Notice of Intent to Sole Source to A2LA

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide support for laboratory accreditations to the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 17025:2017, ISO/IEC 17043:2023, and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17034:2016 for the Department of Energy's (DOE) reference laboratory, RESL.

This SOW outlines a five-year period of performance, including a Base Year and four Option Years. The work involves:

• Base Year: On-site renewal assessment of RESL's accreditations to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 17034:2016, including a proficiency testing provider statistics review for ISO/IEC 17043:2023. This assessment is expected to take two to three full working days and will be conducted by a minimum of two approved technical personnel.

• Option Years 1 & 3: Annual documentation and statistics review of RESL's accreditations to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO 17034:2016, and ISO/IEC 17043:2023.

• Option Years 2 & 4: On-site renewal assessment of RESL's accreditations to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO 17034:2016, and ISO/IEC 17043:2023.

• Final assessment reports must be formalized, communicated to RESL, and signed by all applicable parties.

• RESL will be notified of findings for factual accuracy prior to report finalization.

• Upon successful fulfillment of requirements, an official approval letter and certificates of accreditation will be issued.

• Deliverables must be spell-checked, grammatically correct, and in a professional format. Rework due to errors is at no additional charge.

• Period: Five years from the contract's effective date.

• Place: Idaho Falls, ID, at the RESL facilities only.

• Skills/Expertise: Personnel conducting assessments must be trained and qualified in the applicable standards.

• Security: Assessors require visitor badges and RESL-specific Access and Visitor Training. Assessors will be escorted on premises.

• Environmental, Safety and Health: Considerations are communicated via RESL-specific training; no special requirements beyond that are noted.

• M&O Contractor Interface: N/A

Andrew Hathaway, DOE-ID, RESL Phone: 208-526-3708 Email: hathawaj@id.doe.gov

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) for laboratory accreditation services. The Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Radiological & Environmental Sciences Laboratory (RESL) is requesting approval for a firm-fixed-price contract with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

This document explains why the agency is pursuing a sole-source contract with A2LA for accreditation services. It details:

• The Need: RESL requires continuous, uninterrupted operational accreditations for ISO/IEC and ISO standards (specifically ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO/IEC 17043:2023, and ISO 17034:2016) to maintain compliance and operational readiness.
• Sole Source Justification: A2LA is identified as the only source capable of providing these services due to their existing accreditations, long-standing relationship with RESL (since 2005), and the significant time and cost (estimated two years) required for a new contractor to achieve the necessary qualifications and operational understanding. A transition to a new provider would cause unacceptable delays and risks.
• Contract Details: The estimated value is $77,450.00 over five years (one base year and four option periods).
• Market Research: Efforts to find other sources confirmed that no other providers possess the critical accreditations, historical context, or immediate operational readiness to avoid a two-year transition delay.
• Future Actions: The agency plans to monitor the market and investigate alternative accreditation pathways to potentially reduce future ramp-up times.

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This document announces the Department of Energy's (DOE-ID) intent to negotiate a sole source contract with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) for accreditation services for the Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory (RESL). This is based on FAR 6.302-1, as A2LA is considered the only available source.

The contract is for accreditation services essential for RESL to maintain its accreditations for operations. These accreditations are for ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ISO/IEC 17043:2010, and ISO 17034:2016.

• The contract is anticipated to be a purchase order.

• The estimated value is $77,450.00.

• The period of performance is five years from the date of award.

• This notice is NOT a solicitation.

• Interested parties who believe they can satisfy the requirements should identify their capabilities in writing.

• Information submitted will be used to determine if competitive procedures can be used.

• The response date for this notice is February 20, 2026, no later than 1600 (4:00 PM) MST.

• The government is pursuing a sole source acquisition, indicating competition is precluded.

• Switching to a new accrediting body would require significant time (up to two years) for RESL to undergo surveillance, assessments, and modify its quality management system.

• The DOE intends to maintain accreditation services with A2LA for five years while preparing for a future competitive solicitation.

• Questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Pete Hawkes at hawkespd@id.doe.gov.