The Energy of Innovation

NATIONAL and homeland SECURITY

Independent Verification & Validation

Providing unbiased software analysis & evaluation services

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I

daho National Laboratory 

is an experienced leader in 

providing unbiased, thirdparty independent verification and validation (IV&V) 

services to private and federal 

organizations. Our capabilities 

include the ability the analyze 

hardware and software designs, cybersecurity processes, 

supervisory control and data 

acquisition systems, enterprise architecture and network 

topology from the conceptual 

design phase through the entire system life cycle. In addition, we provide independent 

advice to design engineers and 

management to facilitate the 

integration of recommendaINL’s Independent Validation 

and Verification expertise 

combines more than 20 years 

of experience in software 

design, quality assurance and 

unbiased data analysis. 

tions from the development 

stage through quality assurance and to the end user.

Impartial, Value-Added

Independence is a key feature 

of IV&V, and a major advantage of INL’s application of 

this process involves professional government support 

and impartial product assessment. The laboratory’s 

role as an honest broker 

ensures an assessment agent 

is not directly involved in 

the system’s development, is 

not influenced by designers 

or developers, and provides 

the customer with objective 

opinions. Additionally, INL 

researchers work on a cost-recovery basis, eliminating the 

profit motive and predisposed 

assessment results often found 

in private companies.

The laboratory has tailored 

its traditional IV&V approach to a value-added 

methodology that best fits 

our customer’s needs. In 

traditional methodology, the 

expectation is centered on 

a technical review of processes and products with the 

key purpose of identifying 

deficiencies. At INL, the traditional process is extended 

to include an assessment 

of the potential risks and 
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08-GA50229-01

impacts to efficiency, and to 

provide mitigation strategies. 

This approach not only tests 

final products, but evaluates intermediate products, 

ensuring that potential faults 

are addressed and corrected 

early and in the most costeffective manner. 

Comprehensive Process

INL’s expertise has been used 

in software environments 

that utilized rapid applications development, spiral 

development, rapid prototyping and traditional waterfall 

life-cycle methodology. Our 

researchers perform proactive, 

up-front software validation 

on projects with the goal 

of implementing an objectoriented approach for software development and reuse 

as well as a structured design 

approach to software development that promotes teamwork 

and customer interaction, and 

facilitates a no-surprises style 

of reporting. 

Our technical expertise in a 

broad range of scientific and 

engineering disciplines helps 

evaluate developments in conceptual design, prototyping 

development, production, testing and support, and independent laboratory testing. Our 

evaluation process ensures 

system interface and impact 

are feasible and have technical integrity. 

Our approach 

provides clear, 

complete and consistent results that do not conflict with 

other program constraints.

The laboratory also assesses 

designs to ensure that requirements are appropriately 

satisfied and monitors development activities to ensure 

compliance. Vendor documentation is examined for process 

requirements, and document 

reviews are conducted and 

produced for each phase of 

the system life cycle. Finally, 

researchers perform independent testing to validate the 

configuration integrity of the 

entire system infrastructure.

Proven Expertise

With more than 20 years 

of IV&V experience, INL 

has provided support to the 

Department of Defense, the 

Department of Energy and 

private industry, including 

long-term support to the 

National Guard Bureau’s 

Reserve Component Automation System (RCAS), and 

the Yucca Mountain Project 

Management Office. INL researchers actively participate 

as members of source selection evaluation boards and as 

expert evaluators during competitive demonstrations. We 

evaluated operating systems, 

communications, databases, 

integrated logistics support, 

site surveys, infrastructure, 

system and software design 

and deployment. Other customers within the Department 

of Energy and businesses in 

the private sector have also 

benefited from INL’s support. 

The laboratory’s independent 

verification and validation approach is an effective management tool that has the proven 

benefits of identifying problems early in the life cycle and 

facilitating project communication and coordination while 

ensuring that the customer’s 

requirements are satisfied.

INL maintains a series of stateof-the-art supercomputers 

to enhance the accuracy 

and efficiency of analyzing 

software design. 

Carl Wharton

(208) 526-2619

Carl.Wharton@inl.gov

Carol Reid

(208) 526-1902

Carol.Reid@inl.gov

A U.S. Department of Energy

National Laboratory

For more information