[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 68555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19958]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program Workshop for 
Laboratories Interested in the Personal Body Armor Testing Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Public Workshop.

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SUMMARY: The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 
(NVLAP) will hold a public workshop on December 8, 2006, at the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) headquarters in 
Gaithersburg, MD. The purpose of the workshop is the exchange of 
information among NVLAP, the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards 
(OLES), the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ) National Law 
Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC), laboratories 
interested in seeking accreditation for the testing of personal body 
armor, and other interested parties. The results of the workshop 
discussions will be used in the development of the NVLAP Personal Body 
Armor Program.
    There is no charge for the workshop; however, because of security 
regulations, advance registration is mandatory. There will be no on-
site, same-day registration. The registration deadline is Wednesday, 
December 6, 2006. Please note admittance instructions under the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The workshop will be held on Friday, December 8, 2006, from 9 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the Administration Building 
(Building 101), Lecture Room B, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hazel M. Richmond, (301) 975-3024, e-
mail: [email protected]. The mailing address is 100 Bureau Drive, 
Mail Stop 2140, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-2140. Information regarding 
NVLAP and the accreditation process can be viewed at http://www.nist.gov/nvlap.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a request from the U.S. 
Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and 
Office of Science and Technology, the NIST National Voluntary 
Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) is considering establishing an 
accreditation program for laboratories that test ballistic- and stab-
resistant body armor models.
    NVLAP accreditation criteria are established in accordance with the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR, title 15, Part 285), NVLAP Procedures 
and General Requirements. To be accredited by NVLAP, laboratories 
conducting testing of personal body armor will be required to meet ISO/
IEC International Standard 17025, general requirements for the 
competence of testing and calibration laboratories. In addition, for 
each new laboratory accreditation program (LAP), NVLAP works with the 
affected testing community to develop program-specific technical 
requirements. These requirements tailor the general accreditation 
criteria referenced in Sections 4 and 5 of the NIST Handbook 150 to the 
test and services in the new LAP. Program-specific requirements include 
the details of the scope of accreditation, test and measurement 
equipment, personnel requirements, validation of test methods, and 
reporting of test results.
    NVLAP accreditation does not imply any guarantee (certification) of 
laboratory performance or test/calibration data. NVLAP accreditation is 
a finding of laboratory competence. All visitors to the NIST site are 
required to pre-register to be admitted. Anyone wishing to attend this 
meeting must register by close of business Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 
in order to attend. Please submit your name, time of arrival, e-mail 
address and phone number to Hazel M. Richmond and she will provide you 
with instructions for admittance.
    Non-U.S. citizens must also submit their country of citizenship, 
title, employer/sponsor, and address. Ms. Richmond's e-mail address is 
[email protected] and her phone number is (301) 975-3024.

    Dated: November 16, 2006.
James E. Hill,
Acting Deputy Director.
 [FR Doc. E6-19958 Filed 11-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P