[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 115 (Friday, June 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33806-33807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13355]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Announcement of a Public Workshop on the Establishment of a 
Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) for Laboratories Performing 
Interoperability, Performance, and Conformance Biometrics Testing Under 
the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program and Technical 
Requirements for Such a LAP

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Announcement of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
announces a public workshop to be held on July 1, 2008, in the Green 
Auditorium of the NIST Administration Building in Gaithersburg, MD, 
regarding the establishment of an accreditation program and technical 
requirements for laboratories that perform biometric testing including 
interoperability, performance, and conformance using internationally 
recognized standards developed by the American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI), NIST, and by the International Committee for 
Information Technology Standards (INCITS). Additional standards may be 
identified throughout the development of the accreditation program 
technical requirements.

DATES: The workshop will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Green Auditorium of the NIST 
Administration Building in Gaithersburg, MD. Please note admittance 
instructions under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Moore, Program Manager, NIST/
NVLAP, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140, Phone: 
(301) 975-5740 or e-mail: [email protected].
    Information regarding the National Voluntary Laboratory 
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and the accreditation process can be 
obtained from http://www.nist.gov/nvlap.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The United States Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) requested that NIST establish a laboratory 
accreditation program for laboratories performing inoperability, 
performance, and conformance biometrics testing on Personal 
Identification Verification equipment used in Homeland Security 
applications. In accordance with NVLAP procedures (15 CFR Part 285), on 
February 29, 2008, NIST published a notice in the Federal Register 
requesting comments on the proposed establishment of a laboratory 
accreditation program for laboratories performing testing, 
interoperability, performance, and conformance biometrics testing under 
the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (73 FR 11093). 
In addition to soliciting public comments through the notice, NIST will 
hold a public workshop to solicit further public comments on the 
proposed establishment of a laboratory accreditation program for 
biometrics testing. The public workshop will also solicit comments on 
the technical requirements necessary for such a laboratory 
accreditation program.
    Biometric technologies such as facial, fingerprint, iris, and voice 
recognitions are used to verify the identity of individuals attempting 
to gain access to secure areas. The purpose of the proposed Biometrics 
Laboratory Accreditation Program is to evaluate testing laboratories' 
technical competencies against known standards and testing criteria 
that will ultimately be used to provide confidence in the performance 
of biometric sub-systems.
    This notice is issued in accordance with NVLAP procedures and 
general requirements, found in Title 15 Part 25 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    NVLAP provides an unbiased, third-party evaluation and recognition 
of competence. NVLAP accreditation signifies that a laboratory has 
demonstrated that it operates in accordance with NVLAP management and 
technical requirements pertaining to quality systems, personnel, 
accommodation and environment, test and calibration methods, equipment, 
measurement traceability, sampling, handling of test and calibration 
items, and test and calibration reports.
    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

[[Page 33807]]

must register by close of business Monday, June 16, 2008, in order to 
attend. Please submit your name, time of arrival, e-mail address and 
phone number to Tessa Beavers, Administrative Support Assistant, NIST/
NVLAP, 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. Beavers' e-mail address is 
[email protected] and her phone number is (301) 975-4017.

    Dated: June 6, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Chief Scientist.
[FR Doc. E8-13355 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
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