S02 P09 Attachment A.pdf
PDF 47 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36C25026Q0724_1
About this file
This is a Department of Veterans Affairs memorandum issued January 3, 2014, from the Under Secretary for Health to Network Directors, directing preferential procurement of medical radioisotopes derived from non-High Enriched Uranium (HEU) sources.
The VA has been requested by the White House Interagency Policy Committee to transition procurement of medical radioisotopes to non-HEU sources to mitigate security and nuclear proliferation risks associated with HEU transportation and storage by radioisotope vendors. The primary radioisotope affected is Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), which VA administered at 366,000 doses in fiscal year 2012 at an average cost of $56 per dose. Conversion to non-HEU production is estimated to increase the unit cost to $70 per dose, resulting in an annual cost increase of $5.2 million, bringing the total estimated annual cost to $26 million for non-HEU Tc-99m labeled doses. The memorandum clarifies that VA does not purchase uranium directly; radioisotope vendors procure uranium to generate Tc-99m, and the final radioisotope product is chemically identical regardless of enrichment source. Network Directors are instructed to notify Veterans Health Administration facility personnel, including Chief Medical Officers, Quality Management Officers, Chiefs of Staff, and nuclear medicine staff, to begin preferential procurement of non-HEU derived Tc-99m as adequate supplies become commercially available while expending currently available doses. Dr. Milton Gross, National Nuclear Medicine Director, will communicate potential non-HEU supplier sources to the field, and questions should be directed to him at (734) 845-3396 or Milton.Gross2@va.gov.
View the file
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 36C25027D0004_1.docx | DOCX document | |
| 36C25026Q0724 0001_1.docx | DOCX document | |
| S02 Drawing for Nuc Med deliveries AA.pdf | ||
| 36C25026Q0724_1.docx | DOCX document | |
| S02 Radioactive Material Parking and Delivery Instructions-TOPC.docx | DOCX document | |
| S02 Radioactive Material Parking and Delivery Instructions - AA.docx | DOCX document | |
| S02 Line Items for Vendor to Complete.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| S02 36C25026Q0724.pdf |
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Department of Veterans Affairs
Date: JAN O 3 2014
From: Under Secretary for Health (10)
Memorandum subJ: Preferential Procurement of non-High Enriched Uranium-Derived Medical Isotopes
To: Network Directors (10N1 -23)
1. The White House lnteragency Policy Committee has requested that the Department of Veterans Affairs 0/A) preferentially procure medical radioisotopes from non-High Enriched Uranium (HEU) sources. The reason for this request is that transportation and storage of HEU by radioisotope vendors may be a security and nuclear proliferation risk. VA's leadership in the transition to non-HEU radioisotope production will improve national security, promote the creation of domestic suppliers of medical radioisotopes, and will ultimately reduce the United States' reliance on foreign sources. In support of this important initiative, I am asking you to purchase non-HEU derived isotopes when they become commercially available.
2. The principal radioisotope manufactured using HEU is Technectium-99m (Tc-99m). In fiscal year 2012, VA administered 366,000 doses ofTc-99m at an average cost per dose of $56. Conversion of production to non-HEU is estimated to increase the cost to $70 per dose, resulting in an increase of $5.2 million per year.
The total estimated VA cost per year for non-HEU Tc-99m labeled doses will be $26 million.
3. As a point of clarification, VA does not purchase uranium. The radioisotope vendors purchase uranium .to generate Tc-99m. Whether Tc-99m is made with HEU or non-HEU, the radioisotope is the same. Therefore, transition to a non-HEU vendor will not otherwise affect your operations.
4. Please notify all Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network Cnief Medical Officers, Quality Management Officers, Chiefs of Staff, and facility nuclear medicine staff to begin preferential procurement of Tc-99m produced from non-HEU sources as 13dequate supplies become available. Doses currently available should be expended. Dr. Milton Gross, National Nuclear Medicine Director, will inform the field of potential non-HEU derived Tc-99m sources.
5. Questions should be addressed to Dr. Gross by phone at (734) 845-3396 or by e-mail at Milton.Gross2@va.gov. ·
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .