The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is mandated by Congress to set Technical Capability Standards (TCSs) and implement a test and evaluation program for preventive radiological/nuclear (Rad/Nuc) detection equipment in the United States.

The Graduated Rad/Nuc Detector Evaluation and Reporting (GRaDER^SM) Program evaluates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Rad/Nuc detection equipment against national consensus standards adopted by the Department of Homeland Security and TCSs.

Mission

• Identify radiation detection products that comply with standards and satisfy Homeland Security mission requirements
• Enable federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies to make more informed radiological/nuclear detector procurement decisions

Objectives

• Provide infrastructure for the collection of high integrity test data
  • Use National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) lab accreditation process to confirm test lab capability and competence
  • Identify instrument categories, applicable standards, reporting protocols and compliance levels
• Become a self-sustaining testing program
  
  • Manufacturers pay for voluntary testing by NVLAP accredited labs on their own schedule
  • Labs submit for and maintain accreditation
• Standardize instrument testing procedures and presentation of test results to assure valid and easily interpreted comparisons
• Develop government post-market surveillance program to track products already evaluated under the GRaDER program

Read more on ...

• Background of the GRaDER Program
• Guidance to manufacturers
• Guidance to test laboratories
• Scope of the GRaDER Program and standards used
• Evaluation criteria used by the GRaDER Program
• SAFETY Act using GRaDER (PDF, 5 pages - 140 KB)
• GSA listings of Rad/Nuc detection and identification equipment