DNDO-Accepted Laboratories for the GRaDER Program

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has developed an interim laboratory acceptance process for the Graduated Rad/Nuc Detector Evaluation and Reporting (GRaDER^SM) program that enables participating laboratories to begin the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) N42 standards test process while awaiting National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accreditation.

The laboratory must first submit a NVLAP application for accreditation. The laboratory then provides a Self Declaration of Conformity (SDOC) packet to DNDO, indicating conformity with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbooks 150 and 150-23-2007 (DRAFT) and ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The standards for which the laboratory will offer accredited testing services must be identified. After careful consideration and clarification, DNDO issues a temporary Letter of Acceptance to the laboratory. The DNDO Letter of Acceptance of a laboratory stipulates the following conditions:

• Test reports shall encompass the entire scope of the applicable ANSI/IEEE standard against which the system under test (SUT) was compared.
• Test reports shall contain results reported under the prescribed NIST test procedures and protocols for each ANSI/IEEE standard.
• Test reports shall include all applicable test plans required by the ANSI/IEEE N42 or other appropriately referenced standards.
• Test reports shall be issued under the laboratory’s letterhead and shall be completed and unedited outside of the independent laboratory team (e.g., lead laboratory and any partnering or subcontractor laboratories).
• The laboratory shall require all stakeholders (including subcontractor/partnering laboratories and the respective instrument manufacturer) to agree by signature to the procedures and conditions prescribed in the applicable test plans.
• The laboratory shall provide DNDO an advance copy of the signed test plans prior to test execution.
• The laboratory shall provide written notice to DNDO immediately upon any change in the relationships of the test team membership or capabilities. The scope of this reporting requirement encompasses any situation that may impact the scope of DNDO acceptance or NVLAP accreditation.

The laboratory’s acceptance is limited to one year or upon NVLAP accreditation, whichever comes first. The laboratory may reapply for DNDO acceptance as a GRaDER program test laboratory upon, or prior to, expiration of the Letter of Acceptance. An updated SDOC shall always be required as a condition of acceptance along with completion of all actions outlined in the "DNDO Checklist, NVLAP Applicant Laboratory Self Declarations of Conformity to the GRaDER Program Requirements." (PDF, 19.46 KB - 1 page)

Equipment manufacturers may schedule their equipment for testing by the DNDO- accepted or NVLAP-accredited laboratories and may provide the test results to DNDO for evaluation. Additional information for manufacturer participation is available on the GRaDER website as well.

Current Participants

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) applied for NVLAP accreditation in August 2007. DNDO accepted a SDOC from PNNL on January 2, 2009. The scope of acceptance encompasses PNNL’s application for NVLAP accreditation, including the ANSI/IEEE consensus standards ANSI N42.32, N42.33, and N42.34 of 2006. PNNL is teamed with Northwest EMC Laboratory in Hillsboro, OR, for satisfaction of the electromagnetic compatibility requirements.

Manufacturers may schedule instruments for testing by contacting the laboratory directly.

Contact Information

Michelle Johnson
Technical Group Manager
Radiation and Health Technology
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
902 Battelle Boulevard
P.O. Box 999, MSIN P7-01
Richland, WA 99352
Tel: 509-376-4014
Fax: 509-372-2665
E-mail: michelle.johnson@pnl.gov
www.pnl.gov

Future Participants

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

The ORNL application encompasses the following ANSI/IEEE standards: Clauses 6, 7, 8, and 9 of ANSI N42.32, N42.33, N42.34, N42.35, and N42.38

Contact Information

Peter J. Chiaro, Jr.
Phone: 865-576-4598
Fax: 865-576-8993
E-mail: chiaropjjr@ornl.gov

Global Testing Laboratories, LLC / Savannah River National Laboratory (GTL/SRNL) Team

Global Testing Laboratories, LLC, of Knoxville TN, has teamed with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, Savannah River Site, Health Physics Instrument Calibration Lab and Savannah River National Laboratory to provide radiation detector testing services for manufacturers that encompass the requirements of NVLAP and ANSI/IEEE standards: N42-32, N42-33, and N42-34.  Manufacturers should schedule testing through GTL.

Contact Information:

Deborah Walker
CEO
Global Testing Laboratories, LLC
3029 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy
Knoxville, TN  37914
Work Phone 865-523-9972x106
Cell Phone 865-567-1498
Fax 865-637-7598
E-mail dwalker@globaltestinglabs.com

Al Goodwyn
Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Manager
Savannah River National Laboratory
Building 773-42A
Aiken, SC 29808
Phone: 803-725-7751
Fax: 803-725-7673
E-mail: al.goodwyn@srnl.doe.gov

Sean Barr
Quality Manager
Health Physics Instrument Calibration Laboratory
Savannah River Site
Building 735-2B
Aiken, SC 29808
Phone: 803-952-8440
Fax: 803-952-7988
E-mail: sean.barr@srs.gov

The NIST maintains a list of accredited laboratories for NVLAP.

This page will be updated as new laboratory participants are accepted by DNDO.