Accreditation Process

DOE-STD-1112-98

5.0

ACCREDITATION PROCESS

The DOELAP for Radiobioassay is managed by the DOE Office of Worker Health and Safety. A HQ

DOELAP Administrator is assigned to provide overall program management. A Performance Evaluation

Program Administrator (PEPA) coordinates the accreditation process and administers the performance

testing program. To obtain accreditation, a DOE contractor shall first submit an application through the

cognizant field office. The contractor shall then satisfy both the performance testing and the on-site

assessment requirements. The Performance Evaluation Program Administrator prepares an administrative

report documenting the test results and recommendations for accreditation. The Oversight Board evaluates

the report and the recommendations and, if approved, sends them to the HQ DOELAP Administrator. The

HQ DOELAP Administrator makes the final decisions on accreditation and issues the Certificate of

Accreditation. The Conditions of Accreditation accompanying the Certificate of Accreditation specifies the

extent of the accreditation for the facility, including direct or indirect radiobioassay, radiobioassay matrix

or measurement category, and the specific analytes and matrices for which accreditation has been granted.

5.1

Use of Commercial Laboratories

If a DOE contractor uses the services of a commercial laboratory, both the DOE contractor and

commercial laboratory will be visited. If more than one DOE contractor is using the same

commercial laboratory, only one site visit to the laboratory may be required. More than one DOE

contractor may use performance test data for a commercial laboratory if each contractor facility is

testing in the same matrix and for the same analyte. The Performance Evaluation Program

Administrator shall approve combined evaluations, and the Oversight Board shall review and

approve them.

5.2

Accreditation Process Description

The process of obtaining DOELAP Accreditation for Radiobioassay Programs is described in this

section. Accreditation is awarded when all of the phases of the process are completed. The

following sub-sections describe the process.

5.2.1 Application Phase. The contractor initiates the accreditation process by submitting the

appropriate application form (Attachments A or B) to the Performance Evaluation Program