[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 52 (Friday, March 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14876-14877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05687]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program--Proposed 
Revisions to the Personal Body Armor Laboratory Accreditation Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Chief of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology's (NIST) National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 
(NVLAP) may approve modifications to a specific Laboratory 
Accreditation Program (LAP) when a request to modify the LAP is 
received. Modifications may include addition of tests, types of tests 
or standards that are directly relevant to the LAP. NVLAP has received 
a request

[[Page 14877]]

to revise the name of its Personal Body Armor LAP to the Law 
Enforcement and Corrections Equipment LAP in order to better encompass 
the scope of this program. NVLAP has also received a request to expand 
the technology tested under this program to include rifle testing, 
helmet testing and shield testing. NIST seeks feedback from the public 
on these proposed revisions.

DATES: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 19, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed revisions must be submitted to: 
Chief, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Stop 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140 or by sending email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana S. Leaman, Chief, NIST/NVLAP, 100 
Bureau Drive, Stop 2140, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140, Phone: (301) 975-
4016 or email: [email protected]. Information regarding NVLAP and 
the accreditation process can be obtained from http://www.nist.gov/nvlap.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    NIST administers NVLAP under regulations found in 15 CFR part 285. 
NVLAP provides an unbiased third-party evaluation and recognition of 
laboratory performance, as well as expert technical assistance to 
upgrade that performance, by accrediting calibration and testing 
laboratories found competent to perform specific calibrations or tests. 
NVLAP is comprised of a set of LAPs which are established on the basis 
of requests and demonstrated need. Each LAP includes specific 
calibration and/or test standards and related methods and protocols 
assembled to satisfy the unique needs for accreditation in the field of 
calibration, field of testing, product or service. Under NVLAP's 
Procedures and General Requirements, available at https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/hb/2020/NIST.HB.150-2020.pdf, the Chief of 
NVLAP (Chief) may seek input from interested parties when proposed 
modifications to a LAP are analyzed.
    The NVLAP Personal Body Armor LAP was established in 2006 at the 
request of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Institute of 
Justice (NIJ) Office of Science and Technology. The LAP was developed 
to accredit laboratories for body armor testing in support of the NIJ 
Compliance Testing Program (CTP). Presently, the LAP encompasses 
accreditation of ballistic-resistant body armor testing, stab-resistant 
body armor testing, and autoloading pistol testing. Based on the 
requests for modification to the Personal Body Armor LAP, the Chief has 
preliminarily determined that revision of the program name to the Law 
Enforcement and Corrections Equipment LAP is supported by the program 
stakeholder and the laboratories accredited in the current program. 
Additionally, the Chief has preliminarily determined that there is also 
support to expand testing in the program to include rifle testing, 
helmet testing and shield testing.

II. Request for Comments

    NVLAP solicits comments on whether (a) the additional tests or 
calibrations, types of tests or calibrations, or standards requested 
are directly relevant to the LAP; (b) it is feasible and practical to 
accredit testing or calibration laboratories for the additional tests 
or calibrations, types of tests or calibrations, or standards; and (c) 
it is likely that laboratories will seek accreditation for the 
additional tests or calibrations, types of tests or calibrations, or 
standards. NVLAP also specifically invites comments on: (a) Whether the 
proposed change to the name of the laboratory accreditation program 
will better reflect the testing encompassed under the LAP; and (b) 
whether the addition of accreditation for rifle testing, helmet testing 
and shield testing will support the NIJ's CTP as it relates to the 
performance and safety of equipment for use in law enforcement and 
corrections applications.
    After analyzing the public comments, the Chief shall publish a 
Federal Register notice regarding a decision on whether the LAP will be 
revised.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b) & (c).

Kevin A. Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2021-05687 Filed 3-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P