulation and execution of quality assurance (QA) actions relative to several of the major items procured. Project quality assurance planning and specific features related to procurement activities for several of the more specialized test facility components are described. These component procurements include: (1) the coil test stand's major structural item (the bucking post) purchased from foreign industry, (2) fabrication and testing of high-current power supplies, (3) industrial fabrication of specialized instrumentation (voltage-tap signal conditioning modules), and (4) fabrication, installation, and testing of the liquid helium piping system. Each of the items selected has unique characteristics requiring careful consideration to ensure visibility and control of critical quality-related aspects of each particular procurement. Quality planning; experience with each supplier; results from the fabrication, installation, and testing conducted; and recommendations related to how well the original plans matched actual events are covered. A summary with a discussion of areas that should receive different attention in future, similar procurements is also included