INL Innovation Spotlight Novel Training Surrogates for Emergency Response Training
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Agency
- Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 624230 Emergency and Other Relief Services
- Place of performance
- Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Andrew Rankin andrew.rankin@inl.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Special Notice is for a federal contracting opportunity published by the Department of Energy (DOE) related to the development of novel training surrogates for emergency response training. The DOE is seeking to address the challenges of using actual radioactive materials for training purposes due to their radiotoxicity and environmental persistence.
The purpose of this opportunity is to leverage research conducted at the Idaho National Laboratory to develop short-lived radioisotope-based surrogate materials that can mimic the properties of industrial radioactive materials. These surrogates would enable more practical and safe training for emergency response communities without the risks associated with using actual radioactive sources. The Special Notice has no set-aside requirements and is open to all interested contractors. The opportunity is posted with a due date of March 25, 2026, indicating a multi-year period for development and testing of the proposed surrogate materials.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
INL Innovation Spotlight
Novel Training Surrogates for Emergency Response Training
Novel short-lived radioisotopes in a variety of chemical forms used as surrogate materials that have short half-lives and decay to stable, environmentally friendly elements.
Overview:
Training with actual radioactive materials that are of concern to emergency response communities poses challenges due to their radiotoxicity. Radioactive materials used in industrial applications exist in different chemical forms, which affect their behavior when dispersed. Each radioisotope follows a unique radioactive decay path and emits particles accordingly. Most radioisotopes have long half-lives, lasting tens of years or more, and are environmentally and biologically persistent as well as radiotoxic. These properties make it impractical to use them for training purposes, except as sealed sources. Utilizing these isotopes for training in contaminated environments is not feasible due to the difficulties in developing and testing technologies to characterize large, contaminated areas. Simulating the detection of radioactive materials remains a challenge, as there is no suitable substitute available. The successful adoption of a surrogate material relies on its ability to match the radioactive emissions and chemical dispersion properties of actual radioactive materials.
Description:
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have developed a technique using short-lived radioisotopes as training surrogates for industrial radioactive materials. Each surrogate material is carefully selected and developed to mimic the particle and photon emission properties, as well as the chemical and physical properties, of the target industrial radioisotope material.
The radioisotopes chosen for training surrogates have several key attributes: 1) they have relatively short half-lives (<2 days), 2) they decay to stable or short-lived daughter isotopes that further decay to stable, non-toxic isotopes, 3) high-purity target matrices can be obtained to prevent the formation of harmful radioactive isotopes, and 4) the physical and chemical properties of the matrices closely resemble those of the radioactive material targets.
These surrogate materials have been extensively evaluated and tested, and have proven to be highly effective in providing realistic training for emergency response methods, procedures, and technologies, including detection and dispersal characterization technologies.
Benefits:
- Enables novel methods to make radioactive simulants for training US military and emergency response personnel tailored to individual training missions.
Applications:
- Emergency response training
Development Status:
TRL 7, full-scale prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment.
IP Status:
Provisional Patent Application No. 16/228,465, ”Surrogate Isotope-Containing Materials for Emergency Response Training and Methods of Formation and Dispersal,” BEA Docket No. BA-1017.
INL Tech Partnerships: Your Gateway to Innovation
INL offers strategic access to proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. We cater licensing terms to each business we work with, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Engage with our diverse technology offerings to propel your company forward.
Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services to assist in the development of this technology.
Update #1 ·
INL Innovation Spotlight
Novel Training Surrogates for Emergency Response Training
Novel short-lived radioisotopes in a variety of chemical forms used as surrogate materials that have short half-lives and decay to stable, environmentally friendly elements.
Overview:
Training with actual radioactive materials that are of concern to emergency response communities poses challenges due to their radiotoxicity. Radioactive materials used in industrial applications exist in different chemical forms, which affect their behavior when dispersed. Each radioisotope follows a unique radioactive decay path and emits particles accordingly. Most radioisotopes have long half-lives, lasting tens of years or more, and are environmentally and biologically persistent as well as radiotoxic. These properties make it impractical to use them for training purposes, except as sealed sources. Utilizing these isotopes for training in contaminated environments is not feasible due to the difficulties in developing and testing technologies to characterize large, contaminated areas. Simulating the detection of radioactive materials remains a challenge, as there is no suitable substitute available. The successful adoption of a surrogate material relies on its ability to match the radioactive emissions and chemical dispersion properties of actual radioactive materials.
Description:
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have developed a technique using short-lived radioisotopes as training surrogates for industrial radioactive materials. Each surrogate material is carefully selected and developed to mimic the particle and photon emission properties, as well as the chemical and physical properties, of the target industrial radioisotope material.
The radioisotopes chosen for training surrogates have several key attributes: 1) they have relatively short half-lives (<2 days), 2) they decay to stable or short-lived daughter isotopes that further decay to stable, non-toxic isotopes, 3) high-purity target matrices can be obtained to prevent the formation of harmful radioactive isotopes, and 4) the physical and chemical properties of the matrices closely resemble those of the radioactive material targets.
These surrogate materials have been extensively evaluated and tested, and have proven to be highly effective in providing realistic training for emergency response methods, procedures, and technologies, including detection and dispersal characterization technologies.
Benefits:
- Enables novel methods to make radioactive simulants for training US military and emergency response personnel tailored to individual training missions.
Applications:
- Emergency response training
Development Status:
TRL 7, full-scale prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment.
IP Status:
Provisional Patent Application No. 16/228,465, ”Surrogate Isotope-Containing Materials for Emergency Response Training and Methods of Formation and Dispersal,” BEA Docket No. BA-1017.
INL Tech Partnerships: Your Gateway to Innovation
INL offers strategic access to proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. We cater licensing terms to each business we work with, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Engage with our diverse technology offerings to propel your company forward.
Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
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