Front Line Officer Standard Operating Procedure Development for MORC Detection Operations

The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) supports the security of nuclear and other radioactive material by working with partner States to implement systems to detect nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control (MORC). Supporting sustainability of these systems is essential to ensuring the long-term impact of the NSDD program. One core component of sustainable radiation detection system (RDS) operations is developing and improving the partner country's site-level standard-operating procedures (SOPs). SOPs are a set of written instructions that describe the tactical, step-by-step details of how a regularly conducted operation should be performed. SOPs provide operators with instructions on how to perform a job properly and consistently and establish a basis for developing operation evaluation criteria and assessing performance during drills, tabletop, and field training exercises. Developing and enhancing SOPs required to prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear smuggling involves engaging with multiple organizations to discuss organizational responsibilities, operational coordination, and communication protocols. In support of partners interested in developing or enhancing SOPs, NSDD typically engages with detection organizations such as border police, customs, and law enforcement, as well as response organizations such as regulatory authorities and nuclear forensic agencies.