Status Of NBL Program Office Uranium And Plutonium Reference Materials

The NBL Program Office (NBL PO) is the US certifying authority for special nuclear reference materials. The NBL PO mission transferred from the Department of Energy’s Office of Science to the National Nuclear Security Administration in late 2019. This talk will present the current status of the US nuclear reference material inventory, discuss shipping and storage capabilities and remaining challenges, review material needs collected from US and other customers, present the status of several certified reference material projects currently underway, and discuss the current plans for producing new uranium, plutonium and other reference materials. Additionally, the NBL PO’s proficiency testing program, known asthe Safeguards Measurement Evaluation Program, will be reviewed with discussion on the status and plans to revitalize the program with new materials and operating approaches.