National Institute of Standards and Technology – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology announces a Workshop on Polymers for Photovoltaic Systems.

NIST announces that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory Board, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will hold an open meeting on Monday, September 13, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force is conducting a comprehensive review of the nexus between cybersecurity challenges in the commercial sector and innovation in the Internet economy. The Department seeks comments from all stakeholders, including the commercial, academic and civil society sectors, on measures to improve cybersecurity while sustaining innovation. Preserving innovation, as well as private sector and consumer confidence in the security of the Internet economy, are important for promoting economic prosperity and social well-being overall. In particular, the Department seeks to develop an up-to-date understanding of the current public policy and operational challenges affecting cybersecurity, as those challenges may shape the future direction of the Internet and its commercial use, both domestically and globally. After analyzing comments on this Notice, the Department intends to issue a report that will contribute to the Administration's domestic and international policies and activities in advancing both cybersecurity and the Internet economy.

The Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB) will meet Wednesday, August 4, 2010, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday, August 5, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Friday, August 6, 2010 from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. All sessions will be open to the public.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that the Panel of Judges of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award will meet Monday, November 15, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, November 18, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, November 19, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Panel of Judges is composed of twelve members prominent in the fields of quality, innovation, and performance management and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, assembled to advise the Secretary of Commerce on the conduct of the Baldrige Award. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct final judging of the 2010 applicants. The review process involves examination of records and discussions of applicant data, and will be closed to the public in accordance with Section 552b(c)(4) of Title 5, United States Code.

The objective of National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) program is to enhance productivity, technological performance, and strengthen the global competitiveness of small- and medium-sized U.S. based manufacturing firms. NIST MEP invites proposals from eligible organizations for projects to develop client engagement or business models and deployment strategies that integrate two or more of the MEP Strategic Growth Areas. The projects should further demonstrate in its proposed client engagement or business model, the benefit of this integration and how the approach can expand service capability and capacity of the MEP system. The five MEP Strategic Growth Areas are: supply chain, sustainability, technology acceleration, workforce and continuous improvement. Proposals should include a project plan, a client engagement or business model and deployment strategy for the project, and an approach for leveraging existing tools, resources and partnerships.

On April 19, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the solicitation of proposals for the fiscal year 2010 Technology Innovation Program (TIP) competition. NIST is issuing this notice to correct the award start date, to correct the description of a nonresponsive proposal listed under Element 3 of the Manufacturing Area

The Annual Meetings of the 95th National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) will be held July 11 to 15, 2010. Publication of this notice on the NCWM's behalf is undertaken as a public service; NIST does not endorse, approve, or recommend any of the proposals contained in this notice or in the publications of the NCWM mentioned below. The meetings of the NCWM are open to the public but registration is required.

The Technology Innovation Program Advisory Board, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will meet in open session on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Eastern daylight savings time.

NIST publishes this notice to extend the deadline for proposal submission for its Fiscal Year 2010 NCNR Comprehensive Grants Program competition to 5 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 13, 2010.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Technology Innovation Program (TIP) announces that it will hold a single fiscal year 2010 competition and is soliciting high-risk, high- reward research and development (R&D) proposals for financial assistance. TIP also announces that it will hold three public meetings (Proposers' Conferences) for all interested parties. TIP is soliciting proposals under this fiscal year 2010 competition in the area of critical national need entitled ``Manufacturing'' as described in the Program Description section below.

The International Code Council (ICC), promulgator of the International Codes and Standards, maintains a process for updating the entire family of International Codes based on receipt of proposals from interested individuals and organizations involved in the construction industry as well as the general public. The codes are updated every three years (2009current edition, 2012, 2015 editions, etc.). In the past, the codes were updated on 2-18 month cycles, with an intervening supplement between cycles. Starting with the 2009/2010 Cycle, ICC is transitioning to a development cycle where there will only be a single cycle of code development with the codes split into two groups. For each group of codes, there are two hearings for each code development cycle; the first where a committee considers the proposals and recommends an action on each proposal and the second to consider comments submitted in response to the committee action on proposals.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks comments on the second draft of NISTIR 7628, Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements. This second draft has been updated

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that there will be a joint meeting of the Panel of Judges and the Board of Overseers of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award on June 16, 2010. The Panel of Judges and the Board of Overseers are each composed of twelve members prominent in the fields of quality, innovation, and performance management and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, assembled to advise the Secretary of Commerce on the conduct of the Baldrige Award. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and review information received from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and from the Chair of the Judges Panel of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The agenda will include: Baldrige Program (BNQP) Update, Baldrige Fellows Program Discussion, Baldrige Program Changes in 2010 and 2011, and Implementation of the Strategic Plan Actions.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces voluntary product standard DOC PS 20-10 ``American Softwood Lumber Standard'' which will supersede DOC PS 20-05. The Standard establishes standard sizes and requirements for developing and coordinating the lumber grades of the various species of softwood lumber, the assignment of design values, and the preparation of grading rules applicable to each species. Its provisions include implementation of the Standard through an accreditation and certification program; establishment of principal trade classifications and lumber sizes for yard, structural, factory/shop use: Classification, measurement, grading and grade-marking of lumber; Definitions of terms and procedures to provide a basis for the use of uniform methods in the grading, inspection, measurement and description of softwood lumber; commercial names of the principal softwood species: Definitions of terms used in describing standard grades in lumber; and commonly used industry abbreviations. The Standard also includes the organization and functions of the American Lumber Standard Committee, the Board of Review, and the National Grading Rule Committee.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces the availability of Federal assistance for educational institutions to provide limited support for middle school science teachers to attend the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers. Teachers from qualified applicants should be involved in teaching areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at the middle school level (grades 6-8), including, but not limited to, earth science, physical science, chemistry, physics, and/or biology. This program responds to a need for these targeted teachers to receive instruction and activities that will encourage them to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is establishing a financial assistance program for awardees to develop and implement with the CNST a Postdoctoral Researcher and Visiting Fellow Measurement Science and Engineering Program. This program is intended to promote research, training, and practical experience in nanoscale science and technology on-site at the CNST, and to advance the CNST's mission to support the development of nanotechnology through research on measurement and fabrication methods, standards and technology, and by operating a state-of-the-art nanofabrication facility, the NanoFab.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces the building of a 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Demonstration Network (Demonstration Network), which will provide manufacturers and first responders a location for early deployment of their systems in a multi-vendor, neutral host environment.\1\ Emergency responders will see how these broadband systems will function and determine through hands-on experience how these systems meet their unique needs. This Notice of Solicitation of Participation both seeks Expressions of Interest from parties that may be interested in participating in the Demonstration Network and also announces a project kick-off meeting for all interested stakeholders.

Due to extreme weather conditions in the Mid-Atlantic United States, NIST is extending the deadline for proposal submission for its Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program competition to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Friday, February 19, 2010, for SURF Gaithersburg, and noon Mountain Time, Friday, February 19, 2010, for SURF Boulder.

This is a notice in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i) that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (``NIST''), U.S. Department of Commerce, is contemplating the grant of an exclusive license in the United States of America, its territories, possessions and commonwealths, to NIST's interest in the invention embodied in U.S. Patent No. 6,088,679 (Application No. 08/ 980,908), titled ``Workflow Management Employing Role-based Access Control,'' NIST Docket No. 96-052 to Rockwise, Inc., having a place of business at 223 Surnac Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508. The grant of the license would be for the field of use: HealthCare Information Technology.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology invites proposals from qualified organizations for funding projects that provide manufacturing extension services to primarily small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the United States. These projects will establish manufacturing extension centers under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. Proposals are invited for the establishment or continuation of manufacturing extension service within three discrete geographic areas located in Illinois, Arizona and Central Pennsylvania. The three areas are detailed further in the section entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C., App.), notice is hereby given that the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will meet Tuesday, February 2, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, February 3, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology is composed of fifteen members appointed by the Director of NIST who are eminent in such fields as business, research, new product development, engineering, labor, education, management consulting, environment, and international relations.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces that the Precision Measurement Grants Program is soliciting applications for financial assistance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The Precision Measurement Grants Program is seeking proposals for significant research in the field of fundamental measurement or the determination of fundamental constants.