Purpose
The objective of the precious metals program is to issue commonly used precious metals to custodians for little to no cost saving projects precious resources.
41 CFR 109 27.5101 “Precious metals” means uncommon and highly valuable metals characterized by their superior resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Included are gold, silver, and the platinum group metals—platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium.
Common forms of precious metals are shot, sponge and grain.
How do I place a request for precious metals?
109–27.5106–1 Purpose
The purpose of the precious metals pool is to recycle, at a minimum cost to pool participants, DOE-owned precious metals within the Department and to dispose of DOE-owned precious metals that are excess to DOE needs. However, if the pool is unable to accept any potential precious metal return, the using activity will dispose of the precious metals through the disposal process specified in subchapter H of the FPMR/FMR and this regulation.
To place a request for precious metals, requestors are required to complete a Request for Precious Metals form.
Completed forms can be sent to TDStites@lbl.gov for processing
Once the form is verified and processed an agreed upon time to pick up metals will be arranged.
A tracking log is required to include amount received, amount used, dates of utilization and returns of unutilized materials. An example log can be found here Sample Precious Metals Tracking Log
Inventories
The Precious Metals Inventory is conducted in accordance with Berkeley Lab General Inventory Plan. Property Management conducts the annual Precious Metals Inventory concurrently with the annual Physical personal property inventory held during the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year. Precious metals are specifically defined by the DOE as: Gold, Iridium, Osmium, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium, Ruthenium and Silver.
Responsibilities
Requester/Custodian – Must be a full-time career Berkeley Lab employee to be a custodian of precious metals
- Acquires precious metals for mission driven research functions
- First source is the DOE Precious Metals Business Center
- Ensures precious metals are stored in a noncombustible combination locked repository with access
- limited to the designated custodian and an alternate
- Maintains a continuous record of all acquisition, consumption, weight, date of use, form, metal content
- and % of metal, transfer and return of each metal
- Responds promptly to all requests for inventories to include observed/not observed, idle and damaged
- Conducts physical inventories annually witnessed by the PMCO
- Contacts PMCO for inventory prior to terminating employment or sub sequential transfer to another ncustodian
- Returns unused or idle precious metals to PMCO upon completion of the project
- Contact the precious metals custodian and utilize the return form