[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30439-30440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12839]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 150515451-5451-01]
RIN 0693-XC049


Request for Information Regarding Online Platforms To Promote 
Federal Science and Technology Facilities, Products, and Services

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; Request for Information (RFI)

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

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and 
other member laboratories of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for 
Technology Transfer (FLC) offer a variety of specialized scientific and 
technical facilities, products, and services to the public, including 
access to instrumentation, reference materials, software, and 
calibrations. Access to such services is provided in a variety of ways, 
and may require the payment of fees or other costs and/or an 
application or agreement. NIST and other members of the FLC request 
information from the public regarding recommendations for online 
platforms that can broaden awareness and make it easier for the public 
to search for, locate, learn about, and obtain access to these 
facilities, products, and services. The information received in 
response to this RFI will be provided by NIST to various interagency 
groups for consideration and used to publicize various federal 
facilities and resources.

DATES: Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on June 29, 
2015. Written comments in response to the RFI should be submitted 
according to the instructions in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
below. Submissions received after that date will be considered to the 
extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Electronic comments regarding the RFI should be addressed to 
Dr. Courtney Silverthorn by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Courtney Silverthorn, Senior 
Interagency Policy Specialist, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Technology Partnerships Office, 100 Bureau Drive MS 2200, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301-975-4189, or by email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Private sector online platforms could 
improve the availability of scientific and technical resources and 
services in a number of ways. For example, a private sector online 
platform might maintain a database of such resources and provide a 
simple way for a member of the public to initiate access. NIST and 
other member laboratories will evaluate submitted platforms for 
technology and research capability matches and may contact appropriate 
platforms directly to arrange for possible publication of specific 
facilities, products, and/or services. NIST and other members of the 
FLC are especially interested in recommendations that can broaden 
awareness and improve access at no cost to the government.
    As part of the Open Data initiative, NIST and other members of the 
FLC can make data about the resources of interest available to the 
public. For examples, see:
    https://flcbusiness.federallabs.org/FLCBiz/app/search-equipment-and-facilities
    http://www.nist.gov/user-facilities.cfm
    http://www.nist.gov/calibrations/
    http://www.nist.gov/srm/index.cfm
    http://www.nist.gov/srd/index.cfm
    To respond to this RFI, please submit written comments by email to 
Dr. Courtney Silverthorn at [email protected] in any of the 
following formats: ASCII; Word; RTF; or PDF. Please include your name, 
organization's name (if any), and cite ``Online Technology Platforms 
RFI'' in the subject line of all correspondence.
    NIST is specifically interested in receiving input pertaining to 
the following questions:
    (1) What is the web address of the online platform you are 
recommending? Is the platform specific to a particular research sector 
(i.e. molecular biology, physical sciences, calibration services, etc.) 
or is it a general platform?
    (2) What is the cost model of the online platform you are 
recommending? Is there a listing fee, a percentage of the service fee 
retained, or is it a no-cost information listing only?


[[Page 30440]]


    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3710(g).

Richard Cavanagh,
Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-12839 Filed 5-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P