The Department of Energy Consolidated Audit Program – Accreditation Program (DOECAP-AP) serves a critical role in maintaining the integrity and reliability of environmental and radiological test data used by the Department of Energy (DOE).
Its primary purpose is to ensure that commercial laboratories contracted by DOE sites adhere to rigorous quality control standards and can deliver accurate, defensible, and high-quality data analysis. These quality standards can be found within the Quality Systems Manual (QSM), which outlines rigorous requirements for laboratory operations, including method validation, data traceability, proficiency testing, and quality control procedures.
By enforcing these standards, DOECAP-AP ensures the reliability and regulatory compliance of laboratory-generated test data, supporting the DOE’s mission to maintain environmental stewardship, safety, and national security.
If you are part of a DoD ELAP accredited laboratory, you’re probably already familiar with the QSM because in addition to the DoD ELAP requirements, the QSM also lists additional requirements for DOE accreditation.
Because DOE accredited labs are assessed to requirements in the QSM as well, organizations that are currently DoD ELAP accredited may already meet several of the additional requirements without significant modifications to their existing quality systems.
What are the benefits of adding DOECAP Accreditation?
The DOECAP-AP offers several key benefits to both commercial laboratories and the DOE. As a cooperative effort, it eliminates unnecessary audits, reducing the burden on laboratories and saving valuable resources.
By participating in the program, laboratories gain the opportunity to bid on DOE contracts and projects, expanding their business potential. Additionally, DOE contract offices are encouraged to integrate DOECAP accreditation into both existing and proposed contracts, giving laboratories a competitive edge in securing future work.
Additional Requirements
Listed below are each of the additional requirements in the QSM to become DOE accredited.
Have questions about these additional requirements? Reach out to the environmental testing accreditation experts at A2LA by emailing info@A2LA.org or calling 301-644-3248.