The Role Of The NBL Program Office As A Collaborator With ORNL In Producing And Characterizing Highly-enriched 233 U Non-destruction Analysis Sealed Sources As A Certified Reference Material

The NBL Program Office (NBL PO) is authorized to prepare and distribute traceable certified reference materials (CRM) to the U. S. nuclear complex and to appropriate international organizations. NBL PO uses input from federal program offices, national laboratories, and stakeholders to determine CRM needs. NBL PO acquires source materials; develops plans for producing a CRM; contracts with qualified laboratories to prepare and characterize CRM units; evaluates data to make value assignments; certifies the CRM; and arranges for storage and distribution around the world. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) under the direction of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of International Nuclear Safeguards (NA-241) proposed producing and characterizing highly enriched 233 U non-destructive analysis (NDA) qualified sealed sources that are traceable to the international measurement system for 233 U mass content and uranium isotope amount ratios. At an early stage in the proposal and planning process, NA-241 and ORNL recognized that national and international acceptance of traceability would require that characterized values be certified by an organization with appropriate credentials for CRM production. NA-241 and ORNL requested NBL PO to collaborate on project planning, provide technical input and appropriate oversight for characterizing the 233 U solution used to produce the certified 233 U seal source units. This paper discusses NBL PO’s role in planning the 233 U characterization and loading of the sealed sources in accordance with the requirements in NBL PO’s quality management system (QMS) for producing and characterizing of CRMs. NBL PO’s QMS program follows international requirements for producing reference material as detailed in ISO 17034. NBL PO will sign the plan for 233 U NDA CRM production; concur on all procedures used by ORNL to perform all aspects of material characterization and source production; observe key steps during source production; and assess the technical capabilities and quality assurance program of ORNL so that ORNL can be designated as a qualified supplier for the aspects of 233 U NDA CRM production they perform. NBL PO is responsible for value assignment, calculating uncertainty, and issuing the certificate of analysis.