[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 98 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31879-31880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12636]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Announcement of a Public Workshop Regarding a Proposed Memorandum 
of Understanding Between the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NISTO 
invites interested parties to attend a public workshop regarding a 
proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIST and the 
National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA). The workshop 
will include a brief presentation on the

[[Page 31880]]

components of the MOU, and an opportunity for discussion.
    The purpose of the proposed MOU is to develop and maintain a system 
in the United States that will (a) recognize competent laboratory 
accreditation bodies to accredit testing and calibration laboratories 
when the services of such laboratories are required to demonstrate 
compliance with procurement and regulatory requirements of government 
at Federal, state or local levels, and to meet the needs of the private 
sector; (b) promote the use by government and the private sector of 
such accreditation bodies; and, (c) recognize competent laboratory 
accreditation bodies to carry out designated activities under 
government-to-government agreements on the mutual recognition of 
conformity assessment activities in support of NIST's role as a 
designating authority under those agreements.
    The proposed MOU with NACLA will support a key goal of the National 
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA) by reducing 
redundancy and complexity in the development and promulgation of 
conformity assessment requirements and measures by government at all 
levels. The draft MOU will be posted on the NIST website at http://www.ts.nist.gov by June 1st. Copies of the draft MOU may also be 
requested from NIST. Interested parties are invited to submit comments 
to NIST a any time before the workshop. There is no charge to attend 
the workshop.

DATES: The workshop will be held on June 23, 2000, from 10 a.m. to 12 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at The National Institute 
Standards and Technology, Administration Building, Lecture Room A, 100 
Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Comments on the proposed MOU 
should be sent to the attention of ``NACLA Comments'' at the Office of 
the Director, Technology Services, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Mail Stop 2000, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, you may 
telephone 301-975-2396 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Technology Transfer and 
Advancement Act of 1995 (PL 104-113, 1996) directs NIST to coordinate 
Federal, state and local conformity assessment activities with the 
private sector with the goal of eliminating unnecessary duplication and 
complexity in the development and promulgation of conformity assessment 
requirements and measures. NIST focused on coordination of laboratory 
accreditation as a key element of conformity assessment in the 
Implementation Plan it provided to Congress. NIST believes that a 
proposed MOU with NACLA supports an important goal of the NTTAA, to 
reduce redundancy and complexity in the development and promulgation of 
conformity assessment requirements and measures by government at all 
levels. The MOU will also improve coordination and communication 
between and within the private and public sectors on conformity 
assessment requirements and practices.
    The purpose of the MOU will be to develop and maintain a system in 
the United States that will (a) recognize competent laboratory 
accreditation bodies to accredit testing calibration laboratories when 
the services of such laboratories are required to demonstrate 
compliance with procurement and regulatory requirements of government 
at Federal, state or local levels; (b) promote the use by government 
and the private sector of such accreditation bodies; and, (c) recognize 
competent laboratory accreditation bodies to carry out designated 
activities under government-to-government agreements on the mutual 
recognition of conformity assessment activities in support of NIST's 
role as a designating authority under those agreements.
    A brief presentation on the MOU will be made at the workshop. After 
the presentation there will be an opportunity for public discussion. 
Written comments may be submitted to NIST at any time prior to the 
workshop. There is no attendance fee.

Raymond G. Kammer,
Director.
[FR Doc. 00-12636 Filed 5-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M