[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37201-37202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18284]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Conference on Using Voluntary Standards in the Federal Government

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a conference to focus on how Federal 
agencies are successfully using voluntary standards to meet the goals 
of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (Pub. L. 104-
113), which was signed into law on March 7, 1996. In part, the Act 
directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to 
coordinate with other Federal Government agencies to achieve greater 
reliance on voluntary standards and conformity assessment bodies, and 
lessened dependence on standards developed in-house. The Act contains 
specific provisions for standards-related activities, requiring Federal 
agencies to compare the standards used in scientific investigations, 
engineering, manufacturing, commerce, industry, and educational 
institutions with the standards developed by the Federal Government, 
and to coordinate greater use by Federal agencies of private sector 
standards emphasizing, where possible, the use of standards developed 
by private, consensus organizations.

DATES: The conference will take place on Monday, September 8, 1997, at 
8:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Red Auditorium at the 
National

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Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
    To register or to attend the conference, interested parties may 
contact Ms. Shirley Walters, Standards Conformity Program Office, NIST, 
(301) 975-5120, fax: (301) 963-2871, e-mail: [email protected]. 
There is a registration/training fee of $25.00.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Belinda Collins, Ph.D., Director, Office of Standards Services, (301) 
975-4000, fax: (301) 963-2871, e-mail: [email protected]; or Joan 
Tyler, Standards Conformity Program (301) 975-5555, fax: (301) 975-
2183, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology, several 
principal Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), and the American 
National Standards Institute (ANSI) are organizing a one-day conference 
to focus on how Federal agencies have successfully worked with SDOs in 
their use of voluntary consensus standards. This conference will 
present examples of private consensus organizations' or Standards 
Development Organizations' work with Federal agencies to achieve more 
efficiency through successful utilization of private sector standards. 
Agencies and SDOs will discuss success stories based on voluntary 
standards used for procurements, regulations, and for meeting future 
national needs. Several panels of experts will explain the impact of 
particular standards on agency goals, as well as the process of 
developing the standards and any problems which had to be overcome. 
NIST will provide background information on the National Technology 
Transfer and Advancement Act and the Implementation Plan. ANSI will 
discuss the generic standards development process and its role in 
coordinating with and accrediting SDOS in the United States.
    Federal entities which wish to learn how other agencies have worked 
with the private sector to develop mutually beneficial standards, 
resolve policy issues, and use standards in both Federal procurements 
and regulations, as well as other interested parties, are invited to 
attend the conference. Attendees may participate in the question and 
answer sessions and talk directly with representatives from the 
Standards Development Organizations. Participating SDOs include: the 
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society 
for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the 
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Aerospace 
Industry Association (AIA), the Information Technology Industry Council 
(ITI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and other professional bodies.

    Dated: July 8, 1997.
Elaine Bunten-Mines,
Director, Program Office.
[FR Doc. 97-18284 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M