[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51899-51901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26064]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number 980722187-8187-01]
RIN 0693-ZA21
Upgrading of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/
Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) Accreditation Manual
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: ASCLD/LAB has requested that the Office of Law Enforcement
Standards (OLES) at NIST assist in upgrading its laboratory
accreditation program to meet applicable international standards.
ASCLD/LAB operates an accreditation program for crime laboratories,
with members consisting of 139 domestic and 14 foreign laboratories.
The work of performing laboratory audits and reviewing audit reports
for accreditation is performed on a voluntary basis. The program
includes criteria to judge the quality and performance of a crime
laboratory and the operation of an evaluation program to identify those
laboratories meeting ASCLD/LAB criteria. Accreditation is a tool to
ensure that the laboratories' contributions to the criminal justice
system are consistent, repeatable, and scientifically based. The
current criteria and accreditation program consists of procedures
prepared by members of the ASCLD/LAB based on their professional
knowledge and experience in crime laboratory operations prior to the
establishment of international standards. They must now be modified to
conform to established world-wide accepted standards.
As part of the phenomena of globalization of markets, several
international organizations have prepared generic criteria for
competence of laboratory operations and for operating accreditation
programs to measure laboratory competence. The International
Organization for Standards (ISO) has prepared ISO Guide 25 General
Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing
[[Page 51900]]
Laboratories and ISO Guide 58 General Requirement for Operation and
Recognition of Calibration and Testing Laboratory Accreditation
Program. The International Laboratory Accreditation Conference (ILAC)
has provided an international forum for national laboratory
accreditation programs to meet and contribute to the ISO standards
effort. The ISO and ILAC effort have produced an international
consensus on what constitutes a competent laboratory and how an
accreditation program to measure that competence should operate. The
objective has been to promote world-wide acceptance of test reports
from accredited laboratories. The Agreement on Technical Barriers to
Trade (that created the World Trade Organization which was adopted in
the U.S. as the Trade Agreement Act of 1995) includes an obligation for
governments to base technical regulations on such international
standards when they exist. It also includes strong pressures for
private organizations such as ASCLD/LAB to do as well.
DATES: Applicants must submit their proposals (an original and two (2)
copies) to the address below no later than 5 pm Eastern Standard Time
on October 30, 1998. The final award decision will be made no later
than January 2, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Office of Law Enforcement Standards, NIST, Building 225,
Room A323, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001, ATTENTION: Dr. Alim A.
Fatah. The envelope should reflect, ``Upgrading of ASCLD/LAB
Accreditation Manual''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alim A. Fatah, (301) 975-2757 for technical questions and an
application kit. For administrative questions concerning this notice
may be directed to the NIST Grants Office at (301) 975-6329.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number: Measurement
and Engineering Research and Standards--11.609
Authority: 42 USC Sections 3721; 3722(c), (d); 3788(b), (c) and
15 USC Sections 272(b) (1), (2), (9); (c)(1), (2), (3), (19).
Program Objectives/Description: The primary objective of this
solicitation is to provide financial assistance to an organization
with expertise and a strong desire to upgrade the policies and
procedures of the ASCLD/LAB to meet applicable international
standards, in accordance with the ISO Guide 25 and ISO Guide 58
General Requirements. Proposals should cover the following:
1. Revised accreditation manual in accordance with ISO 25 and 58
guide Requirements;
2. A summarization of changes to the current practices;
3. Recommendations of the Operations Manual based on the ISO 58
Requirements;
4. Recommendations for the changes to the bylaws necessary to
conform to the criteria of the ISO Guides 25 and 58; and
5. Recommendations for a transition plan to fully implement the
new criteria and procedures.
Proposals should show the applicant's familiarity with ISO and
past and current performance of these standards.
The vision of the OLES at the NIST is to apply science and
technology to the needs of the criminal justice community, including
law enforcement corrections, forensic science and fire service.
While the primary focus is on the development of minimum performance
standards, which are promulgated by the sponsoring agency as
voluntary national standards. OLES also undertakes studies leading
to new technology development and evaluations, new measuring science
protocols, new standard reference materials and standard reference
collections for application to the criminal justice system, and
issuance of technical reports and user guidelines.
Eligibility: State, local, and tribal governments; colleges and
universities; non-profit and for-profit (commercial) entities are
eligible to apply.
Funding Availability and Type of Funding Instrument:
Approximately $40,000.00 for one (1) cooperative agreement award is
available. NIST will be substantially involved in this activity by
collaborating with the applicant who is selected by providing
technical guidance, expertise and review of accomplishments during
the award period.
Selection Process: Proposals will be reviewed according to the
evaluation criteria below, by three (3) or more reviewers with
expertise in the criminal justice field. The proposals will be
ranked based on the reviewers' scores. The Selecting Official, who
is the Director of OLES, will consider the evaluation criteria, the
scores of the reviewers, and the cost in making the final award
decision.
Evaluation Criteria: The criteria to be used in evaluating these
proposals include:
1. The applicants' understanding of the technical approach
demonstrating how they plan to meet the requirement of the
solicitation. Key elements include the applicants' understanding of
Forensic Crime Laboratory quality and accreditation issues. (10
points)
2. The applicants' past performance with inclusion of at least
three (3) references from two (2) sources for similar services. At
least one of the references shall include the understanding and
familiarity with ISO guidelines for laboratory accreditation
programs, specifically ISO Guide 25 and ISO Guide 58 and the ability
to closely work with Forensic Technical and Professional
Associations, such as ASCLD, ASCLD/LAB and American Association of
Forensic Sciences (AAFS). (60 points)
3. One key person, the Project Manager, shall have the expertise
in Forensic Crime Laboratory quality and accreditation issues and
will have at least one year of experience. Key qualifications
include experience with ISO guidelines for laboratory accreditation
programs, specifically ISO Guide 25 and ISO Guide 59. (30 points)
Technical approach is paramount, but cost will be considered in
negotiating the award. In addition to submitting documents in hard-
copy format, the applicant selected for the award will be encouraged
to submit progress reports and other documents in electronic
readable format (diskette or CD-ROM).
Award Period: It is NIST's intent to fund the cooperative
agreement for a one (1) year period.
Matching Requirements: This program does not require matching
funds.
Application Kit: An application kit, containing all of the
required application forms and certifications is available by
contacting Alim Fatah at (301) 975-2757. The application kit
includes the following:
SF-424 (Rev 7/97) Application for Federal Assistance
SF-424A (Rev 7/97) Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
SF-424B (Rev 7/97) Assurances--Non-Construction Programs
CD-511 (7/91) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and
Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and
Lobbying
CD-512 (7/91) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered
Transactions and Lobbying
SF-LLL-Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Paperwork Reduction Act: The Standard Form 424 and other
Standard Forms in the application kit are subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act and have been approved
by OMB under Control No. 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0043, and 0348-
0046. The applicants must submit one (1) original and two (2) copies
of all applications and proposals.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with a collection, subject to the requirements
of the Paperwork Reductions Act, unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Additional Requirements
Primary Application Certifications: All primary applicant
institutions must submit a completed form CD-511, ``Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters;
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following
explanations must be provided:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension: Prospective
participants (as defined in 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject
to 15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurment Debarment and Suspension'' and
the related section of the certification form prescribed above
applies;
2. Drug-Free Workplace: Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F,
``governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (``Grants'')
and the related section of the certification form prescribed above
applies;
[[Page 51901]]
3. Anti-Lobbying: Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, Section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain
Federal contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying
section of the certification form prescribed above applies to
applications/bids for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts
for more than $100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than
$150,000, or the single family maximum mortgage limit for affected
programs, whichever is greater.
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure: Any applicant institutions that has
paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit form SF-
LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR
part 28, appendix B.
5. Lower-Tier Certifications: Recipients shall require
applicant/bidder institutions for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts
or other lower tier covered transactions at any tier under the award
to submit, if applicable, a completed form CD-512, ``Certifications
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary
Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered transactions and Lobbying'' and
disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form
CD-512 is intended for the use of the recipients and should not be
transmitted to NIST. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or
subrecipient should be submitted to NIST in accordance with the
instructions contained in the award document.
6. Name Check Reviews: All for-profit and non-profit applicants
will be subject to a name check review process. Name checks are
intended to reveal if any individuals associated with the applicant
have been convicted of or are presently facing, criminal charges
such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters which significantly
reflect on the applicant's management honesty or financial
integrity.
Pre-award Activities: Applicants (or their institutions) who
incur any costs prior to an award being made do so solely at their
own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding
any verbal assurance that may have been provided, there is no
obligation on the part of NIST to cover pre-award costs.
No Obligation for Future Funding: If an application is accepted
for funding, DoC has no obligation to provide any additional future
funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to
increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total
discretion of NIST.
Past Performance: Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal
awards may result in an application not being considered for
funding.
False Statements: A false statement on an application is grounds
for denial or termination of funds, and grounds for possible
punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Delinquent Federal Debts: No award of Federal funds shall be
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt
until either:
1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least
one payment is received; or
3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
Indirect Costs: No Federal funds will be authorized for Indirect
Cost (IDC).
Purchase of American-made Equipment and Products: Applicants are
hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the greatest
practicable extent, to purchase American-made equipment and products
with funding provided under this program.
Federal Policies and Procedures: Recipients and subrecipients
under the above grant program shall be subject to all Federal laws
and Federal and Departmental regulations, policies, and procedures
applicable to financial assistance awards. The above grant program
does not directly affect any state or local government.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs.''
Executive Order Statement: This funding notice was determined to
be ``not significant'' for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Dated: September 22, 1998.
Robert E. Hebner,
Acting Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 98-26064 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
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