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PROCEDURES FOR ALTERNATIVE SKIP-LOT END-ITEM INSPECTION

REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT END-ITEM VERIFICATION

INSPECTIONS FOR OPERATIONAL RATIONS

May 01, 2020

I. GENERAL: These Alternative End-Item Inspection guidelines were developed 

using the guidance of ASQ/ANSI S1, An Attribute Skip-Lot Sampling Program (with 

modifications), and the general requirements cited in operational rations contracts. 

These procedures apply to Government end-item verification inspections only. It is 

the intent of the Government to rely on the contractor/subcontractor’s examination 

inspection results and minimize Government end-item verification inspection. All 

requests for clarification/ interpretation of the procedures cited herein shall be 

directed to the Contracting Officer, DLA Troop Support. NOTE: For the purposes of 

this program, the definition of inspection includes examinations only. 

A. End-item Inspection Requirement: All operational rations contractors/ 

subcontractors performing under the higher level contract quality requirements are 

required to perform or have performed by their suppliers, contractually required 

component or end-item examination inspections in accordance with the contract and 

its technical specifications and technical requirements documents containing 

contractually required quality assurance provisions, unless in-process inspection 

results are authorized by the Contracting Officer for use as a substitute for 

contractor/subcontractor end-item verification inspection. NOTE: Substitute inprocess contractor/subcontractor end-item conformance verification is not authorized 

for use by the contractor/subcontractor for the purposes of initially qualifying for, or 

requalifying for, State 2 Government skip-lot end-item verification inspection. 

B. There are three basic states for skip-lot inspection: 

1 State 1: Lot-by-lot inspection. This is the starting point for skip-lot 

inspection. 

2 State 2: Skip-lot inspection. When the contractor/subcontractor and the 

product qualify for skip lot inspection, with the approval from DLA Troop Support

FTRC, the program switches to State 2. 

3 State 3: Skip-lot interrupt. Skip-lot inspection may be temporarily 

interrupted, under circumstances described below, resulting in a transfer to State 3.

C. Products/Characteristics Eligible for Skip-lot Inspection: Skip-lot procedures are 

applied to a product’s characteristics examinations on a product by product basis. 

Each individual type of product (identifiable by its NSN) is composed of 

categorically independent parts, principally in the form of packaging characteristics 

and product characteristics inherent to a product, which are measurable by their 

respective filled and sealed and product examinations. A product’s approval for 

Government skip-lot inspection, in addition to the necessity of meeting pre-
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conditions cited in this document, is determined by DLA by evaluating individual 

characteristics examination results, determining eligibility by characteristic 

examination, and by harmonizing the individual characteristic findings to assign the 

appropriate State and inspection frequency for a given item. An individual 

characteristic examination is defined, in general, as the examination required under 

each separate paragraph or table of examination listed in the contract/specification/ 

CID/PKG&QAP. NOTE: Under no circumstances may two different skip-lot 

inspection frequencies be used for a product at the same time, i.e. a product’s 

individual characteristics examinations may not be on more than one skip-lot 

frequency simultaneously. However, once a product is qualified for a specific State 2 

skip-lot inspection frequency, although examination for characteristic “X” may be 

interrupted and subsequently undergo a requalification process for “X”, inspection of 

a second characteristic, “Y”, may continue using skip-lot inspection during the “X” 

requalification process provided “Y” itself is not interrupted..NOTE: There are three 

skip-lot frequencies used with the procedures described in this document: 1-in-1 (lotby-lot), 1-in-4, and 1-in-6. 

D. Products/Characteristics Ineligible for Skip-lot Inspection: The products 

packaged in flexible pouches subject to pouch integrity examinations that include 

critical category defects DO NOT qualify for skip-lot inspection for filled and sealed 

examination. NOTE: Internal pressure testing is considered to be a test, ineligible for 

this skip-lot program. 

E. Approval for Skip-Lot Inspection (Flow # 1): DLA Troop Support - FTSB will 

approve and assign QSP ratings. DLA Troop Support-FTSB will notify the 

Government Quality Assurance Representative (GQAR) and 

contractor/subcontractor when the contractor’s/subcontractor’s Quality System Plan 

(QSP) was rated acceptable by DLA Troop Support-FTSB. GQAR shall review the 

QSP rating and the product’s quality history. If the QSP is not acceptable, the 

contractor/subcontractor does not qualify for skip-lot inspection. When the 

contractor/subcontractor determines that a product becomes eligible for skip-lot 

inspection in compliance with the provisions of Section V of this document, the 

contractor/subcontractor may petition the Contracting Officer (DLA Troop SupportFTRC) to have the GQAR initiate 1-in-4N skip-lot inspection. 

F. Compliance of A Product: When, for a specific product, the State 2 skip-lot 

inspection provisions contained in this document are approved by DLA Troop 

Support-FTRC for use by the Government Quality Assurance Representative 

(GQAR), acceptance of material by the Government as complying with required 

end-item requirements cited in the contract/technical specifications and technical 

requirements documents shall be based on the contractor/subcontractor’s (1) enditem inspection results or (2) substitute in-process inspection results (if approved by 

DLA Troop Support-FTRC). As long as the contractor/subcontractor’s inspection 

system is determined by DLA to be reliable, and the GQAR is authorized to perform 

State 2 skip-lot end-item verification inspection, the GQAR will sample and inspect 

the product for verification end-item inspection on a skip-lot basis. The GQAR for 
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the Government agency having jurisdiction for performing Government QA at the 

contractor’s or subcontractor’s plant may, upon ascertaining end-item compliance, 

permit shipment, provided all other requirements of the contract are met. NOTE: 

Substitute in-process inspection results are only permitted for use as contractor/ 

subcontractor end-item conformance verification (1) when authorized by the 

Contracting Officer as a substitute for end-item inspection and (2) when the 

contractor/subcontractor is currently qualified for State 2 skip-lot inspection when

participating in the Government skip-lot end-item inspection program, i.e., substitute 

in-process inspection results are not authorized for use by the contractor/ 

subcontractor when in either State 1 or State 3. 

NOTE: Section I, paragraph F., is not applicable to end-item verification testing. 

Skip-lot scheduling of end-item verification tests that are required to be conducted 

by contract and when permitted so by the contract, are to utilize contract Provision 

9024 - Alternative Inspection Requirements for Selected Items. 

G. Standby Component or End-Item Samples. The Government reserves the right to 

withdraw and hold standby samples of component or end-item product or both 

(quantity of which shall be the same sample size as that required for end-item 

inspection for the lot size represented) for Government end-item verification 

inspection purposes. Unused samples will be returned to the contractor/subcontractor 

after inspection indicates product compliance. 

II. DLA TROOP SUPPORT’S RESPONSIBILITIES: 

A. Contracting Officers’ (DLA Troop Support-FTRC) Responsibilities: The 

Contracting Officer shall be solely responsible for authorizing the initiation of any 

State 2: Skip-lot inspection. The Contracting Officer can temporarily interrupt, 

discontinue, or disqualify a contractor/subcontractor from skip-lot inspection if 

she/he determines that skip-lot is not in the best interest of the Government. The 

Government verification inspection may also be further decreased (e.g., from skiplot inspection frequency 1-in-4 at Normal Inspection (1-in-4N) to 1-in-6 at Normal 

Inspection (1-in-6N), by the Contracting Officer if she/he determines that this is in 

the best interest of the Government. 

B. DLA TROOP SUPPORT-FTSB Quality Systems Audit Team: 

1. DLA Troop Support-FTSB is responsible for maintaining the contractors’ QSPs; 

QSP ratings and evaluations, major noncompliance/deviation to the documented 

QSP and/or the quality system, and all correspondence submitted to the contractor/ 

subcontractor. DLA Troop Support-FTSB will review all factors of production, 

inspection, and product failure to determine if the contractor/subcontractor has 

implemented an adequate quality system that continuously produces conforming 

products. This determination will be made by obtaining information from the 

applicable Government inspection agency, and feedback from FTSB and FTSC QAS 

personnel as applicable. The following information is needed in determining skip-lot
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inspection: The contractor/ subcontractor’s latest documented Quality System Plan 

(QSP) evaluation rating, and latest compliance audit results; the quality history of 

the contractor/subcontractor and of the proposed items tentatively qualified for skiplot inspection; the period of production; and the data required to implement skip-lot 

inspection (product name, lot numbers and the inspection agency’s end-item 

inspection results). 

2. DLA Troop Support-FTSB will conduct compliance quality systems audits to

evaluate the contractor/subcontractor’s implementation of and compliance with the 

QSP, as well as the effectiveness of the approved documented QSP and other 

contractual requirements, on an annual basis (at a minimum). 

3. DLA Troop Support-FTSB will notify the Contracting Officer of the following: 

Major deficiencies noted in the documented QSP or implemented quality system; if 

there are significant changes in the contractor/subcontract’s personnel or quality 

system; and recommendations concerning whether or not to discontinue skip-lot 

inspection. 

III. INSPECTION AGENCIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. The designated GQAR shall review the contractor/subcontractor’s documented QSP 

and verify the quality system for implementation, compliance, and effectiveness in 

accordance with the approved documented QSP and other contractual requirements. 

Provide written electronic notification (using the Corrective Action Request Report) 

to DLA Troop Support-FTSB of a major noncompliance/deviation to the 

documented QSP and/or the quality system within one working day, as applicable. 

B. The designated GQAR shall perform Government verification inspection (lot-by-lot 

or skip-lot as approved by the Contracting Officer) for the products with contractual 

inspection requirements to assure that the contractor/subcontractor’s end-item results 

are reliable. Copies of the results of the inspections performed by the Government 

QAR shall be given to the contractor/subcontractor. 

C. The designated GQAR shall be consulted, as a participant in either a product’s initial 

qualification process or a product’s re-qualification process, by DLA for the purpose 

of DLA’s verification that the conditions of Section V,A,1,2,3 and Section V,B,1,2, 

and Section VI,E,2 have been met or not met, as applicable. This GQAR 

responsibility does not include the collection of data, or the evaluation of data 

specifically required to be performed by the contractor/subcontractor, by the 

Contracting Officer (FTRC) or by DLA Troop Support-FTSB. 

D. The designated GQAR shall initiate skip-lot inspection when instructed to do so by 

DLA Troop Support-FTRC once the Contracting Officer determines a product is 

eligible for skip-lot inspection. Maintenance of a product’s inspection data required 

for DLA Troop Support-FTRC to evaluate the contractor/subcontractor’s 

qualifications for skip-lot inspection shall be the responsibility of the
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contractor/subcontractor. NOTE: Skip-lot inspection does not apply to record 

review. The GQAR shall review ALL records pertinent to all lots produced 

(including those not inspected under skip-lot inspection), issue a corrective action 

request if applicable (addressing a finding or observation), and provide a copy of the 

record review to the contractor/subcontractor. During Government joint compliance 

audits, the GQAR shall make available a copy (to the Government Audit Team) of 

the results of record reviews for those lots randomly selected by the Government 

Audit Team for record verifications. 

E. The designated GQAR shall interrupt skip-lot inspection for a packaging or product 

characteristics exam, as applicable, when a product’s characteristics exam reverts to 

“State 3, Skip-lot interrupt” due to a GQAR end-item exam failure. At the request of 

the contractor/subcontractor, the GQAR shall start lot-by-lot inspection for 

interrupted packaging characteristics exams and/or product characteristics exams in 

accordance with Section VI, D. Requalification Procedures. The GQAR shall notify 

the contractor/subcontractor when skip-lot inspection is interrupted. The GQAR 

shall notify DLA Troop Support-FTRC when any of the disqualification procedures 

contained in Section VI, E, are met. 

F. The designated GQAR shall maintain a skip lot ledger for each of the products 

selected for end-item skip lot procedures. The skip lot ledger should list the lot 

number, the date the lot was offered, the exams eligible for skip lot, the pass/fail 

status, exam/skip status and the skip lot state in effect for those exams. 

G. The designated GQAR shall annotate the certification documentation (e.g., USDAAMS certificate, iRapt, other) for each applicable lot included on the certification 

documentation to indicate acceptance is based in part on contractor/ subcontractor’s 

(1) end-item examination results or (2) DLA approved substitute in-process 

inspection results (if substitute in-process inspection is approved by DLA Troop 

Support-FTRC). Example annotation: “Acceptance of lot ___or lots _____ listed is 

based in part on the contractor/subcontractor’s end-item examination results in 

accordance with end-item skip-lot procedures.” 

H. Questions or concerns may be referred through the Contracting Officer to the 

applicable Quality Assurance Specialist assigned to DLA Troop Support-FTSC for 

Individual Rations or DLA Troop Support-FTSB for quality systems as applicable, 

Directorate of Subsistence, Operational Rations, 700 Robbins Street, Building 6, 

Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092. 

IV. CONTRACTOR/SUBCONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES: 

A. The contractor/subcontractor shall notify the applicable inspection agency, In-Plant 

GQAR and DLA Troop Support-FTSB, in writing, of any change in the following: 

QSP; change in the method of manufacture or inspection; significant changes in 

personnel having an effect on the production and quality of the product; significant 

changes in tools, gauges, or material related to the production of the product; or
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implementation of any change in the specification. 

B. The contractor/subcontractor shall notify the GQAR of scheduled producer’s enditem verification inspection, and specific switching procedure (normal, tightened) 

being utilized for each product qualified under the ASQ/ANSI Standard Z1.4, when 

applicable. The GQAR shall also be immediately notified whenever the 

contractor/subcontractor finds a lot to be nonconforming and a disposition is desired 

under the contractual nonconformance procedures. All nonconforming lots accepted 

by the Contracting Officer under the nonconformance procedures (reinspection, 

waiver, rework, etc.), in lieu of inspection by the inspection agency, will be treated 

as nonexistent for purposes of the skip-lot sampling program (when the 

nonconformance is found by the contractor/subcontractor’s inspection system). 

C. Contractor/Subcontractor’s End-Item Inspection Reports and other documentation. 

The contractor/subcontractor shall provide the GQAR the following documentation 

for all lots to be shipped to substantiate lot conformance, whether or not they are 

inspected by the GQAR (under the skip-lot inspection): A copy of the current 

production standard (PDM/First Article) formula (including ratios of ingredients and 

formulation records for each production lot), copies of all data/records of inspections 

and tests conducted (in-process and end-item and other data applicable to the lot in 

question as cited in the MPC Clause). 

D. The contractor/subcontractor shall not ship any lot or any part of a lot that is required 

to be end-item inspected by the contractually designated GQAR until GQAR 

sampling for the purpose of Government end-item inspection is completed.

E. The contractor/subcontractor shall be responsible for providing to DLA Troop 

Support-FTRC the contractor/subcontractor and GQAR end-item inspection results 

data (performance history) required by DLA Troop Support-FTRC for the purpose 

of evaluating the contractor/subcontractor’s petitions requesting initial qualification 

for skip-lot inspection, re-qualification for skip-lot inspection, or change of skip-lot 

inspection frequency (ex. 1-in-4N.to 1-in-6N). Section V and Section VI may be 

used as a guideline for determining the extent of records necessary to support a 

request (i.e., the contractor/subcontractor is required to supply the end-item 

inspection data necessary to support a request to DLA for approval to commence 

State 2 government end-item skip-lot inspection; it is not necessary to supply 

inspection data unrelated to the specified number of lots required by DLA for the 

purpose of skip-lot qualification evaluation). DLA Troop Support-FTRC shall 

contract the contractor/subcontractor if additional information is necessary for the 

Contracting Officer to determine a disposition of a contractor/subcontractor’s 

request. Contractor/subcontractor end-item verification examinations are required to 

be performed for any of the product’s characteristics exams if in State 1 or State 3 

status – this includes requalification exams. (Example: State 3 is in effect for 

packaging examination. Both the contractor/subcontractor and the GQAR start 

enditem packaging examinations for the purposes of re-qualifying packaging 

examination for State 2 and thus maintaining the product as State 2 qualified. While 
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packaging is in the process of re-qualification, product examination continues using 

skip-lot end-item inspection procedures, however should the packaging 

requalification attempt fail, the product and all its constituent characteristics exams 

are relegated to State 1. 

NOTE: Section IV, E, performance history data must be submitted electronically to 

DLA Troop Support-FTRC using an EXCEL compatible format. Hand transcription

will only serve to delay DLA response time. 

The contractor/subcontractor shall provide an inspection data record of the lots 

offered for first time Government inspection (the record to include such lot’s 

inspection results for both the contractor/subcontractor and the GQAR inspections, 

organized by correlating a product/item identity (NSN), with its applicable lot 

numbers, each lot’s applicable end-item exams, each exams inspection plan criteria, 

and the number of defects/nonconformities by defect category and description found 

in each end-item exam, by lot number, by the product/item, by inspection activity) to 

DLA Troop Support-FTRC. DLA Troop Support-FTRC shall contact the 

contractor/sub- contractor if additional information is necessary. 

EXAMPLE OF “INSPECTION DATA RECORD”: 1/ 

PCR-C-007, Contractor/Subcotractor, Vanilla Pound Cake, Product examination, TABLE I, 

Defect 101 102 103 104 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 

Lot No. 

9365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0031 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0060 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PCR-C-007, USDA, Vanilla Pound Cake, Product examination, TABLE I, 

Defect 101 102 103 104 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 

Lot No. 

9365 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0031 skipped lot 

0060 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1/ For each lot, include a column citing lot size and/or sample size. 

F. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor/subcontractor to request approval for 

skip-lot eligibility qualifications (initial qualifications, re-qualificatons, and change 

of inspection frequency or severity qualifications) from DLA Troop Support-FTRC 

and to notify the GQAR of such a contractor/subcontractor’s request. As part of the 

contractor/subcontractor’s request, the contractor/subcontractor shall provide DLA 

and the GQAR with the performance history maintained in accordance with 

paragraph IV.,E. DLA shall notify the contractor/subcontractor and GQAR as to the 

product’s eligibility for STATE 2 status. If requested by the contractor/subcontractor, DLA shall provide the contractor with excel data forms to accommodate
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those products that are eligible to qualify for government end-item skip-lot 

inspection.

V. INITIAL END-ITEM SKIP-LOT INSPECTION QUALIFICATIONS. 2/ 

A. Contractor/Subcontractor Qualification. The contractor/subcontractor shall: 

1. Have a documented QSP that was rated acceptable by DLA Troop SupportFTSB. Have implemented and maintained the documented QSP for controlling 

finished product quality and changes in the system. The quality system shall include 

inspection by the supplier of every lot produced and recording of inspection results, 

except where a substitute in-process inspection results method is authorized by the 

Contracting Officer. 

2. Have implemented a quality system that is reliable in terms of consistently 

producing conforming finished product and that is capable of detecting and 

correcting shifts in quality levels and monitoring process changes which may 

adversely affect quality. The supplier’s personnel responsible for the application of 

the system shall exhibit a clear understanding of the applicable standards, systems, 

and procedures to be followed. 

3. Not have experienced an organization change that might adversely affect 

quality. 

B. Product Qualification (Flow # 2):. The product shall have met all 

contract/specification/CID requirements and ALL of the following requirements 

previous to determining eligibility for State 2: 

1. The product shall be of stable design and not a new item (new item is one that 

has never been produced for the specific ration program). An item is no longer new 

and can be considered stable of design if it meets the following paragraphs, 2 

through 7 below.

2. The product shall have been manufactured on an essentially continuous basis 

for a period of not less than six months (whenever production is held pending first 

article/PDM/PCR/ sample approval, only the time period after approval and 

resumption of regular production shall be included). Essentially continuous 

production (for new items – see also VI, B, 2) means that “production is at a steady 

rate.” Production is considered continuous if at least one lot of that product type 

(e.g., chicken and rice) is produced or submitted for inspection at a frequency of 

every month. 

3. The previous 10 consecutive lots offered for inspection of the product have
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been on normal end-item inspection at the inspection level cited in the contractual 

documents (see ASQ/ANSI ZI.4 and the specific product’s specification/CID or 

other contractual document where the inspection levels are given). 

4. The previous 10 consecutive lots have, at a minimum, been maintained at the 

Acceptance Quality Limits (AQLs) cited in individual specifications or other 

contractual documents (see ASQ/ANSI Z1.4). Compliance with AQLs shall be 

calculated using Government end-item verification inspection results. 

5. The previous 10 consecutive lots were found to have end-item inspection 

results determined to be comparable and reliable when comparing contractor/ 

subcontractor end-item inspection results to GQAR end-item inspection results. The 

data used for comparison calculations shall be attribute data comprised of major 

class findings and total class findings, (total class findings consist of either combined 

major and minor, or stand-alone totals, as applicable). Comparability for each class 

of defects shall be determined by calculating the standard normal deviate as defined 

in subparagraph VI.3.a. of SUBSECTION 225.3 of DPSCM 4155.6. The calculated 

values shall be applied in accordance with VI.A.3.b. through VI.A.3.d. of 

SUBSECTION 225.3. 

SUBSECTION 225.3 of DPSCM 4155.6 is available at: 

https://www.dla.mil/TroopSupport/Subsistence/OperationalRations/qapubs/ 

6. The previous 10 consecutive lots were found conforming with all the 

requirements cited in the contract/specification/CID and were accepted during the 

initial end-item inspection performed by the assigned In-Plant GQAR.

7. The previous 10 consecutive lots were subject to end-item inspection by the 

contractor/subcontractor and by the GQAR. No “substitute in-process inspection 

results” are permitted for use in the initial end-item skip-lot qualification process. 

2/ Not applicable to end-item verification testing required by contract to be 

conducted at USDA National Science Laboratories (NSL) or by in-plant USDA 

inspectors under the USDA in-plant verification testing protocol. 

VI. PROCEDURES FOR GQAR SKIP LOT INSPECTION - Flow # 3 one-in-four 

skip-lot frequency (normal inspection) and Flow # 4 one-in-six skip-lot 

frequency (normal inspection): 

A. Determining initial skip-lot inspection frequency (for the products that are not new 

and for which stable design was previously established): 

1. Lot-by-Lot Inspection Procedure (State 1): The inspection program for a 

product’s starts in State 1, lot-by-lot inspection. When the supplier and the product 

qualify for skip-lot inspection, and with the approval from DLA, the GQAR 

inspection program switches to State 2, skip-lot. Skip-lot inspection may be 
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temporarily interrupted resulting in a transfer to State 3. 

2. Inspection Data Record from the 10 consecutive lots presented for 

Government verification for the purpose of achieving State 2 Government skip-lot 

end-item verification inspection shall be recorded and made available to DLA by the 

contractor/subcontractor for the purpose of DLA’s determining and authorizing 

initial and subsequent skip-lot inspection re-qualifications and inspection 

frequencies. This data consists of that running record described in Section IV, 

paragraph E. 

NOTE: Lots produced prior to or within the production date boundaries defined by 

the eldest lot number and the youngest lot number comprising the 10 consecutive 

lots presented for first-time Government verification inspection, but offered 

subsequent to the accomplished offering and inspection of the 10 consecutive lots, 

shall not be eligible for end-item skip lot verification inspection. Inspection 

dispositions of lots to which this NOTE applies shall not be used for the purpose of 

determining interrupt as cited in Section VI, paragraph C. 

3. (State 2 - 1-in-4N) The initial frequency for skip-lot inspection shall be one 

lot randomly selected for inspection from a lot population of four. The “lot 

population” represents lots submitted subsequent to the last GQAR inspected lot. 

Inspection at the 1-in-4N frequency is conducted at normal inspection/sampling. 

(“N” signifies “normal” inspection/sampling) If there is a change in status (i.e., State 

2 to State 3) incurred during the 1-in-4N frequency period, the State 2 - 1-in-4 

frequency may resume if the product meets the 1-in-4N re-qualification requirements 

(see Flow 3 ). Under no circumstances may two different skip-lot inspection 

frequencies be applied to a product at the same time (see Section I, C). For example, 

a product’s packaging examination and its product examination shall use the same 

skip-lot inspection frequency when in State 2. 

4. (State 2 - 1-in-6N) When a product has been at the 1-in-4N frequency for a 

minimum of one year with no change in status in skip-lot inspection for all 

requirements/characteristics eligible for skip-lot inspection (i.e. no Government enditem inspection failures), the frequency for skip-lot inspection should be reduced to 1 

lot randomly selected for inspection from a lot population of 6 consecutively 

submitted lots submitted subsequent to the last GQAR inspected lot. Inspection at 

the 1-in-6N frequency is conducted at normal inspection/sampling. (“N” signifies 

“normal” inspection/sampling.) All of a product’s requirements/ characteristics 

eligible for skip-lot inspection shall qualify to go to the frequency of 1-in-6N at the 

same time. If there is a change in status (i.e., State 2 to State 3) incurred during the 

1-in-6N frequency period, the State 2 - 1-in-6N frequency may resume if the 

product’s effected characteristic(s) meets the 1-in-6N re-qualification requirements 

(see Flow 4 ). Under no circumstances should two different skip-lot inspection 

frequencies be applied to a product at the same time. 

5. Other skip-lot frequencies cited in the standard, ASQ/ANSI S1, shall not be
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used, unless approved by the Contracting Officer.

B. Lot Selection for Skip-Lot Procedure (State 2): 

1 The lots inspected under State 2 (skip-lot) shall be selected in accordance 

with the inspection agency procedure (e.g. six-sided die or other method provided 

the contractor/subcontractor does not know which of the lots will be inspected until 

the lots have been offered for Government inspection). Unless otherwise directed by 

DLA Troop Support, end-item inspection skip-lot verification shall be done by 

randomly selecting not less than one lot in four or one lot in six consecutive lots, as 

applicable, presented for inspection of a specific item. The sampling procedure 

under skip-lot places the succeeding lots not chosen for inspection back into the 

universe available for subsequent inspection. For instance, starting with a group of 

four lots (i.e., 1-4), randomly select one of them for inspection. If lot 2 were 

selected, the next lot would be selected from lots 3, 4, 5, or 6. If lot 6 were chosen at 

random, the next selection would be from lots 7, 8, 9, or 10, and so on. 

2. A product must be produced on an essentially continuous basis. Essentially 

continuous basis (for the products that are not new – see also V, B, 2) means that, for 

a specific product, at least 1 lot of that specific product, or 1 lot of a product of 

similar nature (produced for the rations programs), is produced and/or submitted for 

Government verification inspection every 2 months (unless contracted quantity is 

completed for that specific line item or as directed by DLA Troop Support).A 

product shipped to other parties (other ration contractors/subcontractors) shall be 

considered in the determination of essentially continuous production. NOTE: A 

product of similar nature: All MRE placeable and multi-stage entrees can be grouped 

together and considered of similar nature; all MRE pumpable entrees can be grouped 

together and considered of similar nature; all MRE thermostabilized fruits can be 

grouped together and considered of similar nature; all MRE cakes can be grouped 

together and considered of similar nature; all MRE cookies/brownies can be grouped 

together and considered of similar nature for the purpose of determining if a product 

meets essentially continuous production criteria. 

3. The contractor/subcontractor shall provide Inspection Record Data (the 

record to include such lot’s inspection results for both the contractor/subcontractor 

and the GQAR inspections, organized by correlating a product/item identity (NSN), 

with its applicable lot numbers, each lot’s applicable end-item exams, each exams 

inspection plan criteria, and the number of defects/nonconformities by defect 

category and description found in each end-item exam, by lot number, by the 

product/item, by inspection activity) to DLA Troop Support-FTRC. DLA Troop 

Support-FTRC shall contract the contractor/sub-contractor if additional information 

is necessary. 

4. Acceptance or rejection of lots identified by the contractor/subcontractor 

(based on their inspection in lieu of submitting the lot for Government inspection) 

shall not affect skip-lot status. The contractor/subcontractor may request that the 
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Contracting Officer accept a lot without Government verification inspection 

(rework/waiver based on the contractor/subcontractor’s inspection results). Such a 

lot will be treated as nonexistent for the purpose of the skip-lot procedure. However, 

paperwork concerning the nonconforming lot and the final disposition shall be 

placed in the contractor/subcontractor’s quality history file. The 

contractor/subcontractor shall not, knowingly, submit lots found nonconforming by 

their end-item inspection system or in-process inspection data (if permitted in lieu of 

end-item inspection) for Government inspection. If a lot is inspected by the 

Government, rejected, and later accepted as nonconforming (ex. waived), the 

Government initial inspection results shall be used to determine skip-lot status. 

C. Interrupt Procedures (State 3): Skip lot shall be interrupted and lot-by-lot 

inspection implemented (for that set of requirements or characteristics) in 

accordance with the contractual requirements when the data from the last inspected 

lot does not meet the requirements of the contract. 

D. Requalification Procedures: Skip lot requalification requires that: (a) within the 

next 10 consecutive lots presented for first time Government inspection, five 

consecutive lots are presented for Government verification inspection and are 

accepted during State 3 (lot-by-lot inspection); (b) process AQLs, as measured by 

Government inspection results, are at or below required AQLs; (c) and the 

contractor/subcontractor’s and the Government’s requalification inspections findings 

are comparable 3/. A written request for resumption of GQAR skip-lot inspection, 

along with the data necessary to support the achievement of the criteria cited in the 

foregoing sentence, shall be submitted to DLA Troop Support-FTRC for approval by 

the Contracting Officer. Upon requalification, skip-lot inspection should be resumed 

using the State 2 skip-lot frequency in effect at the time of skip-lot interruption (1-in4N resumes 1- in 4N, 1-in-6N resumes 1-in-6N) as applicable. NOTE: ANSI/ASQ 

Z1.4 Switching Procedures apply to the Requalification Procedures.

3/ End-item inspections conducted for the purpose of skip-lot requalification shall 

commence with the use of normal inspection sampling plans, regardless of the State 

2 skip-lot frequency in place at time of a specific product’s disqualification. 

Contractor/subcontractor end-item verification inspection is required for the purpose 

of re-qualifying for State 2 GQAR skip-lot end-item verification inspection. NOTE: 

ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 Switching Procedures apply to the Requalification Procedures.

NOTE: Lots produced prior to or within the production date boundaries defined by 

the eldest lot number and the youngest lot number comprising the lots inspected by 

the GQAR for the purpose of meeting requalification criteria but offered subsequent 

to the requalification or disqualification criteria being met, shall not be eligible for 

end-item skip lot verification inspection. Inspection dispositions of lots to which this 

NOTE applies shall not be used for the purpose of determining interrupt as cited in 

VI.,C. 

E. Disqualification Procedures: A product shall be disqualified for skip-lot inspection 
13

and lot-by-lot inspection procedures reinstated when one or more of the following 

three conditions occurs: 

1. Requalification is not achieved within 10 lots for a product (e.g., chicken and 

rice); or the product, once placed in State 3, is not produced for more than two 

months; and/or, the procedures shift between State 2 and State 3 more than once 

within a period of two months. NOTE: ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 Switching Procedures are 

appliable during Requalification. 

2. The Government detects irregularity in the following: (a) The 

contractor/subcontractor’s quality system during joint Government compliance 

audits or verification/audits conducted by the assigned In-Plant GQAR; (b) decrease 

in product quality noted during Government product reviews; (c) 

contractor/subcontractor deviates from the approved documented QSP without 

Government review and approval or deviates from the contractual requirements; (d) 

a customer complaint received, validated and determined to have a serious effect on 

the quality of the product; and/or (e) the contractor/subcontractor fails to address 

corrective action requests (CARs) or to take effective corrective and preventive 

action (CPA) to correct deficiencies noted by the inspection agencies (after GQAR’s 

CAR has been validated by DLA Troop Support-FTSB), customers, and/or during 

DLA Troop-Support-FTSB compliance audits. 

3. The Contracting Officer determines that skip-lot is not in the best interest of 

the Government and decides to return to lot-by-lot inspection. 

4. If lot-by-lot inspection is discontinued because of one of the events cited in 

the three preceding Section VI, E, paragraphs, the qualification requirements cited in 

the initial qualification requirements (Section. V.) shall apply. Upon re-qualification 

under the initial qualification requirements, skip-lot inspection should be resumed 

using the skip-lot frequency achieved prior to disqualification (i.e., resumption as 

described in this paragraph is applicable to 1-in-4N and 1-in-6N).
14

VII. EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT END-ITEM EXAM SCHEDULING 

CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF QUALIFYING A PRODUCT FOR 

STATE 2 SKIP-LOT INSPECTION – AN INITIAL QUALIFICATION AND A 

RE-QUALIFICATION SCHEDULE 

NOTE: This following example is limited in its scope to the illustration of the 

scheduling of GQAR exams conducted during qualification and re-qualification 

phases of the skip-lot qualification process. 

Characteristic of the Product: Filled & 

Sealed Examination, Table II

Characteristic of the Product: Product 

Examination, Table I

The Product

Lot 

No.

State Exam GQAR 

Exam 

Disposition

Do end-item 

exam 

results 

indicate 

exam 

characteristic is skip 

eligible?

State Exam GQAR 

Exam 

Disposition

Do end-item 

exam 

results 

indicate 

exam 

characteristic is skip 

eligible?

Is the 

product 

skip 

eligible?

Presupposing that all qualification factors, save the 10 consecutive acceptable GQAR end-item inspections,

have been met:

1 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemReject no no

2 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

3 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

4 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

5 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

6 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

7 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

8 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

9 State 1 EnditemAccept no State 1 EnditemAccept no no

10 State 1 EnditemAccept yes State 1 EnditemAccept no no

11 State 1 EnditemAccept yes State 1 EnditemAccept yes yes

Contractor/subcontractor submits request (including data to support request) to Contracting Officer for 

his approval to start GQAR end-item skip-lot inspection of all the product's characteristics. Under no 

circumstances may two different skip-lot inspection frequencies be used for a product at the same time
15

Presuming Contracting Officer approves the contractor/ 

subcontractor's request to begin State 2, 1-in-4 Normal 

Inspection:

12 State 2 Skip yes State 2 Skip yes yes

13 State 2 Skip yes State 2 Skip yes yes

14 State 2 EnditemAccept yes State 2 EnditemAccept yes yes

15 State 2 Skip yes State 2 Skip yes yes

16 State 2 EnditemAccept yes State 2 EnditemAccept yes yes

17 State 2 Skip yes State 2 Skip yes yes

18 State 2 EnditemReject no State 2 EnditemAccept yes yes

Due to GQAR end-item rejection of a product's characteristic exam, filled & sealed exam, State 2 is 

interrupted for packaging exam. State 3 is in effect for packaging examination. GQAR starts the product's requalification inspection for packaging. Product examination continues using end-item skip-lot inspection.

19 State 3 EnditemAccept no State 2 Skip yes yes

20 State 3 EnditemAccept no State 2 Skip yes yes

21 State 3 EnditemAccept no State 2 EnditemAccept yes yes

22 State 3 EnditemAccept yes State 2 Skip yes yes

Contractor/subcontractor submits request (including data to support request) to Contracting Officer for his 

approval to start GQAR end-item skip-lot packaging inspection

23 State 2 Skip yes State 2 Skip yes yes

24 State 2 EnditemAccept yes State 2 EnditemAccept yes yes

25 State 2 Skip yes State 2 Skip yes yes

26 State 2 EnditemAccept yes State 2 EnditemAccept yes yes
16

NOT APPROVED

APPROVED

GQAR reviews QSP rating, product QH, 

Requests clarification from supervisor, 

or DLATS if necessary.

Is QSP acceptable? 2

DLATS-FTSB approves QSP and notifies GQAR 

and contractor of QSP rating and other actions. 1

Contractor does not 

Qualify for skip-lot 

Inspection 3

GQAR inspection results indicate that the 

last 10 consecutive lots by item presented 

for 1st Govt. verification inspection were 

acceptable and continuous production 

criteria met? 4

GQAR starts 1-in-4 skip-lot Inspection 

frequency for a product. 6

YES

NO

YES

NO

When all characteristics qualify, contractor 

petitions DLATS-FTRC to have GQAR start 1-

in-4 skip-lot Inspection frequency. 5

COORDINATION AND APPROVAL OF SKIP-LOT INSPECTION (SLI) FLOW 1
17

YES

YES

YES

YES

 NO

INITIAL QUALIFICATION FOR PRODUCT SKIP LOT INSEPCTION FLOW 2

(1) Stable design?

(New product must first meet cumulative 

requirements 2-5 below to be considered of 

stable design.) VB1 4

ACCEPTABLE QSP? 1

Contractor does not 

qualify for skip-lot 

inspection. 3

(2) At a minimum, 1 lot of the product has been produced or 

submitted per month for a period of NLT 6 months. VB2 6

Were the 10 previous consecutive lots 

presented for Government verification 

inspection accepted during the 1st

Government verification inspection? 

(Stable design previously established) 5

Is product new? VB1 2 YES NO

YES

NO

(3) Has product been on normal inspection at the level cited in 

the contract? VB3 7

YES

NO

(4) Has product been maintained at the AQL’s cited in the 

contract/ specification for a period of NLT 6 months? VB4 8

(6) Were the 10 previous consecutive lots presented for Govt. 

inspection accepted during the 1st Govt. inspection? VB6 10

PRODUCT QUALIFIES FOR SKIP-LOT 

INSPECTION UPON CONTRACTING 

OFFICER ‘S APPROVAL 11

YES

(5) Were the 10 previous consecutive lots Contractor and 

Govt. inspection results comparable and reliable? VB5 9

NO

NO

NO

NO
18

1/ The Switching Procedures cited in ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 apply to Requalification

SKIP LOT INSPECTION (1-IN-4 FREQUENCY) NORMAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES FLOW 3

Disqualification: Contractor is disqualified from skip-lot inspection for that product or other 

products if (1) product does not re-qualify within 10 lots 1/, (2) product or product of similar 

nature not produced for more than 2 months, (3) skip-lot procedure shifts between State 2 and 

State 3 more than once within 2 months, (4) ineffective CPA, (5) degradation in quality of 

product or system and/or, (6) Contracting Officer’s option. 7

SUPPLIER AND PRODUCT MET INITIAL SKIPLOT QUALIFICATIONS AND PRODUCT IS ON 

STATE 1: LOT BY LOT NORMAL INSPECTION 

 1

Requalification: Within next 10 consecutive lots 

presented for 1st Govt. inspection, are 5 consecutive 

lots accepted during the 1st Govt. verification 

inspection in accordance with VI.D.? 6

 

 

 

STATE 2: Skip-lot inspection. Upon authorization by the 

Contracting Officer, GQAR selects and inspects 1 lot in 4 

consecutive lots submitted for Govt. verification inspection. 

GQAR performs State 2 inspection using normal inspection. 2

Product/lot conforming IAW

contract requirements during the 1st

Govt. verification inspection? 3

State 3: Interrupt skip-lot 

inspection and implement lotby-lot Govt. inspection for that 

Table of defects or specific 

requirement. 5

Continue with skiplot inspection. 4

YES NO

YES

NO

If lot-by-lot Govt. inspection was reinstated 

because of one of the events in the disqualification procedures, the contractor must requalify under the initial qualification 

requirements. Resume at 1-in-4 frequency, normal 

inspection, after qualifying for State 2. 8
19

1/ The Switching Procedures cited in ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 apply to Requalification

SKIP LOT INSEPCTION (1-IN-6N FREQUENCY) NORMAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES FLOW 4

Disqualification: Contractor is disqualified from skip-lot inspection for that product 

or other products if (1) product does not re-qualify within 10 lots 1/, (2) product or 

product of similar nature not produced for more than 2 months, (3) skip-lot procedure 

shifts between State 2 and State 3 more than once within 2 months, (4) ineffective 

CPA, (5) degradation in quality of product or system, and/or (6) Contracting Officer’s 

option. 7

STATE 2: Supplier and product met initial 

skip-lot qualifications and product has been 

at a 1-in-4 frequency for one year with no 

change in status for all requirements initially 

qualified for skip-lot inspection. 1

Requalification: Within next 10 consecutive lots 

presented for 1st Govt. inspection, are 5 consecutive lots 

accepted & comparable during the 1st Govt. verification 

inspection in accordance with VI.D.? 6

 

 

 

Upon authorization by the Contracting Officer, GQAR selects and 

inspects 1 lot in 6 consecutive lots submitted for Govt. verification 

inspection. GQAR performs State 2 inspection using normal inspection. 2

Product/lot conforming IAW

contract requirements during the 1st

Govt. verification inspection? 3

State 3: Interrupt skip-lot

inspection and implement lotby-lot Govt. inspection for that 

Table of defects or specific 

requirement. 5

Continue with skiplot inspection. 4

YES NO

YES

NO

If lot-by-lot Govt. inspection was reinstated because of 

one of the events in the disqualification procedures, the 

contractor must re-qualify under the initial qualification 

requirements. Resume at 1-in-6 frequency, using 

normal inspection, after qualifying for State 2. 8