What to Know When Adding DOECAP-AP Accreditation toa DoD-ELAP Accredited Laboratory (Rev. December 2023)
DOE only wants radiological analysis performed atTrue or False?
commercial laboratories. ANSWER: False. Of the accredited 23 laboratories in theDOE Consolidated Audit Program - Accreditation Program (DOECAP-AP), 12 laboratories
perform routine and project specific non-radiological analysis. Many opportunities
exist for non-radiochemistry laboratories to support projects involving routine
compliance monitoring, site characterization, process control testing, and remediation formatrices such as drinking water, non-potable water, soil, tissue and/or air.
True or False?
DOE only has a very small amount of non-radiologicalcommercial laboratory contracts in play. ANSWER: False. There are 160 individuallaboratory contracts around the country between commercial laboratories and the DOE.
Currently, there are 47 contracts out of the 163 individual commercial laboratory
contracts that total over $44.5 million in annual spending for non-radiochemistry testing
activity.
Is there a need for PFAS analysis by the DOE? YES. In keeping with recent developments inPFAS analysis requirements, as described within the Department’s PFAS Strategic
Roadmap: DOE Commitments to Action 2022-2025, the demand for PFAS analysis isanticipated to exceed current laboratory capacity in non-radiochemistry analytical needs.
There will also be an increased need for mixed PFAS + radiological analysis.
My Laboratory already has DoD-ELAP accreditation. What will it take to increase my scope
to include DOECAP-AP accreditation? ANSWER: Not as much as you think. Keep in mind
that the combined DoD/DOE Quality Systems Manual (QSM) is utilized by both agencies. Whilethe QSM does have some DOE only requirements, the majority of the QSM is shared. In otherwords, your DoD-ELAP accreditation meets approximately 92% of the DOECAP-AP
accreditation criteria. The costs and specific details of adding DOECAP-AP to your list offederal agency accreditations is dependent on the laboratory’s scope and theaccrediting body pricing. The DOE sites and/or their Prime Contractors contract
directly with laboratories and often use a "Best Value Approach" in theirlaboratory selection.
What about radioactive samples?
DOE sites must screen and declare if samples possess radioactivity prior to leaving the site.
Sites that show samples to have levels of radioactivity can only contract those samples with alaboratory that possess a radioactive materials license. Laboratories that do not possess alicense must properly screen, identify, log and handle suspected radioactive samples inaccordance with Module 2 Section 9.1.6.c of QSM Version 6.0.
Please refer to this Table 1-1 which provides a summary of key differences between
the requirements under QSM 6.0.
Note: All requirements are the same except where noted belowTable 1-1 DoD ELAP vs DOECAP-AP Accreditation Requirements

QSM 6.0 requirement for
DoD ELAP
Non-Radiochemistry(QSM 6.0)
Testing
Assessor time to add
DoD ELAPDOECAP-AP
accreditation is inplace.

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DOECAP-AP(QSM 6.0)

Add approximately 0.5 to 1.0
days (4 to 10 hours) toassess DOE Only
requirements and M2 Section
9, HRMM requirements.

Comments

Billed rates foraccreditation andtravel costs are tobe establishedbetween thelaboratory and theaccrediting bodyWhat to Know When Adding DOECAP-AP Accreditation toa DoD-ELAP Accredited Laboratory
QSM 6.0 Requirement for
Non-Radiochemistry
Testing
M1 4.7.3.a:

DoD ELAP(QSM 6.0)

DoD ELAP
requirement is to
notify AB in writing.

DOECAP-AP(QSM 6.0)(DOE-only requirement) The
laboratory shall also submit thisinformation in writing to all
impacted DOE Customers.

Comments
selected by thelaboratory.
Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

DOECAP requirement is to
notify AB and all impacted DOE
customers in writing.
M2 5.2.1; 5.2.1.a-f:

This is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP requirement fortechnical manager including
duties and responsibilities.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

M2 5.2.2; 5.2.2.a-i:

This is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP requirement for
quality manager including duties
and responsibilities.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

M2 6.2.8:

This is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement fortechnical manager educationaland experience qualifications.

Minimal impact
for nonradiologicaltestinglaboratories.

M2 6.2.9:This is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement for
quality manager educational andexperience qualifications.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltestinglaboratories.

M2 6.3.4.f:

This is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement
for a laboratory safety
inspection program.

This is critical toDOE operationalsafety and theprotection of theworker, theenvironment, andthe public.

M2 6.6.2.f

M2 6.6.2.f; 6.6.2.f.i-vi
are requirements
under DoD ELAP.

M2 6.6.2.f.vii:
date opened.

M2 6.6.2.f.vii is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

Additional DOECAP-AP
requirement to include date
opened in the required records
for services and supplies that
may affect the quality ofenvironmental tests.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltestinglaboratories.

M2 7.2.1.2.c.ii.g-h:

M2 7.2.1.2.c.ii.g-h
are not requirements
under DoD ELAP.

Additional items to be included orreferenced in the instructions for
all accredited methods.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

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What to Know When Adding DOECAP-AP Accreditation toa DoD-ELAP Accredited Laboratory
QSM 6.0 Requirement for
Non-Radiochemistry
Testing

DoD ELAP(QSM 6.0)DOECAP-AP(QSM 6.0)

Comments

M2 7.2.1.2.e:

M2 7.2.1.2.e is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement for
the laboratory to track
authorized departures fromprocedures and periodicallyevaluate if a formal procedure
appropriate

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

M2 7.4.23.c:

M2 7.4.23.c is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement for
the have records of the disposalof samples, digestates,
leachates and extracts or othersample preparation methods
and what is required in thoserecords.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

Note: Further instructions on
waste management anddisposal are contained in M2
section 9.0 of QSM v6.0.
M2 8.2.1.a.xxxii-xxxiii:

M2 8.2.1.a.xxxii-xxxiii
are not requirements
under DoD ELAP.

Additional DOECAP-AP
requirements to beaddressed in the quality
manual.

These plans are
critical to DOE
operational safety
and the protection ofthe worker, theenvironment, and thepublic.

M2 8.2.3.a:M2 8.2.3.a is not arequirement underDoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP
requirement to adopt
TNI 2016 V1M2 4.2.8.3requirement.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

M2 8.4.5:

M2 8.4.5 is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement forrecords disposal procedures.

Minimal impact for
non-radiologicaltesting laboratories.

M2 8.8.7:

M2 8.8.7 is not arequirement
under DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement for
the laboratory QA program toidentify the required internal
distribution of internal audit
reports and all related records.

Minimal impact
for nonradiologicaltestinglaboratories.

M2 8.9.6:

M2 8.9.6 is not arequirement under
DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement toinclude laboratory radiation
health and safety, radioactive
hazardous waste, andradioactive materials
management functions inmanagement reviews, whereapplicable.

No impact for nonradiochemistrylaboratories.

M2 8.9.8:

M2 8.9.8 is not arequirement
under DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP requirement for
the laboratory QA program to
identify the required internal
distribution of management
review reports and all relatedrecords.

Minimal impact
for nonradiologicaltestinglaboratories.

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What to Know When Adding DOECAP-AP Accreditation toa DoD-ELAP Accredited Laboratory
QSM 6.0 Requirement for
Non-Radiochemistry
Testing
M2 Section 9.0 Hazardous
and Radioactive Materials
Management and Health andSafety Practices (DOE-OnlyRequirement)
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.6

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DoD ELAP(QSM 6.0)
M2 Section 9.0 is
not a requirement
under DoD ELAP.

DOECAP-AP(QSM 6.0)
DOECAP-AP HRMM
requirements.

Comments
Section 9.1 is
not applicable
to nonradiochemistry
testing.
No impact fornonradiologicaltestinglaboratories.