SOW ISO 17025.docx

Attachment 1 Statement of Work (SOW) EPA ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Overview of Requirement:

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a contract with an Accrediting Body (AB) implementing ISO/IES 17025 requirements for accreditation as a testing laboratory in environmental chemistry. Contract must cover fields of accreditation, target analytes, and methods shown in Attachment A. The AB must have recognition as a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA.)

The EPA New England Regional Laboratory is currently accredited under the 2003 National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) standards for the fields, analytes, and methods shown in attachment A.

Reporting and Documentation Requirements:

EPA requires notification of materials to submit for review/pre-audit preparation, audit report, corrective action responses, dispute responses and accreditation status notification. EPA also requires on-site audit entrance and exit briefings.

Required Period of Performance:

EPA requires a two year contract covering a two year cycle of on-site accreditation audit and surveillance audit by the accrediting body.

Milestones and Data:

The EPA New England Regional Laboratory’s current NELAC accreditation expires on August 1, 2012. EPA requires a mutually agreed upon milestone schedule to establish accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025 on or before May 1, 2012. At a minimum the schedule must provide review of the application and associated documentation, a complete on-site assessment and an assessment report within 60 days or June 15, 2012 whichever is sooner of contract award. A review of corrective action, if needed, and ultimately issuance of accreditation within 90 days or July 15, 2012 whichever is sooner of contract award is also required to meet this goal.