"nuclear program....." + "THERE ARE NO REQUIRMENTS....." that just doesn't sound right.
Isn't there a QSP (Quality System Provision) that your subcontractors have to be in compliance with before contracts are even awarded to them? We don't do nuke work, but we are AS9100 certified (Aerospace). When we subcontract work, our subcontractors don't necessarily have to be AS9100 accredited, but they do need to prove to us that they are capable up upholding the quality standards that we are held to. When we work with a subcontractor, we give them a list of quality requirements that they need to adhere to. If they choose not to follow the requirements (which happens) they don't get the contract. If they agree, then they WILL be audited by our internal auditor(s) for compliance. How else will you know they are doing the right thing?