Analytical Laboratory Manager

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to award a Firm-Fixed Price purchase order to DAC Radiation Safety Consulting.

In accordance with FAR Part 6.302-1, the Contractor is the only known responsible source to provide the services for the requirement described below.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the National Institutes of Health (NIH),  Office of the Director, Office of Research Services, Division of Radiation Safety (DRS) anticipates issuing a purchase order to procure and retain the full-time services of an Analytical Laboratory Manager currently performing in this capacity at the NIH.  The DRS analytical lab performs all radioanalysis of samples to determine isotope and radioactive activity concentrations.  DRS is granted licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and must comply with 10CFR20 Subpart F 20.1501 which requires it to evaluate concentrations or quantities of radioactive materials.  The analytical lab requires a proficient and competent full-time manager to oversee operations including the day-to- day performance of staff members, maintain necessary consumables inventory, ensure lab equipment is functioning properly, and apply health physics techniques to make final determinations of sample analysis results for qualitative and quantitative radioactivity, thus demonstrating compliance with regulatory limits for allowable radiological contamination.  The NIH researchers utilize a very wide range of radionuclides and DRS must maintain a counting capability for all nuclides in use, to a degree of sensitivity that allows for the accurate detection of radiological contamination within 10% of allowable limits.  Presently DRS has two Hidex 300 liquid scintillation counters, two Perkin Elmer Tricarb liquid scintillation counters, two Hidex AMG gamma counters, and two Mirion Gamma Spectroscopy System detectors; these counting instruments comprise the DRS Analytical Lab.  The Lab Manager must have a depth of knowledge and experience that allows the operation all lab equipment, understanding of operating parameters, interpretation of counting results, and application of regulatory limit determinations to relay final counting results to customers. It is critical for the Analytical Lab Manager to be highly competent, have health physics expertise and situational experience in the ongoing operations of the analytical lab environment, as regulatory compliance is dependent on trustworthy and reliable data generated by the lab.   

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes.  However, any party that believes they can perform the requirements described above should submit documentation that supports their expertise and capabilities.  A determination by the Government to compete this proposed award based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

It is anticipated that an award will be issued within five (5) days after the date of this notice unless the Government determines that another Contractor has the capability to meet this requirement.

Please email responses to zetherine.gore@nih.gov no later than 12:00 a.m. EST on Monday, September 28, 2023.  Emails received in response to this notice must reference SS-NIH-6692266 on the subject line to be identified for consideration.