# Presentation: 675978

## The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)Belinda L. Collins, Ph.D.Director Office of Standards ServicesOctober 11, 2001 

***The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)******Belinda L. Collins, Ph.D.******Director Office of Standards Services******October 11, 2001****** ***

## NTTAA - What is it?

**Directs Federal Agencies to use consensus technical standards developed by voluntary consensus standards bodies**
**if agencies do not use these standards, must  explain to OMB why they chose not to**
**Encourages participation in voluntary consensus standards bodies when compatible with missions, authorities, etc.**
**Directs NIST to coordinate Federal standards and conformity assessment activities with those of the private sector**

## Policies of OMB Circular A-119

**Encourage Federal Agencies to benefit from the expertise of the private sector**
**Reduce reliance on government unique standards where existing standards would suffice**
**Promote Federal Agency participation in voluntary consensus bodies to ensure the creation of standards that are useable by Federal Agencies**

##  OMB Circular A-119: Revised in 1996

**Implements the NTTAA; terminology of Circular consistent with the NTTAA**
**Defines role of Agency Standards Executive; Interagency Committee on Standards Policy**
**Provides guidance to agencies on making their annual reports to OMB**
**Directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue policy guidance for Conformity Assessment**

## NIST Role - Guidance and Support to Federal Agencies

**Ensure ICSP Coordination and Guidance**
**Work with OMB to revise OMB Circular A-119 Guidance in 1996; now working on 2001 revision**
**Provide Conformity Assessment Guidance**
**Prepare and publish Annual Reports**
**Track progress on NTTAA**

## Program Elements for Implementing NTTAA

**Coordination Activities **
**ICSP**
**Domestic infrastructure building**
**NIST - MOU with ANSI**
**OSHA - MOU with ANSI **
**NIST - MOU with NACLA**
**Information services/publications**
**Electronic access to information**
**Standards.gov**
**Training/workshops**

## Conformity Assessment

**Guidance from NIST published in Federal Register August 10, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 155)**
**Agencies to ensure effective coordination of conformity assessment activities and to eliminate unnecessary duplication and complexity **
**NIST SP 739: Directory of Federal Government Certification and Related Programs**
**Conformity Assessment Network (CAN) and Website**

##  Conformity Assessment - Continued

**National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA) now provides national infrastructure**
**NIST MOU with NACLA recognizes process for recognizing competent laboratory accreditation bodies - supports Trade Agreements**
**DOT chairs recognition committee**
**Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) among 3 U.S. bodies provides framework for recognizing technical competence **
**Seven additional bodies now in pipeline**

## National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act - Results

**In FY 99, Federal Agencies used an additional 2700 voluntary standards with 2800 participants **
**In FY2000, number of standards increased; decline in participation slowed**
**In FY2001, NIST successfully implemented:**
**a web-based system for data input from Federal Agencies for the NIST annual report to OMB; **
**electronic database for identifying and contacting Federal participants in voluntary standards - Pilot tested with 3 agencies **

## NTTAA Goals for FY2002

**Submit annual report to OMB by Feb 2002**
**Increase active participation by Federal Agencies**
**Leverage efforts by agencies in compliance**
**Provide tool kits for coordination at agency level**
**Use DOC as a test bed**
**Provide effective training for Federal agencies**
**Use of and participation in standards**
**Offer targeted workshops**
**Conformity Assessment - Dec 3**

## Additional Goals for FY 2002

**Work with the ICSP to implement the National Standards Strategy**
**Ensure that Federal agencies use NACLA**
**Strengthen awareness, participation**
**Work with regulators on specific issues related to conformity assessment and standards**
**Ensure that ANSI/NIST MOU is carried out effectively**

## NTTAA Outputs for ‘02

**Publish FY 2000 Annual Report**
**Increase publicity, awareness**
**Create, publish FY2001 Annual Report**
**Begin to analyze economic benefits to government**
**Provide assistance to Federal agencies**
**Create and implement Standards.gov**
**Enhance NTTAA Website**
**Develop portal for electronic access to government standards-related activities**
**Provide links to private sector activities**

## Outputs - Training/Outreach for 2002

**Workshops and Training**
**NTTAA Workshop - Oct 11**
**Conformity Assessment Workshop - Dec 3**
**How to participate in standards - for NIST/DOC staff**
**Federal Level**
**Impart understanding, improve compliance to all member agencies**
**Outreach to states**
**Evaluate needs, effort**
**Use California as test case**

## Desired Outcomes - All Agencies

**Better documentation of Federal use of standards**
**Improved participation in relevant standards activities**
**Web access to standards referenced in regulations**
**Improved linkage with state activities, creating viable collaborations with national organizations of state legislators, industry associations, standards developers**

## Measuring Impact - NIST Activities

**Track number of standards used; create useful database**
**Track number of participants**
**Collect success stories**
**Economic analysis:  quantify economic impact of the use of standards to government agencies**
**Assess outputs of partnerships - ANSI, NACLA, SDOs**