The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Washington, D.C., is seeking a contractor to provide a long-term Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for a five-year period, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. This Request for Quotations (RFQ) is set aside for Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). The RSO will work 158 days per year, 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and will be responsible for overseeing all ionizing radiation sources, managing radioactive materials, conducting safety inspections and audits, providing radiation safety training, and ensuring compliance with NRC/NHPP regulations and VA directives. Key duties include managing dosimetry and ALARA programs, performing I-131 therapy tasks, and assisting with quality improvement projects. The RSO must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field, hold certifications such as Certified Health Physicist (CHP) and RSO Certification, and have at least three years of experience in health physics or radiation safety. An alternate RSO with identical qualifications is also required. All contractor personnel will undergo a Tier 1 background investigation and must adhere to strict information security and privacy requirements, including completing mandatory VA training and using VA-approved systems for sensitive information.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued VHA Directive 1105.02, effective October 18, 2024, to establish a culture of safety and maintain a safe environment for staff and patients in Nuclear Medicine services across VA medical facilities. This directive updates responsibilities for various roles, including the Assistant Under Secretary for Health, Executive Directors of National Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Programs, and facility-level Chiefs and Technologists. Key changes include enhanced training requirements for staff in the dosimetry program and the conversion of supplementary paragraphs into eight standard operating procedures (SOPs) covering areas such as Nuclear Medicine Service/Section Chief requirements, regulatory oversight, quality assurance, patient education, and the management of radiopharmaceutical extravasations. The directive also rescinds VHA Directive 1187 and mandates local radiation safety SOPs compliant with federal regulations and VA permits. Overall, the policy emphasizes stringent compliance with federal regulations (e.g., NRC, FDA, OSHA) and internal VHA directives to ensure the safe and effective use of radioactive materials and radiation safety operations.

VHA Directive 1105.03, issued May 17, 2024, updates the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) mammography program standards. This revised directive focuses on enhancing the establishment, administration, accreditation, certification, staffing, and performance of mammography programs across VA medical facilities, including community-based outpatient clinics and leased facilities. Key updates include: revised responsibilities for the Lead Interpreting Physician to conduct regular on-premises site reviews; updated requirements for screening mammogram report turnaround times; adaptations for VA's transition to the Oracle Health electronic health record (EHR); and updated signature authority for program certification to the Executive Director, National Radiology Program. Additionally, it mandates the on-site presence of a VA medical facility Interpreting Physician during diagnostic mammography and breast ultrasound, and removes the requirement for local policies on quality, patient education, communication, infection control, and safety, centralizing these standards. The directive also outlines detailed responsibilities for various personnel, from the Under Secretary for Health to individual mammography technologists, ensuring comprehensive oversight and compliance with federal regulations and accreditation standards.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive 1105.04, effective December 18, 2024, updates fluoroscopy safety protocols. It emphasizes minimizing radiation exposure to patients and staff, optimizing radiation dose, and ensuring appropriate clinical follow-up for high-dose procedures. Key changes include clarifying responsibilities for independent and dependent fluoroscope operators, adding requirements for fluoroscopy in research and for Health Professions Trainees (HPTs), and updating training requirements. Training now includes hands-on and preceptor training during the post-privileging period and mandatory refresher training every two years. The directive also converts previous appendices into standard operating procedures (SOPs) available on an internal VA SharePoint site. It outlines detailed responsibilities for various VA personnel, from the Under Secretary for Health to individual fluoroscope operators, regarding compliance, equipment inspection, dose monitoring, incident reporting, and training. The directive rescinds the June 21, 2018 version and is scheduled for recertification by December 2029.

The VHA Directive 1105, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, establishes policies for managing radioactive materials under the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) License No. 03-23853-01VA. This directive updates terminology, clarifies responsibilities for various VA entities including the VHA National Radiation Safety Committee (NRSC) and VA medical facility Directors, and expands on the roles of Radiation Safety Committees and Officers. Key changes involve notifying the National Health Physics Program (NHPP) of new or modified Positron Emission Tomography (PET) facilities. The directive outlines specific responsibilities for safe use of radioactive materials, regulatory compliance, training, and record management, ensuring the protection of Veterans, staff, and the environment. It also details requirements for VA medical facility Radiation Safety Committees and Radiation Safety Officers in Appendix A.

VHA Directive 1129.01 outlines the mandatory reporting of misadministrations involving ionizing radiation from therapy machines within Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. The policy requires VA medical facilities to report such incidents to the National Health Physics Program (NHPP). The directive details specific responsibilities for various VA personnel and committees, including the Under Secretary for Health, Assistant Under Secretaries, program directors, and facility-level staff, in ensuring compliance, oversight, and corrective actions. Reporting procedures include initial telephone notification to NHPP within two business days and a written report within 30 calendar days, omitting patient-identifying information. The report must describe the circumstances, causes, patient effects, and preventive actions. The directive also defines what constitutes a 'misadministration' based on dose deviations and other criteria, emphasizing a collaborative evaluation process and tracking mechanisms to assess causes and trends. This directive is crucial for maintaining patient safety and ensuring accountability in radiation therapy.

VHA Directive 1129 establishes policies and actions for a radiation protection compliance program for machine sources of ionizing radiation used in medical diagnosis and treatment within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This new directive ensures compliance with regulatory and community standards, including those from OSHA, FDA, and The Joint Commission, as well as professional standards from organizations like the American College of Radiology. Key responsibilities are assigned to the Under Secretary for Health, the National Radiation Safety Committee (NRSC), the National Health Physics Program (NHPP), and VA Medical Facility Directors. The directive mandates periodic compliance audits, a therapy machine registration program, and adherence to specific safety practices to protect patients, workers, and the public from radiation exposure. It also outlines reporting requirements for incidents, misadministrations, and over-exposures, emphasizing a proactive approach to radiation safety.

VHA Directive 1200.01(2) mandates that every VA facility engaged in research establish a Research and Development (R&D) Committee. This directive, amended on April 1, 2025, and January 8, 2021, clarifies the R&D Committee's role, its relationship to other research committees, and membership requirements. It outlines responsibilities for various VA officials, from the Under Secretary for Health to individual VA investigators, in ensuring research adheres to ethical, regulatory, and scientific standards. The directive details R&D Committee operations, including meeting procedures, quorum requirements, and annual reviews of subcommittees. It also covers membership criteria, the establishment of essential subcommittees (Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Subcommittee on Research Safety and Security), and the process for reviewing and approving research, including collaborative and exempt studies. Key review components include scientific merit, human and animal subject protection, data security, and resource availability. The directive also addresses the participation of non-Veterans in VA research and outlines training and records management requirements.

VHA Directive 1200.08(1) establishes mandatory safety and security standards for personnel and laboratories involved in VA research. It addresses hazards like biohazards, chemical, and physical hazards, ensuring compliance with federal regulations (OSHA, EPA, NRC, CDC, USDA, NIH). The directive outlines responsibilities for various VA officials, from the Under Secretary for Health to individual researchers, in implementing a comprehensive Research Safety and Security Program (RSSP). Key components include establishing Subcommittees on Research Safety (SRS) and Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) to review and approve research protocols, manage hazardous materials, and ensure proper training and emergency preparedness. Non-compliance can lead to funding withdrawal, program suspension, or disciplinary action. The directive also details requirements for laboratory access, physical security, inspections, training, and records management to protect public health, the environment, and national security.

This document, Wage Determination No. 2015-4281, Revision No. 35, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, establishes minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for service contract employees in the District of Columbia, specific counties in Maryland (Charles, Prince George's), and Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, Stafford). It outlines hourly rates for numerous occupations across various sectors, including administrative, automotive, food service, health, information technology, and maintenance. The determination also details fringe benefits such as health and welfare, vacation accrual, and eleven paid holidays. Special provisions cover computer employees and air traffic controllers/weather observers for night and Sunday pay. Hazardous pay differentials for ordnance work and uniform allowances are also specified. The document includes a conformance process for unlisted job classifications, emphasizing adherence to the Service Contract Act and related Executive Orders (EO 13706 for paid sick leave and EO 13658 for minimum wage).