General Lab Information

About the International Safeguards Project Office

The United States Support Program to IAEA Safeguards (USSP) assists the IAEA in its mission to provide credible assurances to the international community that Member States are honoring their nuclear non-proliferation obligations. Specifically, the USSP provides financial and technical support for tasks targeted to resolve technical safeguards issues and improve verification tools. The assistance is provided by a number of US participants, including private sector businesses, national laboratories of the Department of Energy, individual Consultants on short term assignments, and the Cost-Free Experts (CFEs) and Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) who live in Vienna and work at the IAEA headquarters. The USSP responds to official requests for assistance from the IAEA Department of Safeguards. The Support Program Administration at the IAEA coordinates the task requests.

The International Safeguards Project Office (ISPO) manages the USSP technically and administratively. ISPO is based at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, and maintains a Liaison Office in Vienna. ISPO performs this service at the behest of the Subgroup on Safeguards Technical Support (SSTS), a Washington-based interagency committee that provides policy and program oversight and task funding approval. The SSTS is composed of representatives of the US Departments of State, Energy, and Defense, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ISPO's technical management involves evaluating the technical feasibility of proposed tasks, offering sound recommendations for the interagency review process, and ensuring that tasks meet the IAEA's stated needs. Administrative management functions include tracking schedules and budgets for active tasks, preparing status reports, obtaining proposals from prospective contractors, recruiting for CFE and JPO positions, and working with USSP contractors to coordinate the various tasks under the USSP.  The Brookhaven ISPO Office includes five scientific, technical and administrative staff members. The ISPO Liaison Office in Vienna serves as a mechanism for local communication with the IAEA on USSP matters and for regular transmittal of information on USSP tasks to the ISPO Brookhaven Office and to the SSTS. The Liaison Officer staffs this office, which is attached to the US Mission to International Organizations in Vienna.


Task Monitors

Admin/Project Support

Finance

Liaison Officer

International Safeguards Project Office
Brookhaven National Laboratory
30 Bell Avenue
Building 490C
Upton, New York
USA 11973