[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29832-29835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13769]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 950411101-5101-01]
RIN 0693-XX07


Proposed Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for 
Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NIST is proposing a FIPS for STEP that will adopt the 
voluntary industry specification, International Organization for 
Standardization (ISO) Product Data Representation and Exchange, ISO 
10303:1994.
    STEP defines and describes all product data used during the 
manufacturing life-cycle of a product, the production steps needed to 
make a product and the order in which they occur. STEP provides a 
representation of product information along with the necessary 
mechanisms and definitions to enable product data to be archived, 
exchanged, or shared among data bases. The STEP specifications are 
organized as a series of parts, each published separately. Support for 
specific applications is provided through application protocols (AP). 
An AP specifies the information requirements for data exchange, the 
data representation, and the conformance requirements to support the 
application.
    This proposed FIPS contains two sections: (1) An announcement 
section, which provides information concerning the applicability, 
implementation, and maintenance of the standard; and (2) a 
specification section. Only the announcement section of the standard is 
provided in this notice. Interested parties may obtain copies of the 
ISO 10303:1994 from the National Computer Graphics Association, 2722 
Merrilee Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031, telephone: (703) 698-
9600.

DATES: Comments on this proposed standard must be received on or before 
September 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the adoption of this proposed 
standard should be sent to: Director, Computer Systems Laboratory, 
ATTN: Proposed FIPS for STEP, Technology Building, Room B154, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    Written comments received in response to this notice will be made 
part of the public record and will be made available for inspection and 
copying in the Central Reference and Records Inspection Facility, Room 
6020, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th Street between Pennsylvania and 
Constitution Avenues NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Lynne Rosenthal, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899, telephone: (301) 975-3353.

    Dated: May 31, 1995.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
Proposed Federal Information Processing Standards Publication ________

(Date)

Announcing the Standard for Product Data Representation and Exchange 
(STEP)
    Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) 
are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
after approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111(d) 
of the Federal Property and Administration Services Act of 1949 as 
amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.
    1. Name of Standard. Product Data Representation and Exchange, 
commonly known as the Standard for the Exchange of Product model data 
(STEP) (FIPS PUB ________).
    2. Category of Standard. Software standard; Product data 
representation and exchange; industrial automation systems and 
integration.
    3. Explanation. This publication adopts the International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10303: 1994, Product Data 
Representation and Exchange standard as a Federal Information 
Processing Standard (FIPS). ISO 10303, more commonly known as STEP, 
Standard for the Exchange of Product model data, defines a neutral 
computer-interpretable representation for describing product data in a 
manner that is independent from any particular system. ISO 10303 
specifies the necessary mechanisms and definitions to enable product 
data throughout the life cycle of a product, to be exchange, archived, 
or shared among product databases.
    The purpose of the FIPS for STEP is to enable the compatible 
exchange and sharing of product definition data used by a wide range of 
dissimilar computer-aided design (CAD), engineering, manufacturing and 
product support applications. The specification provides a neutral 
format for the exchange and sharing of digital three-dimensional (3D) 
vector and solid representations for a stated application context. Two-
dimensional (2D) vector representation [[Page 29833]] and the 
projection of a 3D representation into 2D views is also supported.
    Support for specific applications is provided through an 
Application Protocol (AP). An AP specifies the information requirements 
for data exchange, the data representation, and the conformance 
requirements to support the application. APs are defined in ISO 10303.
    ISO 10303 is organized as a series of parts, each published 
separately. ISO 10303-1 presents an overview of ISO 10303 and specifies 
the functions of the various series of parts and the relationships 
among them. ISO 10303-31 presents a framework and principles for the 
conformance testing of implementations of ISO 10303. This FIPS PUB 
adopts all ISO 10303 parts. However, the parts of ISO 10303 required 
for implementation and conformance are determined by the AP 
specification (ISO 10303 200-series documents). Associated with each 
application protocol is an abstract test suite (ISO 10303 1200 series 
documents) that specifies the test purposes and verdict criteria which 
implementations are to be evaluated against.
    This FIPS PUB is the beginning of a continuing effort to identify 
appropriate application protocols that can be used by both vendors and 
users to specify the information requirements for data exchange of 
specific end-user applications. This first FIPS for STEP identifies the 
APs presently required for Federal use. Future APs which are deemed 
necessary to satisfy Federal user requirements will be added by 
revision (i.e., change notice in the Federal Register) to this FIPS 
PUB.
    4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.
    5. Maintenance Agency. Department of Commerce, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology (NIST), Manufacturing Engineering 
Laboratory (MEL).
    6. Cross Index. a. International Organization for Standardization 
(ISO), Product Data Representation and Exchange, ISO 10303:1994:

--Part 1, Overview and fundamental principles;
--Part 11, Description methods: The EXPRESS language reference manual;
--Part 21, Implementation methods: Clear text encoding of the exchange 
structure;
--Part 31, Conformance testing methodology and framework; General 
concepts;
--Part 41, Integrated generic resources: Fundamentals of product 
description and support;
--Part 42, Integrated generic resources: Geometric and topological 
representation;
--Part 43, Integrated generic resources: Representation structures;
--Part 44, Integrated generic resources: Product structure 
configuration;
--Part 46, Integrated generic resources: Visual presentation;
--Part 101, Integrated application resources: Draughting;
--Part 201, Application protocol: Explicit draughting;
--Part 203, Application protocol: Configuration controlled design.

    7. Related Documents. a. Federal Information Resources Management 
Regulations (FIRMR) subpart 201-20.303, Standards, and subpart 201-
39.1002, Federal Standards, April 1992.
    b. Federal ADP and Telecommunications Standards Index, U.S. General 
Services Administration, Information Resources Management Service, 
October 1994 (updated periodically).
    c. NISTIR 4743, Issues, Requirements, and Recommendations for a 
STEP Conformance Testing Program.
    d. NISTIR 5511 STEP On-line Information System (SOLIS).
    e. NISTIR 5535 Initial NIST Testing Policy for STEP.
    8. Objectives. The primary objectives of this standard are:

--To reduce the overall life-cycle cost for digital systems by 
establishing a common exchange format for storing, transferring, 
accessing and archiving product data digitally across organizational 
boundaries and independent from any particular system.
--To promote the exchange of product data thereby enabling 
installations to share data, and reduce time spent in efforts to 
regenerate product data.
--To specify Application Protocols that can be used by Federal 
departments and agencies to support exchange of product data.
--To protect the capital investment of users of the standard by 
ensuring to the extent possible that commercial off-the-shelf products 
meet the requirements in the standard, thereby providing a know 
capability which can be expected of any certified product.

    9. Applicability. a. This standard is intended for the computer-
interpretable representation and exchange of product data used in 
computer aided design, analysis, manufacture, test and inspection. The 
FIPS for STEP provides a mechanism for the digital exchange of life 
cycle product information as well as implementing and sharing product 
databases and archiving.
    b. Implementations acquired for government use which purport to 
create or read STEP product information shall contain a conforming STEP 
processor.
    c. This FIPS for STEP shall be used when the requirements of the 
agency's application are satisfied by at least one of the APs specified 
herein and one or more of the following situations exist:

--A method for complete representation of products through the entire 
manufacturing process is required.
--The product data is to be used and maintained on different systems.
--A physical file representing product data is to be exchanged between 
systems.
--An interface to product databases for accessing and sharing data is 
required.
--The product data is or is likely to be used by organizations outside 
the Federal Government.
--It is desired to have the product data understood by multiple people, 
groups, or organizations.

    d. The use of an application protocol is required for all 
implementations of STEP. An AP specifies the scope, context, 
information requirements, representation of the application 
information, and conformance requirements. APs are developed by domain 
experts for the purpose of defining the processes, information flows, 
and functional requirements of an application. Initial release of FIPS 
for STEP includes one application protocol, applicable for the exchange 
of configuration controlled 3D product design data.

--ISO 10303-203: Application protocol: Configuration controlled 3D 
design of mechanical parts and assemblies is required for applications 
which exchange or sharing of data pertaining to the shape 
representation of a part or product, configuration control and 
management, and description of the bill of material structure of a 
product within its design phase. Integral to the definition of a 
mechanical product is the specification of its shape, the specification 
of its configurations and the applicability of its possibly multiple 
definitions to a particular configuration. The focus is on the data 
from the design phase which controls the tracking and management of the 
product, including the following:
--identification of a product and the link of the design identification 
of the components which comprise the product;
--the documentation of formal change and release of designs for the 
product, including the design and change history; [[Page 29834]] 
--the structured relationship of each of the components to the product 
as a whole;
--additional information concerning materials, processes, finishes, 
other design requirements and the identification of qualified suppliers 
for the product or the design of the product.

    Other stages of the life cycle of a product are not addressed by 
this part.
    10. Specifications. The ISO 10303:1994 standard for STEP, provides 
a representation of product information along with the necessary 
mechanisms and definitions to enable product data to be exchanged. ISO 
10303-1: Overview and general principles defines concepts which apply 
to the entire standard. ISO 10303 is divided into six series of parts, 
each series may have one or more parts. The series are as follows:

--Description methods--Part 10 series which includes part 11 that 
defines the data specification language used by ISO 10303;
--Integrated resources:
  Generic resources--Part 40 series;
  Application resources--Part 100 series;
--Application protocols--Part 200 series;
--Conformance testing methodology and framework--Part 30 series;
--Abstract test suites--Part 1200 series, each of which corresponds to 
an associated application protocol;
--Implementation methods--Part 20 series.

    Conformance of an implementation to an application protocol is 
specified by the conformance requirements within the application 
protocol. The AP requires at least one implementation method, and 
references other parts of ISO 10303 for additional conformance 
requirements. Within an AP, conformance requirements may be grouped 
into conformance classes. An implementation may conform to one or more 
conformance class. The scope of conformance testing of a specific 
implementation is the requirements specified for the conformance 
class(es) claimed for the implementation in the Protocol Implementation 
Conformance Statement (i.e., a statement of which capabilities and 
options are supported within an implementation).
    11. Implementation. The implementation of this standard involves 
four areas of consideration: effective date, acquisition, 
interpretations, and validation.
    11.1  Effective Date. This publication is effective six (6) months 
after date of publication of final announcement in the Federal 
Register. A transition period of twelve (12) months, beginning on the 
effective date, allows industry to produce STEP implementations 
conforming to this standard. Agencies are encouraged to use this 
standard for solicitation proposals during the transition period. This 
standard is mandatory for use in all solicitation proposals for STEP 
implementations (i.e., computer-aided design, engineering, and 
manufacturing systems) acquired twelve (12) months after the effective 
date.
    11.2  Acquisition. The use of application protocols is required for 
all STEP implementations. ISO 10303-203 is required for applications 
which exchange between product data application systems of 
configuration-controlled 3D designs of mechanical parts and assemblies.
    Conformance to this standard should be considered whether the STEP 
preprocessor or postprocessor are developed internally, acquired as 
part of a system procurement, acquired by separate procurement, used 
under a leasing arrangement, or specified for use in contract for 
programming services.
    11.3  Interpretation. Resolution of questions regarding this 
standard will be provided by NIST. Procedures for interpretations are 
specified in FIPS PUB 29-3. Questions concerning the content and 
specifications should be addressed to: Director, Computer Systems 
Laboratory, ATTN: STEP Interpretation, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    11.4  Validation. The following requirements for conformance 
testing of STEP implementations become effective twelve months after 
the effective date. Validation requirements apply only to the 
application protocols required for use by this FIPS PUB. Additional 
validation requirements may be added in the future as new application 
protocols complete the standardization process and corresponding 
executable test suites are developed.
    a. The party offering a STEP implementation to ensure its 
conformance to FIPS for STEP shall be responsible for securing 
validation of the STEP implementation when it is offered to the 
Government for purchase, lease, or use in connection with ADP services. 
STEP implementations shall be validated in accordance with National 
Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Computer Systems 
Laboratory (CSL) Validation Procedures for the STEP Validation Test 
Service.
    b. To confirm that the specifications of FIPS for STEP have been 
met, STEP executable test suites have been developed and a STEP-AP 203 
Validation Testing Service has been established. Conformance testing 
shall be performed by either the NIST or a test laboratory accredited 
by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). 
Upon request, the CSL will provide a list of test laboratories.
    c. Federal agencies shall use the test results of the STEP 
Validation Testing Service to confirm that a particular STEP 
implementation meets the specifications of this FIPS PUB. The CSL will 
issue certificates as specified in the NIST CSL Validation Procedures 
for the STEP Validation Testing Service.
    d. Recommended procurement terminology for validation of FIPS for 
STEP is contained in the U.S. General Services Administration 
publication Federal ADP & Telecommunications Standards Index, Chapter 4 
Part 2. This GSA publication provides terminology for three validation 
options: Delayed Validation, Prior Validation Testing, and Prior 
Validation. The agency may select the appropriate validation option and 
may specify appropriate time frames for validation and correction of 
nonconformities.
    e. Request for, and questions on STEP Validation Testing Services 
should be addressed to: Director, Computer Systems Laboratory, 
Attention: STEP Validation Testing Service, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 Telephone: (301)975-
3353.
    12. Waivers. Under certain exceptional circumstances, the heads of 
Federal departments and agencies may approve waivers to Federal 
Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The head of such agency may 
redelegate such authority only to a senior official designated pursuant 
to section 3506(b) of Title 44, U.S. Code. Waivers shall be granted 
only when:
    a. Compliance with a standard would adversely affect the 
accomplishment of the mission of an operator of a Federal computer 
system, or
    b. Cause a major adverse financial impact on the operator which is 
not offset by Government wide savings.
    Agency heads may act upon a written waiver request containing the 
information detailed above. Agency heads may also act without a written 
waiver request when they determine that conditions for meeting the 
standard cannot be met. Agency heads may approve waivers only by a 
written decision which explains the basis on which the agency head made 
the required finding(s). A copy of each such decision, with procurement 
sensitive or classified portions clearly identified, shall be sent to: 
National Institute of [[Page 29835]] Standards and Technology; ATTN: 
FIPS Waiver Decisions, Technology Building, Room B-154; Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899.
    In addition, notice of each waiver granted and each delegation of 
authority to approve waivers shall be sent promptly to the Committee on 
Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and shall be published promptly 
in the Federal Register.
    When the determination on a waiver applies to the procurement of 
equipment and/or services, a notice of the waiver determination must be 
published in the Commerce Business Daily as a part of the notice of 
solicitation for offers of an acquisition or, if the waiver 
determination is made after that notice is published, by amendment to 
such notice.
    A copy of the waiver, any supporting documents, the document 
approving the waiver and any supporting and accompanying documents, 
with such deletions as the agency is authorized and decides to make 
under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552(b), shall be part of the procurement 
documentation and retained by the agency.

[FR Doc. 95-13769 Filed 6-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-CN-M